Wow! What a great weekend in the amazing city of Taipei! Taiwan has some really great people! I arrived Friday evening in preparation for my marathon Sunday. The hotel crew was really nice - I learned quickly that English isn't as common here but the hotel was helpful. They booked a sightseeing tour for me Saturday so I could see some sights of Taipei without walking too much. We visited the national memorial for Taiwan's heroes and watched the changing of the guard. The we visited some beautiful temples - most people in Taiwan are Buddhist. The most interesting stop was the national palace museum where it contains all the historical artifacts from China. Apparently the Communists didn't want any of it when they took over so they boxed up all the "stuff" in the Palace and sent to Taipei - now it's a beautiful museum with items from the Ming Dynasty and others. Very nice! We also visited the memorial to their most famous president - it reminded me of the Lincoln Memorial in DC. Taipei is a really city. Since I was getting ready to run, I only got to try the food Sunday afterwards but it was yummy! Chinese with a special Taiwanese kick!
Sunday I got up early to run 26.2 miles or 42km! It been raining for three weeks but not on race day! It was a perfect day -16 or 65 degrees. Of course I met two Americans at the start line from NC! They have been living in Taiwan for a couple years. Fun running buddy! The course was very nice too- flat, along the rivers in the city with mountains in the background, and lined with cheering fans. It was a tough and slow marathon for me but its my own fault. Lack of sleep and not focusing on my training become clear at mile 19! But I just pushed through and promised myself next time not to drink so much Chang and be focused! Haha
A couple things I learned running a marathon in Asia... Learn before hand how to say water in the local language, even porter pots in Asia are squat toilets so make sure you really need to go cause squatting after running 16 miles is really hard, be prepared to get your picture taken alot if you are the only westerner in the race, have a post race food plan if a meal that requires chop sticks isn't going to meet your hunger needs, and finally be prepared to be blown away by the generosity of the Asian people - they love sport and will cheer you for 42km and give you thumbs up all day!
So now I cross off on my list running a marathon in Asia - next up running one in Africa! :)
Here are a couple pictures- I will post more soon.
Picking up my packet!
Enjoying the Taiwan beer after the race!
The Finish Line - Preparations the day before
The changing of the guards
In front of the President's memorial
At the National Shrine to their Heroes
Lions at every Temple
The culture - temples every where!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday I got up early to run 26.2 miles or 42km! It been raining for three weeks but not on race day! It was a perfect day -16 or 65 degrees. Of course I met two Americans at the start line from NC! They have been living in Taiwan for a couple years. Fun running buddy! The course was very nice too- flat, along the rivers in the city with mountains in the background, and lined with cheering fans. It was a tough and slow marathon for me but its my own fault. Lack of sleep and not focusing on my training become clear at mile 19! But I just pushed through and promised myself next time not to drink so much Chang and be focused! Haha
A couple things I learned running a marathon in Asia... Learn before hand how to say water in the local language, even porter pots in Asia are squat toilets so make sure you really need to go cause squatting after running 16 miles is really hard, be prepared to get your picture taken alot if you are the only westerner in the race, have a post race food plan if a meal that requires chop sticks isn't going to meet your hunger needs, and finally be prepared to be blown away by the generosity of the Asian people - they love sport and will cheer you for 42km and give you thumbs up all day!
So now I cross off on my list running a marathon in Asia - next up running one in Africa! :)
Here are a couple pictures- I will post more soon.
Picking up my packet!
Enjoying the Taiwan beer after the race!
The Finish Line - Preparations the day before
The changing of the guardsAt a Temple
In front of the President's memorial
Lions at every Temple
The culture - temples every where!- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Taiwan
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