Sunday Dec 9 |
 | Run 1:02:00 [3] 13 km (4:46 / km) | |
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| Did this pretty well straight after arriving home and struggled as expected - never really felt at all comfortable after not getting a lot of sleep overnight and eating something on the plane which didn't quite agree with me (having survived Hanoi with no problems of that sort whatsoever). Happy to get this over and done with. A bit of a shock to the system to experience some hills (Hanoi has none unless you count the river banks). |
Saturday Dec 8 |
| Run 2:09:00 [3] 28 km (4:36 / km) | |
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| The last run in Hanoi. I thought being a Saturday morning might make the traffic a bit easier than during the week, but it wasn't (if anything it was more awkward in places as more footpaths got taken over for markets). Most of this run was a big loop around the outside of the central city area, although I did an out-and-back section to the other side of the Red River, crossing possibly the most-frequently-bombed structure in human history (during the war it was the only crossing and therefore a regular target of the Americans). I must be getting used to the local conditions - I don't think I would have been standing in the middle of the road in front of an oncoming bus waiting for a gap in the motorbikes this time last week. Wandering dogs in places were a bit unsettling - I suspect rabies is rife in these parts - but none gave me any trouble. (I don't expect Hanoi has a dog pound - one imagines any strays end up on the barbeque).
The first half-hour of the run wasn't as good as some this week, but gradually built through the middle, and once again had plenty left at the end.
Spotted a sign which appeared to say 'no horn-blowing'. If the Vietnamese government levied fines for all cases of horn-blowing they could abolish all other taxes and still have a multi-billion surplus to spare. (I also read somewhere that motorbike helmets are being made compulsory next year, but I'll believe that when I see it).
And - we have a winner in the 'unusual loads on motorbikes' contest. I went to a pagoda about 30km out of Hanoi today and saw a motorbike with a cow on the back of it. It wasn't a very big cow but it was definitely a cow. |
Friday Dec 7 |
| Run 40:00 [3] 9 km (4:27 / km) | |
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| Another decent run once initial stiffness had loosened up - really surprised at how well I've been going this week given the less-than-optimal training environment. Some of this one was devoted to trying to find a functional ATM (without success in the morning, but got one at lunchtime).Towards the end passed a sign displaying Hanoi's road toll (415 this year compared with 522 last year; about 2.5 times that of Melbourne, a similar-sized city, which isn't as bad as I thought it might have been).
The workshop finished today - a really good group to work with. I said in my closing talk that I hoped to get to everyone's country eventually, which might be stretching it a bit, but Bhutan and Nepal would definitely be especially high on my to-do list. One thing which did take me rather by surprise was when the representative of a certain SE Asian country whose repressive government has been in the news a bit lately (who was, after all, an employee of said government) got stuck into his country's rulers in no uncertain fashion over afternoon tea.
I fly out tomorrow night, so probably no updates until the end of the weekend. |
Thursday Dec 6 |
| Run 1:58:00 [3] 26 km (4:32 / km) | |
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| Started out by heading past the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and then did a circuit of the West Lake, the main lake in the Hanoi area (unsurprisingly its eastern shore plays host to some of Hanoi's most highly desirable real estate). The advantage of circling a lake is not too many road crossings, although there were still a few hairy sections where the footpath disappeared. A solid run and still had plenty left at the end - am surprised by how well I've been running this week given the environment. A hint of right knee soreness at one stage but that quickly disappeared.
Seeing people texting whilst riding a motorbike has become commonplace this week, but someone today added degree-of-difficulty points by balancing a baby on their lap at the same time. |
Wednesday Dec 5 |
| Run 1:12:00 [3] 15 km (4:48 / km) | |
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| Headed west today, and was out earlier in the morning (the traffic was almost light at 6.15), both of which made for a more pleasant run - the newer suburbs west of the canal have larger blocks and decent footpaths (at least where they haven't been appropriated for impromptu markets), and there was a long stretch through suburbs largely under construction where there wasn't much traffic at all. I wasn't entirely sure of where I was here (and unsurprisingly the map only bore a passing resemblance to the ground) but it worked out OK. Felt pretty good too.
The workshop organisers were appalled by the thought that I would rather walk 10 minutes to the venue than have them send a car to pick me up. I wonder what they would think if they knew what I was doing beforehand?
Motorbike sight of the day: someone riding a motorbike alongside a rickshaw and pushing the rickshaw along with their outstretched foot. |
Tuesday Dec 4 |
| Run intervals 39:00 [4] 9 km (4:20 / km) | |
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| Found a reasonably traffic-free path around a lake to do a good intervals session (10x1 min, 1 min in between). One of the better speed sessions I've done for a while with quite a sharp feeling, especially in the middle repetitions. Still fun and games getting to and from the lake.
I'm quite happy to go local when eating in foreign countries but went past one place tonight which was a bit too local for comfort (dog roasting on the spit). One thing, though, which is entirely globalised seems to be TV - 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' is on. I presume the top prize (of $120,000) is in US$ as a million dong is about $70.
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Monday Dec 3 |
| Run 41:00 [3] 9 km (4:33 / km) | |
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| A fairly similar type of run to yesterday, although felt better than yesterday. Either the traffic was a bit lighter or I'm getting more used to it - I suspect the latter.
Largest items I've seen transported on a motorbike so far - a ladder, two bookshelves and a double mattress. Makes the Chaser's effort of seeking to move house by public transport seem tame. |