1/2 Marathon: Training Day 5

Well - another Monday, another training day. Yesterday I ran 5 miles with 4 sprints and felt great! I was able to average under 9 minute miles for all 5 and didn't die. I was pretty excited to see my time improve as much as it has. My goal is to run around 10 minute miles when I do my 1/2 marathon, but we will see how I feel.

The weather has made its turn for the worse and is cold cold cold. It is again winter in Zhengzhou with the wind and all. Poor Lili was not pleased yesterday when we ventured out to class and back. Being out of hot coco - I have moved back to drinking milk tea, which is delicious.

We also were very lucky to receive two packages this week from the M parents and Shirley. We are excited for all of the books and study material for the Praxis. I am nervous about taking another standardized test, but if I need it to get into Concordia then that is what I will do. I am determined to get into that school because I adore it.

For some odd reason, I have also been inspired to start listening to jazz music recently. So I have been hanging out with my good friends, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald - you know, the whole gang. I am not sure Luke is too pleased with this but he is a very supportive spouse.

Next week, the school is sending us on one of our first trips and we are going to southern China, Fuzhou to be exact. We are hoping to hop a ferry and get to Taiwan, but I doubt that the school will allow us to go that far away from the group. Fuzhou has a mountain though that should be very interesting. I am mostly interested in the warmer climate - especially now.

Tomorrow we start our Chinese lessons again. While Lili was in Chengdu, she came across an English bookstore and bough a couple of learning Chinese books - so we are planning on using them and having Rujing just go through the lessons with us. Hopefully that will kick us into Chinese learning gear. All of us really want to improve our language abilities and we will see how it works out.

Sorry this update is so choppy - it is cold outside and early so I am most likely not making the most sense. We miss and love you all.

XOXO