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Thursday, January 01, 2009

The first run of 2009 - Taipei New Year Run

Run to welcome New Year in the style: each hand holding a Taiwanese flag.

Activities/Actions:

Ran 98 年元旦升旗暨慢跑活動辦法

Stat:
Advertised to be 3K, the actual course was measured 2.15KM!

Date: 01/01/2009
Time Taken: 00:09:20
Route: Taipei New Year Run
Total Distance: 1.33 mi. (2.15 KM)
Burned: 141 (kcal)
Laps: 1
Pace: 07:01 (avg)
Speed: 8.55 (mi/hr) (avg)

Course condition:

Course in kilometer.

Observed weather on New Year's Eve and New Year Day. A cold morning (10C).

How I felt:
(the 5-point scale)
Physically 4
Mentally 4
About my nutrition 5
About my sleep 2.5

How hard did I work? 7
(the 10-point scale)

Note and reflections:

After a late stay to welcome New Year last night, I woke up at 6:30AM, biked to City Hall and ran 2.15 KM to welcome New Year (again) in style with run and flag raising ceremony. I was in my shorts and a thin jacket amidst a windy and 10C-mercury-high atmosphere under the shadow of Taipei 101. To my surprise, many people showed up with enthusiasms. I got bib number 1929 and two Taiwanese flags at the event registration tables. Soon after, Taiwan flag was raised on top of the City Hall after two songs were sung by the crowd, led by aboriginal singing group on the stage: the first was National Anthem (flag not raised) and the second was the flag raising anthem (as its name suggests).

The city mayor ran with us as well. A group of shivering kids in orange t-shirts painted the colors of the course. A group of "Free Speech" protesters also showed up to voice their messages just minutes before the gun was fired. I did my best running out with many stuff in the jacket pockets. I was one of those in front of the line. There were couple of serious runners ahead of us too. I finished just 9 minutes and 20 seconds and received a gift of bathroom essentials (such as shampoo, toothbrush, comb, etc). After that, I biked home along very windy and cold ZhongXiao E. Rd., where few cars just started to fill the road. I slept right after arrived home, woke up around noon for lunch and went to lab. I had dinner with P' Den and Nong Jeab that evening.

Photos:

Many gathering for flag raising ceremony and run.

Even in a cold morning, we came in a good spirit!
Note: 10C on the billboard digital thermometer.

Various flags signeting different districts of the city under the shadow of Taipei 101 on a shivering morning.

Ready for my run!

Songs by aboriginal people; some kids with only a few pieces of clothes.

A group of orange t-shirt youngsters warming up for the run.

The first light of the year.

Continue reading the rest...

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Restart training

Bid the final farewell to H.R.H. Princess Galyani Vadhana

Activities/Actions:
Started my training for my first full marathon!

Note and reflections:
The total of 9 people have registered together for Taipei ING Marathon on December 21st (thanks to Yu-Hsiang) . So, it is now the time to catch up with my training. I started at the 13th week of the novice 1 marathon program. The first run on the 13th was a bit rusty, and the long run today was broken up into 2 times. This was due to the time I started the run a bit late in the day so it was a bit too sunny and hot (at 11:09 AM after the royal funeral parade). I ran the first lag to Roahe Jia along Keelung River and back. In the evening ~11:30p, I ran in Sinica on 1 mile loop for 7 laps. Surprisingly, during the second lap I met my advisor and his wife walking along the road. This was probably his first night back to Taiwan. The end of the day, I did not run today's 18 mile long run. "37 Days in Training"

In the evening I went to Niou Rou Mian Festival at Taipei City Hall Plaza with Wayne, Monkey and Xiao Tian. Mala Niou Rou Mian made me raining (but only on the head). It was really good. The festival also showed cast Cape No. 7 Niou Rou Mian too. Thanks Meng-Shin for a note about the festival.

Photos:

The first dish we savor.

Mala Niu Rou Mian--very very spicy but delicious!
NT$50 a bowl for the whole festival.

Mala Sauce

Wayne, Xiao Tian, and Monkey

Raining on my head and face

Cape No. 7 Niu Ruo Mian

A real dish on display. We can smell it!

37 days in Training!

Continue reading the rest...

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Nike+ Human Race 10K

Activities/Actions:
Ran the 1oK; started around 6a

Stat:

Detailed results -- 30-39 men group

My first 10K record: 47:41 minutes (it should have been ~46 minutes, I think);
the 471th place overall and the 122th place in age group of 30-39 year old men.

There were the total of 10,859 finisher this morning (I guess that the course was closed after 2 hours).

Course condition:

The course was very crowded as I started in the back of the line. Also, I was stopped twice for two traffic lights to let cars passing. Disappointed! What a wonderful course! The weather was alright, though.

How I felt:
(the 5-point scale)
Physically 4
Mentally 5
About my nutrition 4
About my sleep 3

How hard did I work? 8
(the 10-point scale)

Note and reflections:

Running up and down the pavement and trying to not hit other fellow runners created a challenge for this 10K race. I did the former for almost the first half of the distance and the latter for the whole course. We started to run about 10 mins after the gun fire. Yu-Hsiang, who has organized the registration process, brought the time chips for us couple minutes before 6a. One time chip was not taken because of one of Wayne's friends was still in bed. So, we had 11 people including Laura. For most of us this was the first running race or the first 10K race. Once the bags were stored and the chips were tired up, we slowly walked with the moving red shirt crowd.

It was quite quiet in the middle of the course--no music or cheering crowd. There were, however, 2-3 people dressing in a costume holding a mile post at every kilometer. TV crews and camera men were spotted at several places. Wayne said that his dad spotted him on TV. :-)

President Ma Ying-jeou gave a speech and with Deputy Mayor Wu Ching-ji of Taipei City fired the gun. Ma said that because of his busy schedule he had not run for a long time and was happy to join this race (did he finish the race?).

After being stopped twice to let cars passing, I reached my 10K mark at Dajia Riverside Park. It was fun! After browsing around, JJ called to gather at Mile post 11.5 KM behind the stage. Laura got a bit hurt so JJ left to take care of her. After we all showed up, we explored the fest (which did not have much). There were long lines everywhere--No food either. :( Yu-Hsiang, Yi-Chiao and other left earlier, while I was with Wayne and the gang before we walked back to get on MRT to get my bike left at Taipei City Hall Station this morning (the bike got a warning ticket--"No parking more than 30 days; otherwise it will be removed!"). After arriving home and taking a shower, I was ready to the next adventure this afternoon--Hike Ci-Qing Mountain!

The top finishers for both males and females were Taiwanese Olympian Athletes (30:35 and 36:06 minutes, respectively).

The organizer, Chinese Taipei Road Running Association, charged NT$100 a bag to store our belonging, but this bag can be used at any race organized by them.

Photos:
Some were taken by Yu-Hsiang (Y-H).