Not only are there no parks worth running round but the pavements are teaming with people, they are cluttered with street furniture and full of dried shark fins displayed on blankets on the floor outside all manner of shops. If that wasn't bad enough I think every parent buys their children, that won't work in finance, a trolley on their 16th birthday as Hong Kong definitely has a 'have trolley will work' mantra about it.
I did manage one run, at 8 minute mile pace for 2 miles, round the only green space nearby Becs' apartment; a 200 metre circumference circle of grass with a statue in the middle of it. It was mind numbingly boring but the fact that I was joined by about twenty runners reiterates how sparse HK is for runners; I even saw someone running round it at 2 am...
Still, HK is great city and never ceases to amaze. It is ecliptic mix of oriental ethos and expat bankers. It is also a haven for people with a childish sense humour. Shops called Wanko and streets called Man Fuk Lane and Man Ming Lane make every street corner a potential Benny Hill paradise zone. I was similar amazed on this, and my previous, visit by the domination of 7 Eleven within Hong Kong. They must make more in one city than they make in the whole of the UK.
As adventurous as ever I sampled the local delicacies of crispy pigeon, black fungus and chicken feet. The pigeon was quite nice but the least said about the other two the better. I can still detect the faint taste of the sinewy gristle of the chicken feet. I should have known better than take any culinary advice from a race that bites off bits of crab still in the shells, crunches the shell and spits out the bits that can't be swallowed. Also whilst I enjoy using them chopsticks are ridiculous when you consider the advantages of a knife and fork...
I spent the most of this visit on the Outlying Islands and New Territories. I was also surprised by the amount of German people that came up to me asking whether I spoke German. See what you think about the picture of my moustache's day out to the Buddha on Lantau Island but I can't see it...
The moustache got the lack of approval from Becs that I expected but one bonus is now she doesn't hate the full beard quite as much as before. Besides the contempt of the tache took the attention from me shortening my stay at either end to go over Upton Park; wasted intentions after another disappointing result at home to Birmingham on Monday.
Still, Monday also contained a 3.7 mile run at good pace to keep the legs remembering how to run which was testament to a great flight home in Virgin Upper Class and the hour spent on arrival in their Revival Lounge having a shower and Eggs Benedict. I can't stand flying but it is a great perk of Becs' stay in HK that I could upgrade on the return flight and get a bed and good meal on the flight.
The final note of merit/thanks this week is the fact that I have managed to sell all the Paris sweep stake tickets. This means I have raised £300 for Mencap, that I wouldn't have otherwise raised. It has also triggered the gambling instinct in my friends, family and work colleagues. Ones with slower times threatening knee capping whereas others who randomly picked faster times are offering to carry my bag or discouraging me from going to the pub.
Next week: continue tapering, first big race of the season and then ramp up the swimming training for the 10k swim.
TTFN...
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