Update!

Here I am on another "non-teaching" day before I get to officially be on vacation, and I'm looking back at all we've done this fall.

Two exciting things have happened:

1. We decided to train for a marathon. IN THE DESERT! We'll be running the Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon this Friday, January 21st, 2011. I am excited, but also terrified of the pain I'll surely be in afterwards (and during!). While this will be my fifth marathon, it feels like the worst training I've been through: running in sweltering heat, being surrounded by all men staring at me in my running clothes, not being able to run alone (by personal choice, not law), and massive IT band and knee pain for a good portion of this past fall.

2. We decided to move home! This is perhaps even more exciting than running my fifth marathon! I cannot wait to to do the follow things in the United States:

• buy dill pickles
• buy delicious deli lunch meats
• buy delicious whole wheat breads
• buy yummy bagels
• buy Dr. Pepper for my addict husband
• work at an American university
• run whenever, wherever I want - even alone if I choose!
• run a race at Disney World with my sweetie husband
• attempt a triathlon (first, must take swim lessons and buy a bike!)
• enjoy four seasons
• happily wear socks and close-toed shoes again, and all other cold weather clothes
• be able to see friends and family more easily
• go to the movies with an audience that knows talking on cell phones is rude
• go to public places and know that a child unattended will be quickly sought out by a guardian, rather than left to the involuntary supervision of strangers
• drive regularly in a car that will not be run off the road because some jerk is in a hurry and flashing his headlights while tailgating way too closely
• have police that actually enforce the laws on a regular basis rather than only have responsibilities as traffic cops
• celebrate all American holidays without offending someone by proudly saying to all "Merry Christmas!" rather than having to see it referred to as "the Magic Season" in the stores
• wear shorts and t-shirts (and possibly sleeveless shirts! - gasp!) without offending others
• watch our kitties experience life in the US - watching nature through house windows
• relax without censoring my self - words like "girlfriend":and "boyfriend" and "dating" will become part of my vocabulary again
• enjoy being able to leave my country for work or vacation without an exit permit
• enjoy getting to know an American city with my husband (we moved to Qatar almost immediately after meeting and marrying)
• getting a decent radio station while driving in the car
• knowing that if it gets ridiculously hot in the summer that I can and will wear a bikini to a public or private pool and not worry about it offending everyone or drawing an insane amount of judging leers from random people
• enjoying being home

Terrible Wife, Great Running Partner

We are still training for the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago 1/2 Marathon that is on August 1st. We've also been taking co-ed group fitness classes at Aspire. I also had a consultation with a personal trainer to get set up on using the weight room. I like using the weights because I can go down a list of nicely organized exercises that my trainer (a triathlete from New Zealand) made just for me. I also really like the co-ed classes more than the women's classes because they are more difficult. The Group Fitness class has each person moving every 2 minutes to different stations in groups of 3 or 4. In the Total Fat Loss class we stay at stations for 4 minutes. By the time we're half way around the room M and I both are dripping with sweat. I love it! However, after two weekends of not doing our long run, we made a fatal error the night before our run.

Last week we decided to go to the Thursday night Total Fat Loss class with the fantastic-sub-five-foot-no-bullshit-allowed-no-excuses-trainer named George. He is a like a muscle bound pit bull . . . from Romania. He was wearing a tank top instead of a t-shirt last week and M and I couldn't believe how stacked he was! M heard he was a former Olympic gymnast (Doha the Branson, Missouri, of the Gulf - where former Olympians go to retire . . . ) George also commands the room with his voice. We had already started at various stations around the room when an Arab guy poked his head in and asked to join the class. George shot a quick look at the Arab and barked "Yes, go, check in, and when you come back 20 push ups!" Like I mentioned before, George doesn't mess around. So why in the heck we thought it was a good idea to take his class the night before our long run is beyond me.

