The long run

Finally clicked over the 30 km mark. Prior to signing up for this event the furthest I'd ever run was 21 km. It's all relative where 20 km feels like a non-event. Roughly 2 hours (for me), but with this week's run of 34 kms, it took me just under 4 hours. That's a long time to be out running. Aside from actually running that long, the other challenge is finding long enough routes.

Have found some decent routes in excess of 30 kms in Sydney, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The challenge with Singapore and Hong Kong is that during this time of the year, it gets hot, quick. So even starting at 6 am, but the time you've wrapped up it's almost 10 am and it's warm. 

Hong Kong Q2 Dump

Not a whole lot to report here. In between the travel between Singapore and Sydney it's really just been sparse amounts of socialising and a huge amount of running. Four times a week, Saturday easy run, Sunday long run with intervals and threshold between. Some highlights include, MTG, Farewells, Dragon Boat Festival Zhongzi, Coldplay, long runs with visitors to Hong Kong, Hikes, Blood donation, Jimmy O Yang, and Udatsu Sushi, Lei Yue Mun fish markets with cousin.

Standard Chartered Half 2025

The original plan was to set a new PB in January and enjoy the Standard Chartered run. However, things don't always go to plan. Given the fact that I had missed that PB, I decided to give this course a proper crack. More gels, decent prep. Final time 1:44:20 - new PB! 

The day was perfect. Cool in the morning. Still crowded, but being in the challenge pack meant things cleared up around the 3 km mark, and got busy again around the 18 km market. Great course, could have gone faster and felt good at the finish line. Sneak peak of pre and post eating.

Macao Bridge Half Marathon

First run of the year. Really enjoyable race, along the 55 km Macao-Zhuhai Bridge, this Half Marathon takes you 11 km across the border and then brings you back. Fun course, not oversubscribed, long declines, challenging climbs. Sunrise, and airplanes. Only issue, it's an early start. Get to Asia World Expo by 6 to get a bus out to the start line. What more could you want?

Mis-timed my fuelling, was on PB time until I bonked around the 18 km mark, 4 gels not enough. Official time 1:45:25. Happy with that all things considered.

 

The meaning of life

42 - Gosh time is rocketing by. Let me pause for a quick reflection. It's almost the answer to the trite question of "How's it going?". Things are going well. 

Work and career feel good, there are obvious pain points with work, but no job is perfect and lately I've managed to really take control of my time and managing work a little better. I can't help but feel what the next step is? 

As for Hong Kong, I'm enjoying this phase of Hong Kong, it has almost everything that I need. Going out less, still socialising, catching up with people, drinking less, doing much more exercise, really trying to eat better, sleep better. I've settled into North Point, and have a great routine going. Can't help but wonder if I'm coming to the end of my Hong Kong chapter. More on that later.

Relationship. Things with the shorter long-distance are doing well. I've lost count of the number of times I've been to Singapore this year, but the trips there are easy, not tiring and have really enjoyed that being my, second, maybe third home. At some point in time need to see how to get over to Singapore.

Sydney, would like to get back more, lots of stuff happening back home I wish I were there for. Loved ones growing older. Feel like I'm missing out, need to try to get back a little more. Although I am excited to be back in a few weeks.

Some of the highlights of the recent birthday. Egg tart from the intern (not for my birthday, but happened to be on my Birthday). Some Magic cards from a friend. Some Minties from relatives and a Pavlova from the lady. Low key dinner topped off with Birthday messages from friends. My kind of Birthday.

Out with the old ...

 Working with narrow window - need to pack, arrange movers, sell old items and prepare for the move