| So long Lotus PSK.....see you next year? |
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I want to thank the Lotus hotel for putting up with me for the last 2 months. It is a big ask to stay somewhere for this long and I am extremely greatfull for their support. I hope to return to Thailand again in the years to come as it is a perfect training venue! < p style="margin-bottom: 16pt" class="MsoNormal">Chiang Mai has been a good base.....even more so whenever I checked the British weather forecast! My advice for anyone planning on training there in the future would be get hold of a moped. They are so simple to get around on and the pool and off road running are a little out of the city to the north. Throughout February and early March the pool at the 700 year stadium is lovely and empty throughout the day. However, from Mid March you need to swim early on - the pool opens at 8am - go for 7am and you will get some space. The best riding is around the back of Doi Suthep with fantastic views of the hill tribes, mountains, elephants and local knife selling stores on the side of the roads! The 121 road takes a nice flat route around the city and takes between 2-2.5hr. Perfect for an easy spin.Running is the most difficult. There is a dirt track around the university area which is good for shorter runs. But for longer runs head north up the 121 to the reservoir which has an off road 5k loop around it. Would I come back to Chiang Mai - Yes! 2 months has gone by very quickly and I feel I have got in a fantastic block of training!! I think in future 4-6 week blocks might become customary. So just a big thanks to the people who have supported me! Something I forgot to mention in my race report: After the race Andrew and his girlfriend, Rosie, my girlfriend and I jumped in the truck and headed up to Mai Sai at the border with Burma. We had been told the shopping was fantastic there, but in honesty I would not bother! On the way back we were driving behind another truck with 2 'monks' (they were wearing monks clothing) sitting in the back. We noticed one of them was smoking so Rosie threw her camera to the front to get a smoking monk photo. We took the photo and flash caught the attention of the 'monk' who glared at us and then, very seriously, made that thumb across the neck 'your dead' gesture! We all looked at each other, then I slammed my foot down to go around him. When going around he looked into the car waving his hands and they pulled out after us. Their car did not have the power and they gave up the chase soon after. Moral of the story: Never trust a smoking monk! I am now back in the UK after 24 hours of travel via Kuwait again. I head up to Loughborough this afternoon to get back to normality, jeans and jumpers. I will have to spend the next 10 days really hammering out my dissertation to get it finished and handed in. So training will be mainly swim/run focussed to allow me the time to get down to the studies. My next race is the British University Champs in early May. I always enjoy this race and this year it will act as one of the qualification races for the World University Championships. Tarra for now Brucy (Mr Bluucy in Thai) |