One thing I noticed on my run, and I have seen this often here in China, was people running in their 'civvies' or usual, everyday clothes, and not specifically any 'running' gear. (Did you see this too, when you were in China, Amy??) For example: jeans and a shirt, or jeans and a jumper. I have seen people running in leather jackets. I have also seen people running in wedge sandals instead of trainers. Hmm, this seems to go against the grain of everything that every sports' clothing/shoes company wants us to think - surely to take part in a sport, you have to buy the right equipment and clothing first, yes? China has served as a reminder that really, all you need to run is: YOU. You need nothing else: just the will and spirit and desire to get out there and run (although the pragmatist in me is adding: oh and a sportsbra for women, even if you've got small girls like me - protect those important Coopers ligaments, Ladies!). It is extremely motivating when you buy new running items, however. Nothing puts a spring in your step, like breaking in new running shoes, for example. But for times when you may feel unprepared (i.e. your usual running clothes are in the wash, or your trainers are wet/lost/broken), there is always a way to run. Sure, you may not run at your usual pace or time, but you can still run (or jog, or walk). Unless you're ill or injured. Then I think: back to listening to your body and getting some REST (note to self: take your own advice).
Hoping this cold pisses off today, as tomorrow we are being judges for an English public speaking contest. Not sure if we have to give a detailed verdict or if it's simply a case of holding up a score card, Olympic-gymnastics-judging-style. I'm hoping it's the latter. In the meantime, while resting, I'm going to give this healing ginger tea recipe a go: http://higherperspective.com/2014/09/flu-ginger-tea.html?utm_source=MAM
Aaand, for something completely unrelated to both running and sickness, here is us and some fellow English teachers with the man-of-the-moment up here in Inner Mongolia - the very famous (or infamous, depending on which country's history you are reading) Genghis Khan: