Back in the Running

I've been back in Hong Kong all of June and July, after a busy May in China. Life is pretty quiet on Lantau Island, but I'm enjoying the chance to be in one place for two months in a row (what a concept!) and relax for awhile.

And by relax, I mean run. Because, what's more relaxing than sweating, breathing hard, and chafing?!

After I graduated, I took on a run because it's fun philosophy. I enjoyed summer runs with a great group of Philmont people and had a good time exploring the karst scenery on sporadic jaunts in the fall, but I never logged my mileage or had a goal in mind. I just ran because I enjoyed it and gave me a time to think.



Unfortunately, by this spring, my running had petered off into little 20-minute sessions. I was still running five to six days a week, but I wasn't doing enough to really stay in shape, and fatty, delicious Chinese foods know just what to do with people who aren't exercising enough to stay in shape. 

So for the last two months, I've been back in the game. I've had a running log and goal mileages and done ab exercises. I've been eating well and doing acutal long runs, runs with pickups and hills runs. While I enjoyed my little hiatus, I have to say that having goals makes running even more fun. If all goes according to plan, I'll hit my first 40-mile week this week. It feels great to be back

PS: Sorry for the long break between posts. I just haven't been doing much exciting stuff! But look for more from me when my friend Lily and I head for China's Xinjiang Province in August. Updates about Himalayan foothills, wild deserts, and delicious Uigher cuisine are still to come. Who knows what all that traveling will do to my running?!