mini jr post

Just a little note to say 'Hello, North Korea has not gotten us... yet'.


Tim and I are just on our way to the staff Christmas party.  We have a 'Christmas Day' at school tomorrow for the kindergartens and will be heading to Jeju on Thursday for a few days!


This past weekend, Tim was sick with a flu-ish type illness and had to miss out on the run in Nak Dong with the Waeguks Got Runs group.  


I went... ALONE.... and got to see the old gang again for what turned out to be a 9km course run mostly on dirt paths, led by a man on a scooter.  So, it was a genuine 'fun' run, in every sense of the word. 

Because I can't help it:
It was a great run/race. I decided to treat it as a 10km tempo for my upcoming half marathon ( in Feb), and although it did come up short by a km, I did manage to stay on pace for my goal of 4:15 kilometres. Yes-ah!


Afterwards, a group of us went out for barbeque - a meal I don't think that I have even talked about yet, but is super common in Korea. 


Korean barbecue involves sitting at a small table with a hole in the middle for coals. A grill is put on top and you are brought a plate of raw meat ( usually beef or pork).  After the meat is cooked ( by you ), you place it on a lettuce leaf, with a bit of sauce and maybe some pickled radishes, garlic, or jalapenos. 


Very simple, very delicious, and speaking of which, it is time to head out to our supper/party!


More soon:)

starting out at Centum City

'tis a year of ' firsts' and yesterday was no exception. 
Along with 8 other foreigners we have met through running races, Tim and I set off yesterday on a PUB RUN!


We met at Centum City Subway station with the plan of heading west and doing a large loop of Busan, stopping every 2-3km for a drink, either at a pub, bar, or a convenience store - if needed.   The route was planned by non-other than our running parents:  Ian and Kylene. 


We left the subway station on foot, some dressed as Santa, some dressed as ajummas and ajashis ( older Korean men and women) and some just dressed as foreigners ( me ). 


We hit our first stop after about 2km, which turned out to be a department store.  Luckily, drinking in public is 'ok' to do, so we settled down on some benches and had our first 'cheers' to kick off the run in Suyeoung. 

The following stops were in Kyungsung at a beer bar, at a Mega Mart in I don't know where, and then we finished things off at Thursday party in Gwangali before taking the Subway to a new 'Irish Pub' in Haeundae. 

Interspersed between these stops were a few physical challenges, using the many outdoor gyms along the running paths.  Included in the challenges were:  sit up competition, piggy back sprint, wheelbarrow sprint, and straight up sprint. 

wheelbarrowing

Kylene the machine has proven herself as the team's resident sprinter. We will be sending her to the IAAF championships in Daegu this August. 


After we were fed (burgers for some, all day breakfast for others), we made our way down to the norebang (Karaoke room) in the basement and had our own private dance and sing party. 


This was my first norebang experience, and I must say that I'm impressed that with such a wide range of ages, personalities and musical tastes, no fights broke out over song choices. 

yes, tamborines are provided.

The tally for the day was: approximately 5 hours of running, covering approximately 10 km.... no break-neck pace, but definitely one of the most fun runs I've ever done.


A big thank you once again to Kylene and Ian for making it happen!


The day made me love Busan, a city where we can run safely and count on food and drink no matter where we end up - what more can you ask for? 


It has been brought to my attention that my blog has turned into a 'running blog' more than a Korean blog... which I can't really deny. 

I guess that one thing about moving to a new place is that you learn quickly which things are a part of you and which things are just a result of your environment.  I have learned that the things I have gone out of my way to seek out are the things that are really important to me, no matter where I am, and running has definitely turned out to be one of those things.  


Truthfully, we have not done much 'cultural exploring' lately, and things just seem to get more normal every day. 


In the work realm:


The kindergarten kids are practicing for a recital that we will have in February.  It is a pretty big deal for the parents, so the kids actually already have most of their lines memorized (remember, they are 5 or 6 years old).  


In January, our school's schedule will be changing so we will have slightly shorter days and 40 minute classes instead of 50 minutes - a VERY welcome change.  


I have been trying to figure out the Christmas deal here.  It seems that though a lot of the kids have Christmas decorations in their houses, and get Christmas presents from 'Santa', none of them really know what Christmas is about or why we celebrate it.  I find it really strange, but in reality there are probably a lot of western kids who don't know anything about it either. 

taking myself way too seriously in my new winter coat.

