For some reason, the temps here have been abnormally cold! This week, the highs are finally getting into the teens Celsius, (50s-60s F), which is great, but the mornings are still only about freezing, or just above. The trees are still bare. Luckily the sun comes out daily! Looking at weather.com, the lows are usually around 4-5c and the highs are in the teens. This year has been extremely cold for Korea. I blame this on me, the country must have known I was coming and that I can't stand the cold! Looks like for the next few weeks I have to continue to suffer through morning runs and cycles in near freezing temps. Weather is my biggest complaint, and there is nothing I can do about it!
Dear Korea,
PLEASE GET HOT NOW!
Thanks,
The freezing waygook
(waygook = korean for foreigner)
This past weekend was another race for me! 10k #2, I did much better on this one then my last 10k! The weather was good for running, sunny about 45F. Could have been a bit warmer, but it was good for the run. I was a few min off from a PR, but I am improving. Next race is a 1/2 marathon next weekend. :)
This weekend I also experimented with "cooking"!!! I picked up a mini blender/juicer/food processor/chopper. So I made some naan bread, strawberry/apple/orange juice, hummus, and the best thing - peanut butter!!! The PB is so good! Last night, I decided to try out making a quiche for the 1st time. I made it the healthy way (low fat milk, egg whites, and no cheese) crust-less of course. It turned out really really well!! I like this whole - trying to cook thing! Please feel free to send me simple low fat recipes to try!!!! If I can get the ingredients here, I will try and make it!!
I have started on doing 2 -a-days in prep for tri season and the Ironman70.3, July 3rd! I got out on my new bike for my first training ride this morning. (vs just a little ride around my house for changing the fitting on the bike). I would like it say it was a good ride, but it was too cold. Every time I got going fast, I froze. By the time I got home, I was an icicle. It was miserable. Their might as well have been a few inches of snow on the ground. Please keep your fingers crossed that it warms up, I don't know how many layers I can wear before I am too bundled up to move.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Ready to Ride
Yesterday, I spent the day up in Seoul. It started with a short run with my running club, the Seoul Flyers! I am helping a new runner build up to a 1/2marathon and then a marathon! She's doing a 10k this morning, so yesterday she and I did a slow 3 miler. Felt great to be out there running along the Han River. It's an amazing place to run and looks beautiful! (makes me anxious for next year, I will be looking for a job in Seoul near the Han!)
After the run and a cup of coffee, I set out to find a road bike!!! I found my bike at the 3rd shop I went to! I'm pretty excited about the bike. It is just another "entry level" bike. I went back and fourth for about a month on whether or not to spend the money on a better bike or go entry level again. I am planning 2 years in Korea and it's very likely that I will sell this bike when I leave. That being said, I think going for a lower end bike was the best idea! I think I got lucky too.. the bike shop had a few of the 2010 models left of my bike, so I got a great deal on it. My new bike is a 2010 Fuji Finest 2.0. It does have Shimano components, a mix of Sora and Tiagra. Which I think its great - if I went with the 2011 models, I would have paid the same price for Shimano 2300 components (which is their lowest one). With the bike, I had to purchase pedals, shoes, helmet, and a lock. Those were the absolute essentials to get started. I will need to pick up a tire pump asap, but those you can get most anywhere. The store had 2 people who spoke enough English to help me out. If they were fluent, I would have had a ton of questions about the bike and made sure they did a proper bike fitting, but alas I don't know enough Korean and they don't know enough English for this to happen. I read some very positive reviews about the bike, saying its the best entry level bike money can buy. After a few hours at the bike shop, picking everything out and arranging shipping, they told me they would give me the water bottle cages and lights as "service" aka for free!! Whoo, on top of the overall discount they gave me for buying everything at their shop (about 8% off). I would go back there for sure!!
On my way home, I popped into the New Balance store, and was excited to find they carry my running shoes... so I picked up a pair of those too! I figured I'm due for a new pair in about a month, so I might as well! They we're probably about $30 more then in the US, since they are a US product and have to be shipped. I wish Brooks sold products here, since I have a partial sponsorship from them, and should be wearing all Brooks... boo!