I have to stop this story here to add some personal background. In 2008 I ran 7 half marathons and 2 marathons. That was while I was living in Seoul, South Korea, with one race being in Hong Kong. In Seoul there is the most amazing support system of fellow crazy runners and plenty of races in Seoul and all over Korea to enjoy. I was in heaven to say the least. I was single, working, traveling, running, and racing a lot. In fact, there was one month when I ran two half marathons. A friend jokingly asked, "Why didn't you just run one marathon and get it over with?" I went to races out of town by bus or train. I went with some great friends and also alone. I went to the Cherwon DMZ Half Marathon alone and spent the whole day speaking Korean. I will never forget that experience of running past South Korea DMZ guard towers with soldiers standing up on top and of running through villages and having Korean ajummas waving at me and cheering me on while smiling. I loved traveling throughout Korea and running. However, simply put, I was addicted and wanted to spend all my free time either preparing or actually competing. I wasn't great at it, but I had some amazing life changing races. Training and racing became me. I was a bona fide finisher's medal hording, race t-shirt collecting, early weekend morning training, monthly racing "marathoner" while in Korea.

Now that we live in Qatar things have changed. I honestly thought the only obstacle to maintaining my previous running and racing lifestyle would be the weather, but I was wrong. There is a small group of people who meet each weekend to run along The Corniche, but M and I stopped going last fall because we hated getting up early to meet strangers for a run along a brick (ouch!) path. Perhaps equally upsetting is the fact that there are practically no races in Qatar. I hear about some sort of "Women's Mini-marathon" or something like that. What the heck is a "mini-marathon"? Call it what it is - a 5k fun run/walk! I didn't run that race. It made me angry just thinking about it. However, M and I found a proper half marathon in the UAE for a nice weekend in February. We had a great time, but with less intense training I felt like it was just a training run rather than a race.

I miss racing like I used to do in Seoul. I miss feeling like I am good at running. I miss being known as "a runner" or better yet, "a marathoner" to others, but mostly to myself. I miss training hard and feeling good even though it kind of kills my social life. And I've let my husband (a marathoner and triathlete as well) know this in more than a few conversations since we moved here. I just hope we can visit Seoul and run a race there so he can experience it all.

So we recommitted ourselves to training. We've run a little more in the heat than was probably wise, and decided that we just can't change the weather. However, we can get up earlier when it isn't so darn hot. We decided this before George's Total Fat Loss class last week. We had been getting up at 5:00AM to run, but by the time we got out the door it was 5:20AM and the sun was glaring down on us.

Therefore, last Thursday night I set the alarm for 4:00AM. We would run 7 miles - the most we'd run since our February half marathon. For a half marathon we should run at least one 12 mile run about two weeks before the race. We've got time, but not much considering we've only ran 5-6 miles each time we've ran since our last half marathon and we skipped two weekends in a row. As soon as the alarm went off at 4:00AM I jumped up excited and ready to run. The cats were confused and looked a little perturbed. I know Frankie said to Sophia, "Hey, isn't it our job to wake them up?!" M wasn't trilled but I found a way to get him out of bed. I have to bluff and pretend like I'm going to run on the mean streets of Doha alone and then he's up!

Just for the record it was a nice cool 93F at 4:00AM on that Friday, June 25th. I was immediately in love with the idea of getting up every weekend in Doha at 4:00AM. I cannot tell you how incredibly refreshing it was to run at that time in that cool of weather. Right now it is a hot 95F but the "realfeel" temperature is 100F. In the past few weeks the "realfeel" temperature got up near 120F. What does that feel like? Basically, imagine putting your body into an oven, or turning a thousand hot hair dryers onto your body.

Until Next Time,

WW

Photo credit: Seoul Flyer's Running Club President, Jae Kim and me.

Schools Out for Summer!

Photo: Sophia & Frankie bathe and then wrestle on their Cat Canopy

My classes have finished, exams have been graded and entered into the online system, and I have been to my office to wait for students to complain in person. (Not one student came.) Now, what to do?

