Shuifu, Yunnan International Half Marathon & a wonderful day in Yibin, Sichuan.
Tuesday was another busy day at
work; by the evening I caught up with an old Chinese friend of mine, from when
I used to live in Xujing; Gavin. We had a nice dinner and I showed him my new
apartment.
Unfortunately, since Korea I was
still suffering and recovering from a bad cold. So, with my half marathon
coming close I had planned to run every day but that didn’t happen.
Fortunately, the next day, on Wednesday I had a day off as the kids had an
Autumn outing. I used this day productively, I woke up early and went for an
early morning run in my area. I passed through the local park. It was so lovely
to see so many people, especially old people up early doing tai chi and so many
other sports together. It was calming and lovely to pass them on my run.
After a refreshing run I got
showered and heading for my 11am Chinese lesson. After this, I did some
shopping as I needed running shorts, running trainers and various other things.
After doing a big shop, including my standard monthly MINISO shop in which I
buy lots of toiletries and random stuff I don’t actually need, I went to Costa
Coffee on Weining Lu and had a working evening as on the weekend I’d be away
all weekend so wouldn’t have time to get all my TEIC work done, lesson planning
and global times writing.
14th-16th October, Shuifu International Half Marathon
The next day was my last day at work
for the week and I got myself packed and ready to leave for the airport early
Friday morning. I don’t even think I can bare to go into the raw details but
cut a crazy hectic silly me leaving so late morning short, I MISSED THE PLANE.
This weekend had been organised by an organisation who had paid for my flights,
hotel, food etc. for the weekend to come and participate in the international
marathon. It was only on this basis that it was paid for that I’d agreed to
participate really, although I really don’t regret paying for the flight as it
was such an AMAZING weekend.
Anyway, kind of fortunately for both
of us another guy who was travelling to Chongqing, and then Yibin & then
Shuifu for the marathon also missed the same flight! The metro in Shanghai IS
SO BIG, I really do underestimate how long it takes to get to places. Anyway,
we bit our tongue and jointly agreed to pay for the next flight at 11am costing
1200RMB AKA £146. For me this was quite a financial setback, but I felt bad
bailing on the marathon and had kind of mentally prepared myself for it. I
WANTED to do it! So we made the best of a bad situation, Jonatan (my new
Swedish friend who also missed the flight) kindly treated me to a coffee and we
sat and had breakfast. We eventually boarded the plane and arrived into
Chongqing (Sichuan Province, South of China faaaar from Shanghai), where we
would be taking the bus to Yibin – a city close to where the marathon would be
taking place.
We had some time so stopped for
lunch – my first taste of Sichuan’s infamously spicy food! The bus was SO NICE,
spacious and comfy. It was a four-hour bus, whereby I managed to stretch my
legs out, rest and enjoy the amazing views of lakes, rivers, rice fields,
greenery, trees, mountains and villages. It was truly beautiful and excited me
for what Shuifu was going to be like. We eventually arrived and were picked up
efficiently by a member of the organisation. It was around about 7pm, I was
tired and hungry!
WOW… arriving into the small
city/town/village was amazing. It was situated by China’s beautiful and
well-known YANGTZE river, and as we crossed the bridge we left Sichuan Province
and arrived into Yunnan Province. I can’t explain the feeling. I can genuinely
say, travelling here to a different part of China has really inspired me to do
even more travel around China. If you think you feel like a celebrity in
Shanghai or as if you are even living in China, travel here because WOW… as
soon as we got out the car there was so much to take in. Our hotel was SO fancy
and located right by the river and the start of the marathon. The atmosphere
was thrilling, and so many local people were asking for our picture.
This event was a big one, in fact it
was an INTERNATIONAL MARATHON; in which many of us foreigners were representing
the international aspect. Anyway after taking in all the curiosity, photos, we
checked into the really nice hotel in which we had a bath, comfy beds, luxury
in my eyes basically and then headed down to meet other people and have dinner!
Jonatan and I had dinner with some Malaysian and Indian Medical Students who
had travelled from Chengdu. They were so lovely, it was so nice to connect with
the South Indians as I am a British Indian and it was interesting to talk about
similar topics, e.g. food. I plan to travel to Goa, kerela, Rajastan and other
parts of South India during the Spring Festival; so it was so nice to speak
& chat with them. Similarly, THIS WEEKEND, I am going to Malaysia so was
cool to hang out with Malaysians. Anyway, after a lovely Chinese dinner I was
exhausted and decided to head back to the hotel, grab the bag, t-shirt and things
needed for the race, have a shower and go to bed! I was starting to get
nervous, but the medical students also seemed to have not trained so much like
me; and had come for the fun and experience.