The weather has been getting colder this week, usually about 0-3 degrees in the morning and 10 or 12 max in the afternoon. Our apartment is freezing, and the only built-in heat source is 'ondol' heating which comes up through the floor.  We have a small space heater but I'm skeptical about its efficiency....
I am really hoping, wishing and praying for snow, but the kids tell me it's useless: 
" teacha!! Busan, no snow! Seoul yes snow.''


Guess it's time to plan a trip to Seoul.

I'm half-Korean.

It's kind of beginning to look a little like Christmas. maybe.

Centum City lights up.

Somehow it is already December, and my 4th month in Korea.  
The weeks go by incredibly fast, but at the same time, 9 months left still feels like forever to go.  


Tim celebrated his birthday this past week (December 2nd) with a new coffee maker ( no more instant! ) and a lovely birthday parcel from his family.  We were treated with yet another cake at work, but didn't do much partying because next week is pay day - meaning we are surviving on water and scraps - and by 'scraps' I mean Ramyeon.
We did get to celebrate Hailey's birthday the weekend before, when we went out in Haeundae for the first time.  

There have not been any races recently, but we will be doing a fun holiday race on December 19th with our usual group, which should be fun.  Tim will run the 5k and I will do the 10k.  I am praying for a good finish, because I have actually been dependent on my race money for living this month.  Looks like I have finally crossed the amateur/pro line... no going back now!


I am also training for a 1/2 marathon in late February in a city called Miryang.  Ottawa was my last 1/2 marathon and I just missed my goal of 1h30minutes so I am hoping to be able to PB at Miryang.  I've been getting in some awesome long runs along the ocean on the weekends and doing most of my running outside lately as well ( an 87$/month gym membership does not fit into a budget of 50$/week!)


After reading the book 'Born to Run' ( McDougall, 2009), I have been thinking more and more about longer distances and have a glimmer of a desire to run a full marathon.  I have a vague idea of training through winter/spring and running late spring while it's still cool out, but nothing is set in stone, or even written in pencil just yet. 

tarahumara running in copper canyon, Mexico (the storyline for Born to Run)

Christmas is also quickly creeping up and it's been a roller coaster going through the motions of spending a holiday away from home.  We decided a few weeks ago to take a little holiday over our time off ( Dec 23-26th) and fly to Jeju, a small 'tropical' island in southwest Korea which won't be overly tropical in December, but will at least be a little escape. Our dear little friend Christine will join us as well - couldn't spend the holiday without her!

Jeju -ooooooo!!!

I've gotten a couple of packages from home which make a big difference because it lets me know everyone hasn't forgotten me:)
We've also taken advantage of the decorations that our previous apartment dwellers left, and have a very cute and efficient tree in our little room.  Even Rilakkuma and Turkey Lurkey are in on the action. 

Paws wears his sweater for X Ring Day

Yet another Frederictonian, Matt has joined the ranks in Busan and is settling in nicely. It's great to have another familiar face in the city and hopefully the rest of us can help him feel at home.  


As for the ongoing strife between North Korea and South Korea, things are at a standstill as far as I know.  For those who did not hear, last week there was an exchange of fire between the two countries in northwest South Korea.  4 people were killed, and it started up a fight that has been going on for 50 years. 
I think the general opinion here is ' oh North Korea, not again', and I don't feel worried, but there is always a chance of something 'blowing up' , pardon the pun. 


If nothing else, like many other things, it makes me appreciate my little Canada and its little bubble of peace. 


And, FINALLY, I need to send out a big congratulations to my baby sister, Karen who received her X Ring yesterday in Antigonish, NS.   I couldn't be prouder and more sad that I am not there to share the day ( night ) with her.  I can't wait for the inevitable Seymour/XRing photo shoot....

miss you baby kae

mountain morning

After doing four races in the last 6 weeks, I told myself that I would switch things up this week and get off the treadmill and into the mountain for some fresh air running. 


It had always been a plan of mine to get into more trail-y running once I got to Korea, and there is really no excuse not to, when I have a perfectly mountainous mountain beneath my feet. 

Jangsan in the am

This morning, I bundled up in my tights and my giant garmin and trekked up the hill. 
The first part of the hike is through city streets which are about 75 degree hills (I have no idea if that makes sense but on the protractor in my mind it does).   


When I finally reached the trail I had to stop to walk a couple of times and tried really hard not to worry about my pace being infinity minutes/km.  


It's hard to trail run and NOT get philosophical. I've read several descriptions of it and though I'm trying to not be cliche, there really is something magical about it.  Flying over rocks and through trees when you might twist your ankle/knee/crack your head open any second is a pretty fantastic feeling.  It scares me like nothing else, but at the same time I can't get enough of it.


