Trail Running in Amazing Thailand

I am almost 100% recovered.  Even my GP is surprised.  I put it down to the fact that I eat a plant diet but perhaps it is just the determination I had not to miss the above race.

Over the last 2 months I have been preparing.  It's not a marathon or more, just 25k, but it will be run in a very rugged jungle trail in rural Thailand.

I have trained.

I bought trail running shoes to add to my collection.

I have almost begged DHL and Customs to release my parcel of trail running goodies that they held onto for more than 14 days.

Now I am ready.

I still have shingles but I am not contagious.  I am just a little bit sore and a wee bit tired but when my energy runs out I can run on adrenaline.

There is something so magical about running on trails, in nature, with a fear of snakes and spiders but awe at the same time, jumping over coconuts, climbing steep hills.

It is the only time in my life where I feel no shame or embarrassment falling over or rolling down a hill in front of total strangers.

It is Euphoric.

I am more spiritual than religious, but when my fellow runners are far ahead of me (because that's what happens when you're really slow) and I can convince myself I am all alone out in the middle of nowhere; I feel closer to God.  Really.

There will be at least 300 other runners lined up with me on Sunday.  We will be running a single file trail through the jungle.  

I am so freaking excited!  And since I have no grand illusions about PB's or beating anyone, I will take a camera so I can hopefully capture some of the beauty of being blessed enough to run on a Kao Mai Keaw jungle trek.

I have the pox.

Shingles to be exact.

I will have to miss a 10km run with my friends tomorrow...but I am resting and determined to make it to next weeks 25km jungle trail run.

I hurt, but I am loving life too much to feel sorry for myself

Marathon Confirmed.

In less than 2 months....

Race starts at 4am
Temperature averages 27-32 degrees
Humidity low 75%

And to think that in 2008 I pulled out of running the Madrid Marathon because I thought that hours of running in 25 degree heat and 58% humidity might cause me to.........well...........die!

Eeek!

Weekend in Kanchanaburi

We started our weekend at this gorgeous Resort.  Oriental Kwai (No.1 Trip Advisor Hotel) and it was perfect.

We had a river facing cabin. The rooms were lovely, the grounds immaculate.  The daughter and I are vegetarian and the restaurant had a lot of vegetarian options, something we don't easily find in Thailand.

Although it was less than 200km from our home, it took us 5 hours to travel here.  

On the second day we travelled to the Hellfire Pass Museum.  It was very emotional to be in the place where so many of our countrymen died whilst clipping into mountains to build the Burmese-Thailand railway.

It was a beautiful area marred by sadness.

On the way home we stopped at the Bridge over the River Kwai.  We did not get the train over the bridge as it was very busy but we plan on coming back with family in October and will go on the railway then.

We would have loved to keep driving but were advised not to drive over the border to Burma - so this as close as we could get.

More Running

Part of my new confident self (as discussed in the Paris entry) has involved putting myself out there in group running.

I ran alone for 10 years.  Too embarrassed by my slow pace and crippled by my fear of meeting new people.

I am getting better.

I have ran with the Bangkok Runners group again.

This time on the rugged trails of Khao Mai Kiaw in Chonburi...soon to be my new playground.

I met some fantastic people who I hope to run with again.

The end of a grueling 10k trail

This photo broke my heart, the son trying to catch up to us.  Thankfully the husband told me he was very happy and excited just to be running.

Not the most flattering photo but who cares, I was on a high - a runners high!  I had just ran 10km in the jungle, jumping over fallen coconuts and tripping over fallen branches..a few times.  

Bangkok Runners Group

I joined this group 6 months ago but I only just had a chance to run with them.

Here is a photo of my running group, from their first birthday run around Lumpini Park in Bangkok.

They are a really awesome bunch of people.

ps: I am in that group photo ...hiding right at the back with a pink headband

Something happened to me in Paris.

The Paris post...finally.

I am sorry it has taken so long, but I hope you can understand why after reading this post.  I am a new woman!

First I need to admit something, that many of you (my friends and family know) I am was a recluse of sorts, socially defunct and quite afraid of doing anything for myself.  