My husband's teaching will finish the 3rd week of July, so that leaves me with about 45 days of time to kill. Here are some things that could fill my time:

1. Cook more delicious meals (I only know how to make 3 - maybe)

2. Clean more of the house

3. Run more (on the treadmill in A/C) because August 1st will be here soon!

4. Morning spinning class (on days I have the car)

5. Read more (I have 6 books on my nightstand currently!)

6. Blog more

7. Get Frankie (our little boy kitten) "fixed"

8. Get both kittens de-clawed - the poor things often get hung up on the curtains, sheets, and furniture upholstery

9. Get a haircut

10. Watch a list of recommended movies that I've never seen

11. Watch the entire series of "Lost" - I never got addicted to it

12. Plan next 3 vacations (mid-late August, mid-September Eid, mid-November)

13. Get car inspection (I've heard this is a big pain in the neck, so I'm not looking forward to this.)

14. Swim lessons (I emailed, stopped by in person, and facebooked the Doha Dolphins, but still haven't heard back from them - hiss boo)

15. Start saying goodbye to some teachers who are not returning in the fall :(

16. Start packing for July 23rd trip home :)

17. Continue taking a gazillion photos of our adorable kitties that I am already sad about leaving during vacation . . .

Until Next Time,

WW

IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championship - in Doha!

Well, here I am again on vacation from teaching and looking at this blog again. I need to be more consistent with my posting . . . . .

In March M and I went to the IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships in Doha, just 3/4 of a mile from our house. It was exciting!

There were athletes from a lot of countries. In fact, we saw some Ethiopian professional runners (Meseret Defar, Sentayehu Ejigu Kalkidan Gezhegn) who had an amazing cheering section from local Ethiopians and/or Ethiopians who had made the trip to Doha. One of the most amazing races was the women's 3K race. One runner actually fell down near the middle of the 1500K race, but managed to get back up and finish first! That runner was Ethiopian runner Kalkidan Gezhegn.



We also saw American male heptatlon athletes Bryan Clay and Trey Hardee, who won the gold and silver medals for the event. We were very excited to see American hurdler Lolo Jones race and defend her title in the 60meter hurdles.




It was an exciting day and seeing so many different people cheering on their own was fun. I hope we get to see more world class events like this in the future. In fact, in May Doha will host another IAAF track and field event - outdoors through the IAAF's Diamond League.


We left thinking that we needed to run more, but after the RAK 1/2 Marathon in February we've been taking it easy....maybe too easy. It is time to run again!

Until next time,

WW

Running in Qatar

I started to write this blog because I wanted to give (my own) information about Qatar, but I cannot help but compare Qatar to my experiences in the US and South Korea.

Running is my hobby, but also a way of life. I started running seriously in the summer of 2005 and by the fall I had run my first half marathon and marathon. I was hooked. In February of 2006 I moved to the countryside of Daegu, South Korea. I was too far outside the city to get into a running club. Nevertheless I ran the trails around Daegu University and loved it! I even took the slow train to Gyeongju and ran a half marathon all by my self. During my training runs and during that one race locals stared, but I got used to it. They were incredulous looks of amazement, not perverted lingering eyes that followed me. In 2007 I moved to Seoul and hit the motherload of all running clubs. Running really took over my life and I was grateful. In Seoul there were races every weekend! I met some of the best people through running. We became not just running partners, but traveling partners. Because South Korea is fairly small, we would just choose a region to visit, find a race, and hop on a train. Hotels or "love motels" and transportation were ridiculously cheap and safe. From spring 2008 to fall 2009 I had the time of my life running all over South Korea. And because it was rare to see a foreigner in a sea of Koreans at a marathon (and a woman especially!) some people started to recognize me. This recognition inside such a welcoming community of runners provided a perfect situation to practice my Korean. At one of the DMZ half marathons I found myself completely without English for the day and really enjoyed it. When I met other runners at races or running along the Han River I felt the most connected to Koreans.