Today, soon as the rain clears up, I'll be headed out for a 10 mile run! Taking it nice and slow, I didn't get in as much training as I needed this week, I was a bit under the weather for a few days due to some bad food! eeek!
The BEST NEWS of my weekend: http://ironmankorea.com/ Ironman will is coming to Korea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoo!!! Ironman had just made its debut in Texas (Galveston and The Woodlands when I left boo) and now it will be here in Korea! The race was held annually from 2000-2005 on Jeju Island, and this year it will return to the island! I was planning on my first race to be in the Philippians on August 14th, but I'm going to put all my effort into being race ready in time for July 3rd! Its about 15 weeks from now, which means I'm a bit behind on my training. The goal for 2011 is injury free, so I may not be able to compete in Jeju, but I'm going to push to get ready!!! If I can't, I will have the Philippians as my fall back :) If I can't participate in IM70.3 Korea, I will go down to the island to volunteer and cheer for the participants!! :)
Not too much is going on at school, still only teaching a few classes each day, that will change next month! I have decided that I'll be opting out of school lunches next month, they change me $80 a month and most days I don't eat because they serve food I'm allergic to. Boo!
After the run and a cup of coffee, I set out to find a road bike!!! I found my bike at the 3rd shop I went to! I'm pretty excited about the bike. It is just another "entry level" bike. I went back and fourth for about a month on whether or not to spend the money on a better bike or go entry level again. I am planning 2 years in Korea and it's very likely that I will sell this bike when I leave. That being said, I think going for a lower end bike was the best idea! I think I got lucky too.. the bike shop had a few of the 2010 models left of my bike, so I got a great deal on it. My new bike is a 2010 Fuji Finest 2.0. It does have Shimano components, a mix of Sora and Tiagra. Which I think its great - if I went with the 2011 models, I would have paid the same price for Shimano 2300 components (which is their lowest one). With the bike, I had to purchase pedals, shoes, helmet, and a lock. Those were the absolute essentials to get started. I will need to pick up a tire pump asap, but those you can get most anywhere. The store had 2 people who spoke enough English to help me out. If they were fluent, I would have had a ton of questions about the bike and made sure they did a proper bike fitting, but alas I don't know enough Korean and they don't know enough English for this to happen. I read some very positive reviews about the bike, saying its the best entry level bike money can buy. After a few hours at the bike shop, picking everything out and arranging shipping, they told me they would give me the water bottle cages and lights as "service" aka for free!! Whoo, on top of the overall discount they gave me for buying everything at their shop (about 8% off). I would go back there for sure!!
On my way home, I popped into the New Balance store, and was excited to find they carry my running shoes... so I picked up a pair of those too! I figured I'm due for a new pair in about a month, so I might as well! They we're probably about $30 more then in the US, since they are a US product and have to be shipped. I wish Brooks sold products here, since I have a partial sponsorship from them, and should be wearing all Brooks... boo!
Today, soon as the rain clears up, I'll be headed out for a 10 mile run! Taking it nice and slow, I didn't get in as much training as I needed this week, I was a bit under the weather for a few days due to some bad food! eeek!
The BEST NEWS of my weekend: http://ironmankorea.com/ Ironman will is coming to Korea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoo!!! Ironman had just made its debut in Texas (Galveston and The Woodlands when I left boo) and now it will be here in Korea! The race was held annually from 2000-2005 on Jeju Island, and this year it will return to the island! I was planning on my first race to be in the Philippians on August 14th, but I'm going to put all my effort into being race ready in time for July 3rd! Its about 15 weeks from now, which means I'm a bit behind on my training. The goal for 2011 is injury free, so I may not be able to compete in Jeju, but I'm going to push to get ready!!! If I can't, I will have the Philippians as my fall back :) If I can't participate in IM70.3 Korea, I will go down to the island to volunteer and cheer for the participants!! :)
Not too much is going on at school, still only teaching a few classes each day, that will change next month! I have decided that I'll be opting out of school lunches next month, they change me $80 a month and most days I don't eat because they serve food I'm allergic to. Boo!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Just Relax
Since the last update, there has only been a bit of excitement in my life! Last week, Friday, I went to dinner with all my co-workers. Another school dinner. This time we went out for sushi. It was a little bit different then in the states. The first course was 2 salads, prawns (ones that stared at you) and octopus - something about bit odd about the octopus that was put in front of me... it was still moving. Yes, they cut it up while it is still alive and when you eat it the little tentacles are still moving. I gave it a try, since they really wanted me too... ICK! I don't really eat meat and avoid food on a bone, so it took about 5 min to work up the ability to eat the little thing. The next course was a huge platter of sashimi followed by sushi and gimbap. The sushi was the kind that is the piece of fish on rice, it was not wrapped with seaweed and didn't have any fun things inside. They also served 3 different cooked fish and soup with dinner, by the time that stuff came out, I was stuffed!