As someone who finds it nearly impossible to live 'in the moment', trail running may be my cure... when you are focusing on every single step, branch, twig and surface your toes touch, you really have no choice but to live in the moment you are in.  

I made it a ways up the mountain, then decided to turn back for the downhill ride.
Just when I was half-wishing that I had a flat road to lay it all out and sprint down, I realised that I didn't recognize anything around me and I was actually very lost.  Given my sense of direction, I was not surprised and had suspected I wouldn't have an easy way home. 


But!  After finding 2 mountain-side graves, a few dead ends, circling around in 3 parking garages, and ending up in a school in a neighbourhood I didn't even know existed, I made it back to my front door with Mountain Run #1 under my belt.
Thank you Jangsan.

Waeguks Got Runs

Today marks the end of a mini-era: 
the last race of 2010.... unless we magically discover another one, which is not unlikely.

waiting for the marathoners to roll in at Dadaepo...

After cruising through yet another week at Haeundae Corem, Tim and I did a quick workout at the gym on Saturday am and then ventured out to Nampodong, west of our part of the city, but the 'centre' of Busan.  Because the race this morning would have taken over 90 minutes on the subway to get to, we decided to go part way, stay in a Love Motel, then leave from there in the morning.


Nampodong is on the way to Dadaepo ( our race destination) and it is a busy place with lots to do, eat, and buy, so it was the logical choice.  


After about 45 minutes on the subway, we got off in Nampo, and found a Love Motel within 12 minutes.  This was our first time staying at one (besides when we first arrived, which was arranged by the school), and I could not believe how easy it was.  


Refresher: Love Motels are abundant in Korea.  They are cheap motels which charge about 30$ a night and provide a really decent room, with a giant tv and often a computer as well.  Their main purpose is for love-making amongst young couples, and probably business men ( and women?) who are spending the night with people they shouldn't be.  


Just in case we had forgotten what a Love Motel was for, when we checked in, we were given a small ziploc bag with 2 toothbrushes, a razor, body wash, and 2 condoms. 
'Checking in' involves giving the front desk guy 30 $ and taking a key, no questions asked - except ' one night, or two?'.

what else does one really need?

Despite being right across the street from a busy pub, the room was great and was much better than waking up at 5 to take a 90 minute commute to the race. 


We spent the evening shopping around and eating Kong Bul and McDonalds.... can't complain.


On Sunday morning, we woke up and made our way to the subway, where we happened to get on the exact same car as Kylene and Ian, the lovely people who have organized all of the foreigners at the road races in Busan.  After meeting up with some more foreignys, we took the shuttle bus to the race site in Dadaepo and made ourselves at home... IN OUR VERY OWN TENT!! (Thanks Kylene!) 

yeah, we do.

There were people racing in all distances, 10km, 1/2 and full marathon and everyone did great.  The weather was perfect, and the course was flat and all road, out and back.


At the beginning of the race, as I was standing at the very front ( of course), a Korean man beside me started yelling at the race announcer, who then called me out and pulled me out in front of the race and started talking to me in Korean in front of the entire crowd. He managed to ask me my name, say ' Hello baby', then spoke a paragraph of Korean before saying " Merry Christmas" and sending me back to the race start.  


The race itself went fairly well.  I found it a bit challenging and didn't run the pace I had hoped for.  I have been scaling back on the outdoor and longer than 5km runs this past couple of weeks and I felt like I had lost some of my endurance today.  I was in 4th or 5th for most of the race, and ran the last 3 km with a Korean man who told me he recognized me from the Yangsan race last weekend. 


I ended up coming in in 5th with a time around 42:30 or so. Not my best time, and not an amazing time, by any means, but it was not overly difficult and therefore I am not overly upset with it.  


Ian came in 3rd! Yay Ian!  And we both got to be on the ( 5 person ) podium for guys and girls respectively.  This means I now have in my possession, another giant glass trophy, and I also managed to pocket 50$ cash!

After all the runners came in, we actually ended up BACK at Kong Bul ( after a meander through the streets of Nampodong ) and had another meal of beansprouts, pork, and spice. Trust me - it's much better than it sounds. 

Kong Bul with some new running buddies

It is now 7pm, and another awesome race day is complete. 


A big thanks goes out to Kylene and Ian the leaders of 'Waeguks Got Runs' ( Waeguks are foreigners) and without whom we would not have had nearly as positive of an experience as we have with all the races this season:)

Pay Pay RO Day

Just because no blog about Korea would be complete without it, here is an entry about PEPERO DAY!

