A Long Way from Home...

Since I did not take my laptop with me to Korea (extra weight and space concerns), I am posting these after my return.  I carried my handy dandy composition book with me and journaled every day so you guys wouldn't miss a thing.  I am going to break my entries down into days, so the length will be more manageable.

Day One/Two

It was the night before Korea and all through the house...no, I'm just kidding.  I wanted an excuse to say that and include some cute pictures I took of Cameron the night before I left.  She was so much help packing (a.k.a. she tried to get in my suitcase)!

 

Cameron giving me some sweet, doggy kisses!

 I'm actually somewhere over the Pacific right now in an aisle seat (thank God), writing on one of those little tray tables on the back of the seat in front of me.  I'm set to arrive in Seoul, South Korea sometime this afternoon, but right now, my body isn't quite sure if it's day or night.  The tiny screen in front of me indicates that it is 9:18 AM Korean Standard Time (May 16th) and 8:18 PM Eastern Standard Time (May 15th) - nothing like a 14 hour flight and a 13 hour time difference to really screw up one's internal body clock.
I have been trying to sleep rather unsuccessfully for the past six hours or so, but I can't seem to get comfortable in my seat and baby is screaming over the sounds of my headphones.  Pleasant.

On that note, I have listened to my entire Korea playlist already.  I didn't think I would go through it this quickly.  I mentioned earlier in the week that I would list the songs that received the honor of making my playlist, but I'm really just going to list a few of them (in sports, I would call these my "can't miss prospects"):  Paper Tongues- Love Like You, Black Kids- I'm Not Going to Teach My Boyfriend How to Dance With You, Foster the People- Pumped up Kicks, Rogue Wave- Lake Michigan, Lykke Li- I'm Good, I'm Gone, Ra Ra Riot, Can You Tell, Mike Snow- Animal, Cold War Kids- Louder than Ever, Civil Twilight, Letters from the Sky,  Ellie Goulding- Lights, Breathe Electric- Stay with Me, Show Me the Skyline- Clocks & Calendars, All Night Dynamite- All I'm Thinking Of and We Should Whisper!- Memories and Meltdowns.
 

More from the LJ and Cameron Photo Shoot!

 Hopefully, those suggestions will spark your interest and send you off to iTunes as soon as possible.  You know me - I have excellent taste!

I don't know the two guys seated in my row on the plane, but they both seem nice enough.  One is a rising Junior at Rutgers on his way to visit his grandmother in Seoul (he's sleeping and can't read over my shoulder as I'm scribbling in my comp book) and the other is a student at Swarthmore heading home for the summer.  Not only did he finish exams last night and hop on a plane this morning (impressive), but he has not gotten up once to use the restroom.  I'm not sure if I should be impressed or concerned.  My muscles are super stiff, and with the convenience of the aisle seat, I've been getting up periodically to stretch my legs and try to break up the trip.

It also gives me the chance to be nosy and check out everyone on the flight...at least I'm honest!

Well, we are beginning to experience some turbulence, so I better go...it makes me kind of queasy to write while the plane is being jostled around.  Hopefully the Dramamine I took a little while ago will kick in soon.  I'd really love to get some sleep on this flight.

Pray for a safe and uneventful landing in Seoul and a short connector flight to Jeju Island!

Day Three

I had the most amazing run this morning!


Carriage horse on the way the way to the beach.


I woke up early (around 5:30) and opened up my balcony doors to see the most beautiful, pale sunrise peeping over the surrounding mountains.  It was dark when I got in the night before, so I didn't notice all the hills on Jeju Island.  After stretching, lacing up my sneaks and shoving my room key and camera into the pockets of my jacket, I headed to the main lobby to ask about local running trails. 

Though the concierge looked at me like I had two heads when I asked about trails, he was extremely helpful in pointing out local roads and routing me on a long, challenging route through the hill country and down to the beach.  Also, he gave me a map, which turned out to be a lifesaver throughout the week.

The mist just began to lift as I stepped outside and began pounding the pavement, damp, cool, sea air filling my lungs.  Sometimes, I forget how much I miss being close to the shore.  I seriously need to move closer to a beach!  Running around DC, I forget what clean air smells and tastes like.



Cool bridge that I saw every day running.

 The route the concierge suggested to me led me into the highlands of the island and along a gorgeous trail that looked over a valley.  An ornate bridge connected the two mountains that created the valley, and I stopped to snap a quick picture.  It also gave me an excuse to rest my burning thighs and catch my breath.  This served as an aching reminder (no pun intended) that I HAVE to run more hills in my training!  The Missoula Marathon is going to kick my butt if I don't!

After climbing for what seemed like ages, I turned a corner, and the road began to descend rather sharply toward the water.  I was thankful for the downhill slope, but I had to work to keep a steady pace and not sprint down the hills.  I couldn't see the water from the road yet, but I could smell the briny, salt air stinging my nostrils.  As I grew closer to the beach, I began to see more and more palm trees, and my pace quickened with excitement.  I haven't been to a beach (in warm weather) in nearly two years...as a Carolina girl, that's hard to believe.



Sinking into the sand of Jungmun Beach.

 I was surprised when I reached the beach and my feet sank almost immediately into the sand.  Even after taking off my shoes, running on the soft, crushed shell beach was nearly impossible.  I would equate it to running through quicksand.  The only way I was able to run without sinking was to run through the icy water (of course that's what I did).  Kicking up sand and surf, I was running and smiling - nothing makes me happier than running on the beach.  The few Koreans on the beach gave me weird looks as I passed by...they must have thought I was really strange.  Oh well.

When I returned to the hotel, I was soaked with sweat, sand and salt water.  I know I looked like a hot mess, so I hopped in the shower (awesome Aveda products Shilla Jeju!), and now, I'm relaxing on my balcony in a cozy terry robe waiting for room service.  Not too bad for 7:15 AM...I could get used to this!

Well, I have to get going - this is a business trip, so I should probably get some work done (and that's room service at my door).

Happy running!