I spent most of last weekend just relaxing! I've had a very busy time since I've been here. I have gone to Seoul every weekend since I arrived, and then some! I wanted a little break. I began reading this book, Once A Runner! It's great!! I did some cleaning and reorganizing, finished up some things to hang in the classroom, and did some grocery shopping. It didn't help that I had begun to come down with a little cold, and did not feel well. I suppose it was a good thing, I spent the weekend in! I did meet up with a friend for coffee on Sunday morning!
School went well this week, I had my first full week of teaching, taught at least 1 class per day. They all went very well and the kids seem to like me! :) I have a lot of lesson planning to do, so I spend a good portion of my day creating power points and looking up teaching tools and worksheets online. I am always looking for new games to play too, they are a little old for some of the elementary games, but I like to finish class on a good note, specially if the lesson is as dry as phonics.
This weeks training has gone well. Sunday will be 3 weeks till my next race! Here is what I've done so far:
M - Run 3, Lift legs, Yoga
T - Run 3, swim 2100m
W - rest
T - Run 3, Yoga
Today will be Yoga, Saturday will be a run + swim, and Sunday will be a run! The weather is looking good for the weekend, we should hit a high of 12-13C on Saturday. We have had temps in the mornings of around -1(30F), and highs of around 6C(45F). I'm looking forward to the weekend warm up, and hope the temps are here to stay!
New pictures coming soon! :)
Oh and I learned something the hard way about mail here in Korea.... if you send something to me, it needs to go to my school not my home. I was sent a package in January that hasn't arrived, and I assume never will. It's likely to have been set outside my door by the mail man, and mistaken for trash by the trash man (then seem to dropoff/pick up in about the same spot). So if you want to send me something I'll have to give you my schools address! I know I receive mail there :)
Oh and I learned something the hard way about mail here in Korea.... if you send something to me, it needs to go to my school not my home. I was sent a package in January that hasn't arrived, and I assume never will. It's likely to have been set outside my door by the mail man, and mistaken for trash by the trash man (then seem to dropoff/pick up in about the same spot). So if you want to send me something I'll have to give you my schools address! I know I receive mail there :)
Friday, March 4, 2011
Back to School, Back to School
The new school year started this week! The school has been filled with children now. Our incoming 1st grade class (aka 7th grade) is very small, only about 30 children. The school is very small compared to other public schools in the area, about 120 students total. I feel like all the students and teachers like me very much! I have been told by my co-teacher that the children are excited for my class and happy to have me as a teacher :) Some of my co-workers have told me that they think I'm great and like me better then their previous foreign teacher (I probably shouldn't repeat that, hee hee). I begin teaching today! My class schedule goes as follows:
M-F 0810-0855 soccer team
M-T 1535-1620 open class (I teach to any one who wants to come)
M- 1155-1240 2nd grade
T- 1425-1510 1st grade
W- 0910-0955 2nd grade
Th- 1425-1535 3rd grade
F- 1155-1240 3rd grade
I will end up adding in about 5 more classes, in order to teach the teachers. I'm very excited about teaching the teacher, I think that will help me become better friends with them :) no to mention the experience of teaching adults!! My schedule is very light so far, my contract states that I should teach 22 classes a week, and I only have 14 right now! Lots of planning time on my hands, which means my lessons should be awesome! My first lesson is just an intro lesson - pick English names if they don't have one, play a few games, learn the rules... typical 1st lesson! I have been using this awesome site www.waygook.org to get ideas, lessons, powerpoints, games, etc! It's very helpful. I am always up to hear ideas and suggestions for fun things to do!! Please feel free to message me if you have any!