Running in Qatar has been quite different. There are no races. I take that back. There was a 5km race put on by Doha Bank, but we did not go. The culture is less forgiving of women in athletic apparel here, not to mention women running around outside the home. Nobody has yet dared to say anything to me, or my husband but their cold stares say enough. The climate and terrain are harsh as well. Running in the evening or early morning is best - even in the dead of winter. I figure the only foreigners crazy enough to run here are lone runners - not likely to join a running club. In fact, we went to meet a haphazard group of runners for a few weeks. They met at 6:00AM to run along the Corniche, but after rising at 5:00AM every day during the work week, the last thing we wanted to do was wake up at 5:30AM to go run. In addition, the group just ran and went home, so we were not getting any of the social brunch type activities that I so looked forward to every weekend in Korea and the US. However, one of those runners and I spoke about starting an official running club to draw more people into it, but I just don't know if I want all that responsibility. Maybe my US and Korean running clubs were just too good to ever top.

Therefore, my husband I run together. He is a lot faster than I, but we make it work. Like a lot of things we miss living here - we will be even more grateful to have them once we return home. And this summer when we go home for a visit we'll be sure to load up on racing. We've already registered for the Rock & Roll Chicago Half Marathon for August 1st!

Until Next Time,
WW

2009 Fun Facts

Since I have some time off I'm going to try to update this blog more regularly. Because the landscape and seasons do not change much here, I barely feel it is 2010 already. So, just to recap here are some fun facts about my 2009 when compared to 2008.

1. Did not run any marathons, but in 2008 I ran 2 marathons. This makes me really sad to have not competed in a marathon in 2009. I will have to do one in 2010!

2. Ran 3 half marathons, but in 2008 I ran 7 half marathons. What can I say? South Korea - especially Seoul was a runner's paradise!

3. Did not date anyone in 2008 (and that was actually a good thing for me), but got married in September 2009 after only 2 months and 1 day of meeting my Super Husband! :)

4. Moved home from South Korea in December 2008, but then moved to Qatar in August 2009.

5. Got a cat in October 2009 after being without a cat for 3 years. We love her dearly. She holds the current record of most uploaded photos on my facebook.

6. Turned 30 in 2009 - all I can say is now I'm officially not taking anyone's crap. I'm "old" and it feels damn good!

7. Finally let my naturally curly hair come back to life after having it chemically straightened in November 2007 while living in Seoul, South Korea. Side note: "Magic Straight" can really ruin one's hair so be careful!

8. In 2009 I lived with my parents again after 3 years of living abroad and on my own. Yes, I was living with my parents as a 30 year old. It was okay because they know me and let me be . . . me.

9. After about one month at home in 2009 I comptemplated moving to the following countries: the UAE, Turkey, and Chile. However, I now know that Qatar is the place for us . . . for now.

10. The United States finally elected a decent president. I swore I would burn my passport and never return home if anyone but Obama were elected. You might think that the American president has little effect on one's personal journey abroad, but this is really the first time I've ever been proud to be an America while living abroad. Thank you, President Obama for injecting some common sense into US international relations.

11. My first semester teaching in Qatar allowed me to meet for the first time and teach students from these countries: Egypt, Sudan, Palestine, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, and of course Qatar. Before 2009, I had only taught students from these countries: Spain, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Holland, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Mongolia, Colombia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.

12. In 2008 I traveled from South Korea to the US, Cambodia, and Hong Kong. However, in 2009 I only traveled domestically to Dallas/Fort Worth, Tulsa (to catch a flight), St. Louis, Denver, and Kansas City. I also am very greatful for the epic, life changing road trip from Texas to Missouri. ;)

Until next time,

WW

The Big "To Do" List

I have a big "to do list" because I'll be moving to the other side of the world in less than three months. I accepted my new position teaching in Qatar in April, but I will not start teaching until September. I should be leaving for Qatar at the end of August, but until then I'll teach a summer session and get ready.

