Slow and Steady... FINISHES the RACE!

12-Weeks of Training ... CHECK!

Pre-Week Prep … find a sleeveless tank top. I went to E-Mart (like Super Target) and tried on two Adidas tank tops because I wanted to “look good” to “feel good.” Too bad size 100 was still a little too tight. I thought I lost hope until I browsed the underwear section only to find a Men’s “Energize” Running Tank Top! It wasn’t aesthetically pleasing, but I ended up saving W20,000 thanks to me being an extra largee..

Day before Race … I took Betsy and Sarah with me and we stayed in a hotel about 10 mins away from the start line. We laid by the pool and carbo-loaded with spaghetti for my pre-race meal. We were back in the hotel by 8:30pm because it would be an early morning.

RACE DAY … We arrived at the park at 7:15am and were over an hour early. Before the race, there was some stage entertainment. A Violinist and Dancers, 5 dancers dressed in Dodger Jerseys, and an Aerobics Instructor to assist in our pre-race warm up. I checked out the competition… some really young kids and some really old guys. My two goals were simple – don’t stop and don’t come in last!

Then approximately just over 1,000 people (93% men) lined up for the 10km Course and off we went. During the race, I rocked out to some oldies but goodies, said “are you f-ing kidding me” out loud as a woman cuts me off when it was completely unnecessary, and was entertained by drummers around each bend and a girl rollerblading while eating ice cream.

1 Hour 2 Minutes and 6 seconds later… I crossed the finish line!! (20 minutes earlier than my dry run at week 6).

THOUGHTS… What a great 12 weeks. When I got to Korea, I could barely run 30mins without stopping so I am proud of myself and it was a great experience. I said before it would be my first and last.. but I may have to take that back!

Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/user/megshep09

LIVE!

Pictures:

http://community.webshots.com/user/megshep09

Seorak Mountain

A weekend getaway to Seorak Mountain in Gangwon-Do (about 4hrs east of Seoul) was a great break from the polluted, populated city life. My friends, Sarah, Nick, Erin, and I hiked to the Ulsanbawi Peak of the Mountain which was about 1hr40min one way on Saturday and went on a “leisure” walk to a small waterfall on Sunday. We went through a tour group called Adventure Korea so there was about 40 people from all over Korea with us.

Besides the hiking…
***I kept catching myself using improper grammar and thinking “god I need to get outta here before I revert to a kindergarten level English speaker”
Example: “Betsy boughten her first hair straightener”

***I was embarrassed by the guy on our trip from MN who introduced himself as “Dick from Uranus” on the bus

***I took as many deep breaths as I could because it wasn’t air filled with kimchi, soju, fish and sewer.

More Pictures:

http://community.webshots.com/user/megshep09

Fukuoka, Japan

Day ONE Checklist
1. Get screened for the Swine Flu at the airport (fill out a survey)
2. Get a mug shot and fingerprinted at Immigration (everyone had to)
3. Go to the Sega Game Complex
4. Bow to the porcelain god and puke in their toilet
5. Sleep 4 hours and wonder if I did have the swine flu
6. Feel better and limp to a baseball game because I have 2 huge blisters on my foot
7. Watch a baseball game by myself and go back to the hostel
8. Get a good night’s sleep

Day TWO Checklist
1. Wake up feeling good but cant walk because my left foot is now swollen and pussing and wicked painful
2. Go to a pharmacist instead of a doctor and get antibiotic cream, a Band-Aid, and a smile
3. Walk about 2hours with 2 socks on my left foot and a shoe on my right
4. Get mad after finding out that capsule hotels are only for men
5. Find a pair of Y210 ($2) slippers and be blessed with comfort
6. Eat sushi, pizza, a taco, pasta, and ice cream at a buffet for Y1,480 ($14) and decide if my stomach was mad at me again. (It wasn’t)
7. Go into the side alleys and wonder why prostitution is so “out there” in Japan
8. Spend $10 playing pachinko (like plinko) and wonder how to win
9. Crash a wedding at a shrine by taking pictures of the traditional wear
10. Slurp up some delicious and apparently famous Fukuoka “Ramen”
11. Meet up with a friend of a friend to show us the nightlife
12. Steal a beer mug with Japanese writing
13. Walk around forever finding my accommodation
14. Sleep tight on a comfy Japanese mat and down comforter in a traditional Japanese-style house

Day THREE Checklist
1. Eat something fatty to cure the hangover- Wendy’s is a good choice
2. Dissect a “fried squid ball” and be thankful I didn’t eat it
3. Visit some temples and take pictures
4. Stand on a stair to try and see a parade from the Hakata Donkatu Festival
5. Reach into my pocket only to find a Y5,000 bill ($50) that I picked up at the bar
6. Head to the airport and take a nap
7. Treat my friends to dinner with someone else’s money
8. Hope my slippers will make it to my officetel. (They did)

A little bit of adversity and adventure to make it a great trip to Japan!

Pictures! http://community.webshots.com/user/megshep09