I sometimes think I am a bit less active here than when I was state-side but think I am still staying very active. My activities have just shifted a bit.
I still try to run three or four days a week. It was easier to do when I was coaching cross country and running with them. Since the season ended, it is so much easier to leave work early on the days that I don’t need to stay for meetings. Once home in my apartment I find it difficult to want to go out for a run. Work days are a little longer here especially when you include the commute.
I am training for a half marathon in Yixing China at the beginning of April. That helps to motivate me.
I did join the local Nike Run club. I was introduced by a Chinese national I met at an exercise bootcamp. They are all very friendly there and welcoming. I am practicing my chinese a little (mostly counting down stretches, but every little bit helps).
Here is a pic before one of our runs. We run on Tuesday night through the greenway which is lit up and has many pedestrians allowing me to practice quick weaving in and out to avoid collisions!
Nicole is another first year teacher from Australia I spend much time with. She likes to go walking around instead of taking the metro or didis (taxis) and runs in the club as well. This is after one of the runs while we were waiting for the other groups to finish.
At the last club event yesterday we went on a longer run. Information before sometimes includes new product information. Since it is in Chinese I will try to pick out words I know but also make up my own narrative when I feel silly.
Before the run. There are stretches, info, introducing of pacers, and a group Photo.
During the long run. There were 4 groups based on pace. I chose the fast group that night. They are pretty crazy marathoners.
After the run there are stretches.
And time to chat.
This time they also had giveaways. When my name was pulled the person could not pronounce it but the pacers could as I am a regular every week.
As my name was pulled I was to draw the next name. I kept thinking to myself that there is no way I will be able to pronounce the name I draw and was surprised when it was Nicole’s!
We stayed a little longer to try out the new fly knit shoes on the treadmill. For giving feedback and running one minute they give you a massage ball. Nicole and I with one of the pacers, Sam.
Since I do not like to ride the bus all the time, I joined a group of teachers who bike to work. It is about 12-13 miles and takes us around 50-55 minutes to bike. There are showers at the school and usually we ride the bus home as traffic is a bit more in the afternoon. Since they are coach buses, there is room to store the bike underneath.
My goal is to use a go pro to show the tire of traffic around here. It is not just the trucks, cars, and busses… The pedestrians and other bikes can be the biggest challenge. I will add that later.