So the next morning I rose early
around 6:15am to get ready and be on time for the 6:50am breakfast. Breakfast
was nice but my nerves in regards to the race made me lose my, usually healthy,
appetite. The atmosphere was INSANE. So many people, so many pictures, such a
build-up. I was generally EXCITED! We all got pumped up and then on the dot
8:30am… WE WERE OFF.
Wow… I remember it so precisely.
Starting the run. I’d been told to keep a steady, slow pace to begin with to
keep my stamina, pace and flow. Contrastingly, many Chinese people from behind
shooted past me; but I knew in my mind that they would quickly get tired out. I
jogged along. I quickly made friends with another British girl, we ran together
for a bit passing a part of the THREE GORGES DAM, and the mountains. It was
such beautiful scenery and setting around me, I was genuinely enjoying it. The
marathon of 21km would be two circuits around a route. My goal was to finish in
2 hours and 30 minutes, so 11am.
I kept running but annoyingly I
REALLY needed the loo. This probably set me back five minutes but hey ho. You
gotta go you gotta go. So the first quarter was fine, lots of buzz,
performances, singing along the way! As I was approaching the end of the first
half I was started to feel a bit exhausted, and I hadn’t walked yet so I knew
I’d walk some of the second half, particularly the steeper bits. I remember
coming towards the end of the first half of the half marathon (the first
circuit round) and seeing signs of 18km thinking… what it can’t have been? Then
I quickly realised I had to go round one more time.
Pain was beginning to kick into my
legs, especially my right leg. I passed the half way point in one hour and ten
minutes. In my head I felt this sense of pride, like “I can actually do this,
I’m going to finish this”. It was such a journey, meeting many people along the
way and having lots of selfies. The pain got worse close to my right knee, and
about half way rough the second half of the half marathon, so at 15km I was in
a lot of pain. I kept going. I walked, and mentally motivated myself. There
were lots of drink stops, wet sponges, bananas and cooling spray from medical
staff! (which I used as my leg was in general agony) It was so difficult to run
on – I think it may have been some sort of inflammation. I quickly regretted my
lack of training and stretching before the marathon.
Anyway, there was about 30 minutes
left until 11am, and I made an African Friend – Cobi. He gave me the buzz and
support. He was like he saw me run and was so surprised and said I’d done so
well. This positive comment really fuelled my desire to reach my goal of 2
hours and 30 minutes. He told me I had lots of time and could walk and run if I
needed to. We got through the last part together. It was such a great
experience; I remember how tough it was – I was in a lot of pain. I remember
coming close to the finishing line with 4 minutes left to 11 and Cobi saying
“Never give up!” We shooted past the finishing line together, at 10:59am
exactly.
It was so SURREAL to have finished.
I was overwhelmed in happiness and pain. So many people, kids, children,
everyone were coming up to us asking for photos. I just felt so proud,
overwhelmed and unreal in that point. It took a few minutes to gather myself.
As we waited in the queue for the medal and treats; I was in a lot of pain so
as Cobi waited in the queue I lay down for a leg massage by the medical staff.
I literally couldn’t walk on one leg and it felt amazing to have this massage.
Through the pain I headed back to the hotel room in such happiness and pride!
It was one of the most painful, rewarding and amazing experiences of my life. I
plan to attend many more half marathons; and one day a FULL MARATHON.
Anyway, I made it to my hotel room
and as much as I want to collapse in my bed forever, I took a shower, freshen
up and be ready for lunch at 12 o’clock. I literally couldn’t walk and when
putting pressure onto my right leg, the pain was REAL. But lunch was divine,
spicy lovely food, home-made chips, rice, vegetables, the works and red wine!
For Chinese wine the red wine was divine! At the end of the marathon, all of us
were given free tickets for the hot springs in the mountains! A bunch of us
decided to get the bus and head there.
