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!
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