Coincidentally, this is a day off work for us at Corem School, but it is also PEPERO DAY!
An indepth explanation can be found on this handy wikipedia link:


Pepero wikipedia article

Basically, because the date is 11-11 ( November 11) and the number "1" looks like a pepero stick, this 'holiday' has been created as an opportunity for people to give each other pepero sticks.  


Peperos come in a few different varieties but are all chocolate covered (or filled) wafer sticks, some covered in peanuts or almonds. 

A Pepero Display at the grocery store.

The day is compared to Valentines Day in that it is largely a commercial opportunity for the makers of Pepero. 


Just thought I'd fill you in, as some lucky people may be receiving a sample of these delicious sticks for Christmas :)

third race is the charm.

New money, new clothes, new race place and new age.... all things that have happened this week!




My birthday was on Friday, November 5th.  Along with all of the lovely birthday wishes from friends and family all over ( including a card with a DONUT in it! Thanks Little C :)),  I was treated with a surprise birthday display in the kitchen when I woke up... complete with Rilakkuma propoganda - much needed.  I also got some awesome compression socks, which  - though I'm not sure how they work - are sure to take hours off my race times. 

At work I was treated with a decorated desk, awesome cards, and a cake!! This was the second cake for the staff at Haeundae as Brett teacher's birthday was November 4th.  We are a little spoiled sometimes.

On Friday night, we met up with Christine and Brent for our first sushi meal in the Kay oh Ray at a place called Niki Niki Sushi in PNU.  It was AWESOME, and I could have eaten the entire meal a second time and not felt sick. 

Following this, I used my new pay cheque to get myself some hot new kicks at the Mizuno store, also in PNU.  All in all a wicked birthday.

don't touch my shoes rilakkuma. you're too lazy.

On Saturday we had to go into the school for an open house that was held for parents of incoming Kindergarten students. We spent an hour reading stories to the kids and making origami tomato purses...not a horrible way to spend the morning, and Tim has a new 6 year old fan who I will name Andrea Read if I get the pleasure of naming her when she comes. 


We then went for what turned out to be a giant shopping spree.  I have been SO sick of all of my clothes since about my second week here, and have been dying to buy new things (couldn't bring much in 100lbs of luggage).  I did pretty well and managed to spend at a rate of about 100$/5 minutes.  Very efficient.  I am glad that it isn't as hard to find clothes that fit as some people told me, and I got some really great buys  including a winter coat and my favorite new hoodie... 

Today was our third race day in Korea.  We travelled by subway to Yangsan, which took almost 90 minutes.  Quite a hike.  It was an absolutely beautiful day, about 18-20 degrees and sunny for the run, and the leaves are changing so the mountain views are really spectacular.

We met up with Kylene, Ian, Bren and Adam ( who we met in the first race) and also met a few new friends, Christina, another CDN, and Simon, Adam's friend who lives in Hong Kong. 


Tim ran the 5k and WON (!!!!!!) but he didn't register so he just veered off the course before the finish line. Makes up for the disappointing non-finish in Gyeong Ju a few weeks ago!


I ran the 10k and had  a pretty great race.  I was relaxed the whole time, and didn't see any women around me for the entire race.  The course was really flat, so I found it pretty boring and started out a bit too fast, so my pace slowed down a bit too much for a big pb. As I was coming in, I saw the finishing ribbon still up and thought that I'd WON, but then they handed me a card that said 2nd, and Tim told me that an old tank of a woman had come in around 39:00.  


After passing in my chip, I got a back with the best post-race kit yet.... eggs and Ramyeon noodles. 


So, although I was slightly disappointed to not win, my time wasn't great ( not sure of it, but I think it was low 42:00/high 41:00) so it would not really have felt like a legit win if I had come first. 


Adam ended up coming in 3rd, so us foreignys really represented!

I FINALLY got to go up on the podium, and it was hilarious.  They had about 15 paparazzi cameras on us, and played a song similar to the star wars theme at full blast.  I truly didn't know if I should laugh or cry.  I was given a 10 lbs glass trophy as well.

10 lbs of second place bling.

We were given little slips, which when we took to the race organizers, they gave us  cash prizes! Adam got 100,000 won ( 100$ ) for coming 3rd, and I got 200$! Yessa!!! 
That definitely helps to offset my heavy spending spree yesterday.

sorry we took all your money, Korea.

So, after a lovely fine dining experience at Breeze Burns burger place in Somyeon with the crew, we made it back to the dong for a soak at the jimjillbang. Now we are back to our humble abode, which although the toilet and tap now only work about 30% of the time, it's still our home.

Good day in the Kay oh Ray.