Upcoming Ultra

Saturday: My second ever ultra marathon. Trepidation? Not so much. Actually, excited about it. Helps a lot to have gotten in my July challenge in Guiyang. Longest ever run of mine—54.23km (33.69 miles). Feeling confident now. Solo, most likely. Qing Pu district of Shanghai. Goal: Dice Challenge 48km. Earning 140 points for the monthly Dice…

Saturday in the Final Frontier

Saturday in Shanghai’s Final Frontier: New park stretching all around canals—boardwalks, various pathways, marshland, and only about 20 people seen within nearly two miles of running. This is what makes “countryside” living so worth it.

Into The Underground

Shanghai Lockdown ‘22, Day 35: “Runners Find a Way” Note: Thank you for reading! 0548am and I was out the door, running. Shanghai Lockdown Day 35. The security apparatus in these past few days especially required me to try an early run on for size. The rules have tightened after three Covid cases were found…

42 for 42 Challenge Completed

“No Trespassing” during my 42 for 42 Challenge?! Shame, shame, shame! (even though it’s to keep us safe near river beds during flash flooding) [42.195 km is 26.2 miles=a marathon >>born on this day in ‘78 in this county, about 2 hours east of here, in Twentynine Palms] Here’s to every one we have lost,…

New Zealand Adventure!

I have to use the ! when writing about this place. There’s a reason it’s become the place to be. Here are annotated photos from my first full day in Auckland and running on Waiheke Island. 😭😭😭Her visa application was rejected. So, my beautiful girlfriend is in the Philippines right now. 我是一个人。 This tree is…

Shanghai Marathon

Sometimes it’s nice to be on the other side: handing tomatoes and cucumber pieces to marathoners, cheering countless 加油’s (“jia you!”), and supporting our friends and teammates. 加油!

Lessons Learned: Yokohama Marathon, November 10, 2019

Here’s the story, in short (in no particular order)… 1. Japanese volunteers, race officials and spectators are more vocal on the whole than perhaps any spectators I’ve encountered this side of Boston. 2. Japanese spectators outstretch their hands more for high-fives than anywhere else I’ve seen. 3. At 28k, there are gorgeous Carnivalesque dancers clad…

China: Marathon Training Weekend

Friday, October 25th: 10 x 1 mile “Square” relay around Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai. Our InterSport team up against 106 other corporate teams from around Shanghai. Leigh & I rushed in from work, way from the other side of the city. Very little time to warm up–enough stretching time but only about 3/4 mile…

This is the Chinese Dream

I’m living it… Saturday, October 19th on the East Bund Cruising, relaxed, from Rob’s Tower to within .8km of the East Bund’s terminal northern point. My longest training run in China. It’s one of the world’s nicest urban waterfronts. On Sunday, nothing like a trip to Disneyland with my wonderful girlfriend:

A Year in China, III

9/15: That was eerily rational. Chinese folks, at least 4 at once, stood fast as several of us exited the train at South Shaanxi. Wow. 9/16: Tired but less humidity, breezy, good air. I’m heading to InterSport. 4 classes today but felt like 2. 3 were 80 minute periods. But these sixth graders are great….

What if I Fall?

I could fall straight down Through to oblivion Crumpled, broken at the bottom Fuck that! I’m moving up! This thing is bigger than each of us Trashed, abandoned, hopeless (?) Never Catch yourself Allow yourself to be caught Never lose sight of the One… There is a passage ahead Get back into it Hold each…