Off line and off to Burma

Rangoon, Mandalay, political suppression, Aung San Suu Kyi, western trade embargoes, gin and tonic, a special place in my mother's heart.  Just some word association that comes to mind when I think of Burma.  I am spending the rest of this week preparing for a short break over the border and I can't wait.

Chinthe - Chinese guardian lions

I have lived in Asia for a little over eight years and for many of those I have waged a small internal war with myself over whether or not to go.  I am not sure what has made me change my mind, but certainly the recent events in the country have helped to reassure me on some level that it would be ok to go.  Also several friends over the years have visited, loved it and felt it was the right thing to do.  I may also just be getting old and therefore losing such a tight hold of my once staunchly held principles....

On the path to speed

On Thursday I ran my fastest mile, 9mins 27sec; however I didn't manage much else having run so fast that I tired myself out at 3.45km.  This got me thinking about speed training - everything I read about running talks about the need to speed train to increase your strength and times.  Speed as well as hill training, but with the absence of anything approaching a serious incline in Bangkok I think I am going to have to focus on speed while running here.  My conundrum is how to increase speed without flaking out with my first attempt and getting discouraged.

Why I run

I hit an age last March; an age when if you were a man it was said that your life was just beginning, but if you were a woman, you were ‘over the hill’.  Or, that is what society used to dictate.  In 2011 however, a women being 40 is meant to have everything going for her; a great career, a caring partner, perhaps kids but most importantly a fantastic figure.  Somehow, getting older has not proven to be any easier.  I dread to think what 50 will bring.  What ‘ideal’ will be being peddled in 2021?  So in August this year, fed up of, well being fed up, I started running.
 

I have tried to run before, I have had several failed attempts over the last 15 years but I never became comfortable, it never felt natural, never simple.  If I am to be honest, what drove to me run all those years ago was jealousy.  Jealously of my husband who, besides being caring and wonderful, is probably one of the most beautiful runners you can watch.  He glides, effortlessly.  It may not be the best reason to start something but that was what compelled me to try to run back then.