It was only a few weeks before I flew to France that I picked up the courage to go to Starbucks and order a coffee on my own.

Over the last 13 years I have stopped doing many things, working, socialising, driving and pretty much anything that could determine me to be an independent or confident woman.

I have missed out on numerous running events, social outings and even friendships because of my fear of meeting new people, my extreme shyness has made me appear awkward or snobbish and before moving to Bangkok, the only times I would venture out of my home alone was to grocery shop.

I didn't tell anyone but I was petrified about Paris.  I wanted to cancel.  The fear was so great that for nights before hand I struggled to sleep.

The flight over was quite nice, I started to relax a little and felt quite excited.

However when I arrived it all went pear shaped.  I managed to get my luggage and find the right area for the shuttle I had booked to take me to the hotel but they did not turn up.

Three hours later and numerous phone calls to the husband asking him to please get me home and the shuttle service who said they were on the way my phone went flat.

I knew I could get a taxi but had read online before traveling that it was not recommended.

I was petrified.  I started to cry.  It was quite pathetic.

I finally realised that I had to do something, not only about the situation; but my life and the way I am wasting it.  

I went to the information counter and enquired about transport.  I was shown a taxi ramp and a bus terminal.

A bus.  Another thing I have not done in the last 13 years since losing my independence is use public transport.

I chose the bus.

It stopped at the Arc de Triomphe and I took this photo as I walked away to the taxi ramp.  

However, suddenly feeling brave, and with map in hand, I walked past the Cab's and spent the next 45 minutes walking through the street of Paris with my suitcase, reading a map (I had no idea I would be able to do that) and finding my own way to my hotel.

Every step was like an epiphany of sorts.

I can do this.

I can be normal.

I am courageous.

I just got on a bus in a busy foreign city for crying out loud.  

I am super freaking woman!

That's crazy I know.  But it's how I felt and it's how I have felt ever since.

I checked into my hotel, by myself.  I have stayed in more hotels than I remember but have never done the checking in.

I had now started my two day adventure.

I spent the day doing a bus tour, walking through the Latin quarter, visiting cathedrals, seeing where Marie Antoinette was kept captive, executed and laid to rest, I perused beautiful book stands, I bought tea, chocolate and purses.

I woke early the next day.  Had a perfect cup of tea and then waited for Jean-Charles of Paris Running Tours to pick me up.

For the next 2 and a half hours I re-explored the city with a guide.  We ran over 16km and it was fascinating.

Since arriving home I have made some positive changes in my life.  I have started to drive again, I have met new people, I have run in a group, I have started making friends.

It's not that scary.

I quite like it.

Australia...finally

I am a bit late with my posts, sorry.  I have also had major blog issues...

But here is the skinny (always wanted to use that!)

Our flight to Australia..was not as bad as we expected it would be with an active 3 year old.

Our flight from Melbourne to Adelaide was... worse than expected.  

We, along with many other travelers were a bit surprised to see that we would be traveling on a small propellor plane.

Melbourne was lovely, but it's Adelaide we really came to see.  It was beautiful.  As always.  Our hotel room had huge windows and an amazing view over the water.

We spent a week catching up with family and having a wonderful time.

Going home was wonderful.  Australia is a great country, we love it.  But the relief we felt flying "home" to Bangkok was a sign to us that we have moved on...again...and we love our new country finally.

I am now officially training....

And thanks to the online running community, I have a years supply of energy gels.

Playground Visitor

I am back and fully recovered from April and have posts to finish over the next few days.

In the meantime...here is a photo taken at our only local playground (other than the school).

This hungry visitor  was hanging off the slide ladder.

Although it's kind of fascinating and awe inspiring - I don't really want to take my 3 year old to this park anymore so we ordered some outdoor equipment to take to our new house with us instead.

Happy Anniversary

 Today we have been married for 11 years.


Then:

Now:

In that time we have moved house 9 times (almost 10), lived in three different states, 3 countries and been holed up in temporary accommodation for more than 6 months.

It has been quite the adventure.