This week was a national holiday, it was to celebrate the beginning of the Independence movement against Japan. I spent the day up in Seoul (surprise, surprise). A friend and I got coffee, then went to the Contemporary Art Museum to see the Picasso display! It was great! I really enjoyed the art. We followed that with dinner in Itaewon (foreigner area) at a middle eastern place, yum hummus!
This past weekend I did another race, this one was a 10k(6.2mi) and it really did not go well! The weather on Sunday was terrible! It was just warm enough to have rain, so about 1C (34F) and it was pouring down rain! I am proud that I actually did the race, since I'm such a wimp when it comes to cold weather. I was drenched by the 1k mark. Puddles were everywhere, so my shoes were soaked as well. I finished, which was good. I spent the rest of my day on my couch wrapped in blankets! Saturday was a fun day, got up early and went up to Seoul, I had arranged to meet with some people who were leaving the country that day to buy some of their things, I got a tent for camping and a wireless router! I now have wireless all set up at home :) and am excited to plan my first camping trip! I just have to wait for the weather to warm up. I spent the afternoon with my friends shopping. Stayed the night in Seoul to be there for my race in the morning!
I am excited for this month! I am buying a road bike in a few weeks, I think I've picked out a Cannondale, I need to test it out of course before I buy! I have another 10k on the 27th. I start my 20 week training program for my 1/2 Ironman on March 14th. And I have decided to dedicate 1 hour a day (M-F) to learning Korean! :)
M-F 0810-0855 soccer team
M-T 1535-1620 open class (I teach to any one who wants to come)
M- 1155-1240 2nd grade
T- 1425-1510 1st grade
W- 0910-0955 2nd grade
Th- 1425-1535 3rd grade
F- 1155-1240 3rd grade
I will end up adding in about 5 more classes, in order to teach the teachers. I'm very excited about teaching the teacher, I think that will help me become better friends with them :) no to mention the experience of teaching adults!! My schedule is very light so far, my contract states that I should teach 22 classes a week, and I only have 14 right now! Lots of planning time on my hands, which means my lessons should be awesome! My first lesson is just an intro lesson - pick English names if they don't have one, play a few games, learn the rules... typical 1st lesson! I have been using this awesome site www.waygook.org to get ideas, lessons, powerpoints, games, etc! It's very helpful. I am always up to hear ideas and suggestions for fun things to do!! Please feel free to message me if you have any!
This week was a national holiday, it was to celebrate the beginning of the Independence movement against Japan. I spent the day up in Seoul (surprise, surprise). A friend and I got coffee, then went to the Contemporary Art Museum to see the Picasso display! It was great! I really enjoyed the art. We followed that with dinner in Itaewon (foreigner area) at a middle eastern place, yum hummus!
This past weekend I did another race, this one was a 10k(6.2mi) and it really did not go well! The weather on Sunday was terrible! It was just warm enough to have rain, so about 1C (34F) and it was pouring down rain! I am proud that I actually did the race, since I'm such a wimp when it comes to cold weather. I was drenched by the 1k mark. Puddles were everywhere, so my shoes were soaked as well. I finished, which was good. I spent the rest of my day on my couch wrapped in blankets! Saturday was a fun day, got up early and went up to Seoul, I had arranged to meet with some people who were leaving the country that day to buy some of their things, I got a tent for camping and a wireless router! I now have wireless all set up at home :) and am excited to plan my first camping trip! I just have to wait for the weather to warm up. I spent the afternoon with my friends shopping. Stayed the night in Seoul to be there for my race in the morning!
I am excited for this month! I am buying a road bike in a few weeks, I think I've picked out a Cannondale, I need to test it out of course before I buy! I have another 10k on the 27th. I start my 20 week training program for my 1/2 Ironman on March 14th. And I have decided to dedicate 1 hour a day (M-F) to learning Korean! :)
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