It was nice to see the town; people
were so interested in us. Lots of waves and people asking for a picture with
me. We took the “old skl” bus to the hot springs, but it only took us so far
living us to walk up a steep hill. Through the pain I did it! I was with the
Indian guys, a new Iranian friend, Polish friend and Korean friend. My new
Korean friend, Jun, was so kind he even piggy backed me up some of the way. It
was wonderful! True paradise to get into the hot pools, of sulphur water,
coconut, all sorts! It soothed my aching body and legs. We spent a nice
relaxing couple of hours there before getting a cheap ride back to the hotel
for dinner at 6pm.
Dinner was lovely, another feast,
juicy watermelon and lots of red wine! It still hadn’t quite sunk in that YES I
HAD DONE IT. NO TRAINING. NO PRIOR RUNNING EXPERIENCE. I COMPLETED THE HALF
MARATHON IN 2HOURS29MINUTES BABY!!
That evening, by this point I
physically was in too much pain to walk. I decided to have a bath in the hotel,
relax and stay in bed. Lots of people were drinking but I couldn’t bare to
leave the bed, and physically walked like a penguin. Kindly, Jun my Korean
friend, sneaked a bottle of red wine from the kitchen and came to join me. We
shared the bottle of wine, chatted about life and listened to music. I love
meeting new people. Since teaching English in China, I’ve gained so many
friends from all over the world. I will hold onto them forever.
After a good night’s sleep the next
morning was TRAVEL DAY. Jonatan, Sally, Mike and I would be going back to
Shanghai together. We rose early thinking we would be taking the bus to
Chongqing at 7:30am… but it turns out our return flight was from YIBIN not
Chongqing. This was a combined relief and frustration. I was quite looking
forward to the 4hour chilled journey to Chongqing. But never mind, I went back
to bed for a few hours and then we took a bus to Yibin (not too far away) in
Yunnan Province at 12 o clock.
YIBIN WAS AMAZING. Wow… I can’t even
describe it to you. We dropped our bags to the airport and headed to the city
because we had 6 hours until we needed to head back to the nearby airport. I
wish my legs weren’t in so much pain but even so I made the most of the day
exploring. It felt like REAL REAL China. So calming, lots of carriages, food on
the streets, walking stalls, all sorts going on around me. Our first stop was
FOOD. We decided to have the famous, spicy, Sichuanese noodles. They were
scrumptious… but perhaps my Indian tongue handled the spice too well because
for me it wasn’t that spicy! This didn’t take away from the delicious taste and
flavour though!
We wandered more, and through each
step I kept falling in love with the city more and more. I love Shanghai, but I
really felt the Chinese vibe in Yibin. Its inspired me to travel more around
China. We found a cute coffee shop to sit in for a while. A bit later, Jonatan
and I decided to take a wander. We found a cute area, whereby there was an
outdoor sitting area to drink tea, shooting balloons range (Where yes we both
shot with a gun!) and I even had a feet pedicure on the street for 15rmb. I
felt content and happy.
We met back up with Sally and Mike
and sat in People’s Square for a bit. Sally and I noticed some pagoda/pavilion
Chinese style buildings tucked away in the trees of the mountains. My leg was
bad, but it really didn’t stop my desire to go find the trail and get up there!
So that we did. We walked up and it was so beautiful. The view was great of the
city, it was so natural and wonder with lakes, a tucked away zoo, dancing,
hikers, cyclists – everything! I really had this deep desire to live in Yibin.
It would be such a real Chinese experience. In Shanghai, I can get Western food
quite easily and there are “ways out”; here would be a complete culture shock
and valuable experience. I genuinely think I could do it… in fact I really want
to. Let’s see.
After this, it was time to head back
to the airport before our flight. Jonatan and I enjoyed a beer and our final
dose of Sichuanese spicy noodles. We boarded the plane, and in exhaustion,
tiredness and aching body, relaxed on the plane as we flew back to Shanghai,
Pudong International Airport… arriving three hours later.
It had been such a FULL, and amazing
weekend in which I completed a half-marathon, made lots of friends, tried lots
of food, experienced some of Yunnan and Sichuan Province, and made lots of
amazing memories! I feel so happy now at work. My next excitement is Malaysia
this Friday-Sunday. Not only am I seeing a friend from University who I haven’t
seen in a couple of years, I’m also seeing her amazing home-city, Kuala Lumpar
baby!!!
I’ll be in touch.
Sabrina xxx
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