Hitting the pavement

Gyms and fitness studios have been instructed by the Hong Kong government to remain closed for another 2 weeks. For some reason, I cannot for the life of me get into online fitness or yoga sessions. It's similar to being in a hotel gym, I just can replicate the same intensity or motivation. I suspect it has something to do with familiarity but also the subtle motivation of having other people.

With that being said, I have purchased a yoga mat, a skipping rope and some resistance bands. This has eventuated to 15-20 minute "workouts" at home. When I say workouts, the term is loose, i break a sweat, but my heart rate isn't racing, but it still feels good to get the blood moving. My primary form of exercise has shifted to running. I no longer have the luxury of Bowen Road, however I've found an equally amazing running route near to home. 10 minutes away down by the harbour is Sun Yat Sen (SYS) Memorial park. On weekends, you can find plenty of people working out and casually lounging (well, at least before what happened).

Lately this park has become a surrogate fitness studio. I challenge you to go there during the week where there's not somebody running, boxing, using a TRX, doing yoga, HIIT. It's pretty cool and thankfully it's not summer in Hong Kong, yet.

So back to running, I have been running two to three times a week down by the harbour front along Victoria Harbour. My route, takes me from SYS along the harbour, through to Sheung Wan, up to Central along the CBD and the ferry piers, around past Admiralty over to the Golden Bauhinia. As far as runs go, it's a pretty epic 7 km roundtrip. Sometimes if I'm feeling ballsy I'll keep the run going past SYS and continue west towards Kennedy town and that tops the run up at approximately 10 km. The great thing about this run is that you get to see the entire harbour and all of the iconic buildings of Hong Kong. I sometimes have to pinch myself that the two regular running tracks that I have had are Bowen Road and the harbour front.

I am enjoying running, I do see my pace improving, not drastically, but enough to give me motivation. I do notice the difference between running when there's a headwind, or when I'm running in a fasted state. Admittedly I have become a little obsessed as I'll run now even if it's raining.

I don't usually run with my phone so haven't had the opportunity to take a photo, but I'll try to get something up soon.

June 21st: International Yoga Day

I have a sprained hamstring and a discombobulated shoulder, both results of reckless abandon at jiu jitsu. I attribute this to old age, I am no longer that twenty one year old blessed with youthful recovery time. Despite all of this I'm unusually obdurate about attending the inaugural International Yoga event.

My left eye opens at 6:30 am. I rub my face, groan and desultorily search for my phone. First thing's first, I need to stop the alarm. Phone, found. Alarm, off. I open my second eye and peek under the curtains. The sky is cloudy. Ok, that adjective fails to paint the picture, the sky is threatening. It's a struggle prising myself out of bed at this ungodly hour. There's messages on my phone from a few hours ago - "Out?" - sender, last seen online 5:32 am.

Decision made. I have breakfast and put on my yoga gear. 7:30 I reach to open the front door, my entire apartment is enveloped in darkness and the early morning silence is replaced by a distinct muffled roar. It's raining. Wait, no, it's absolutely pissing down. Well, can't say I didn't try! I change back into my PJs and crawl back into bed. I can't sleep, the rain stops.

My life is unnecessarily complicated, the internal monologue that guides and directs me down paths is fraught with indecision and supreme laziness. I finally arrive at Sun Yat Sen, the field is filled with people. It's an excellent turn out, especially considering the weather. There's lots of families, a plenty of people from all walks of life.

I manage to grab one of the last remaining yoga mats. The event has not managed to escape the precipitate precipitation - I spend the next five minutes wringing the water out of the yoga mat. It's a relaxing yoga sessions, basic postures with nothing too intense. The final pose is savasana. I lie there on my back with my eyes closed whilst listening to the peaceful soundtrack being played over the loudspeakers. I feel the drops of water fall onto my face, the rain comes down steadily, some people stand and make for shelter, I'm already wet and I slowly drifting back into sleep ...