I like to research, prepare, and study before a big move, which is why I was thrilled that the school set me up with a mentor. I like my mentor because I always get answers to specific questions that I have asked her in emails. My mentor is also great because she has already taught in Qatar for four years. This means something very important: She liked it so much that she renewed her three year contract!

I asked my mentor in what was probably my sixteenth email the other day, "What is something that you did not bring with you, but that you wish you had brought with you to Qatar?" She almost immediately replied after polling her friends and came back with this list in no particular order:

1. Contact solution (I do not wear contact lenses, so this is not for me.)


2. Nice kitchenware - I am not sure if I'll buy it there or pack from here. - Dishes have been bought, so now the hunt is on for good pots and pans.


3. Vonage device - I am not sure I will need this. Skype is free and worked fine in Korea.
   
4. GPS - I have one for running, but this must be for a vehicle.


5. Grammar and other supplemental books - I have some and will ship some of them. I was allowed to scavenge through my current employer's library and found some keepers!


6. Personal reading books - I will ship some of these.


7. Comfortable shoes - I will buy some more of these and pack to bring with me.


8. Light cardigans - I will buy more of these and pack to bring with me.


9. Nice sunglasses - I have a crappy pair that I've worn for at least five years, but I'll buy a backup


10. Shower curtains, liners, and rings - I'll buy and pack these - done


11. Two sets of king size sheets - I'll definitely buy and pack these because I am a bedding snob. I love at least 500 thread count sheets.
    

Besides the ever growing shopping list, I've got a few other things to do as well.

1. Have about 20 passport photos made - I'll need these once I arrive for various things


2. Send photocopies of my MA diploma - done


3. Send photocopies of my passport - done


4. Get a "Certificate of Good Conduct" from the police - done


5. Get an International Driver's Permit - done


6. Apply for a visa - the school is working on this right now


7. Meet with my financial advisor - new job -> new salary -> new budget -> new savings plan


8. Train like it is my life so when I go to Doha I'll be 100% hooked on running again and not lose it while working in the desert (This is my #1 fear of working in The Gulf.) - in process

One of my biggest worries about moving to The Gulf is that I'll quit running. In Korea I ran a lot after finding a super running club called Seoul Flyers. We often planned our spring and fall running season based on what part of Korea we wanted to visit. I ran in Seoul dozes of times, Jeju Island, Chuncheon, Paju - near the DMZ, Cherwon - near the DMZ, Taean Beach, and even Disney Land in Hong Kong on a weekend trip. It was great fun. We'd all register for races, take the train, stay in cheap little hotels, and make a weekend out of it. It was runner's paradise!

I know The Gulf is HOT, but I also ran in Vietnam and Cambodia during the summer months while training for fall marathons. Southeast Asia has the hottest weather I've ever experienced. I remember in Vietnam waking up, going outside for a nice breakfast in the shade and sweating, sweating, sweating. It was a wet heat. It was humid all the time. The Gulf should be different - a dry heat I think, but if not I'll be prepared.

In my endless research on The Gulf I've already spent weeks scouring the Internet for an established running club. Yes, a couple of chapters of The Hash House Harriers did come up, but I've never been interested in their clubs. The United Arab Emirates has a couple of well established clubs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, so I was really hoping to find a good club in Doha. After all, they did host the 2006 Asian Games.

My mentor came to my rescue again. She gave me the email of a friend who "runs everyday." I was ecstatic! I emailed him and found out that he and some other men run about 5-10km each day. The friend, S., said he is hoping for a 16 minute 5K. That is a lot faster than me! I gathered from the emails that the group of men are not marathoners, but rather shorter distance runners who run consistantly. Consistancy is what I need most, so I will definitely join them for runs. They mostly run outside on The Corniche and the track at The Aspire Dome. My main goal is to meet with those guys for weekly runs, and later register for The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon. The date for that is Friday, January 22, 2010. I think I can do it!

Until next time,

WW