I woke at about 6 am but wasn’t awake enough to get up. So I lay back down on my bed, a thin mattress on a wooden floor and shut my eyes whilst taking relaxing breaths. Soon my mind was exploring the subconscious.
I woke around noon and prepared myself for a long run through the Thai jungle. The roads are either steep climbs or descents. Mostly dry dusty red coloured dirt paves the way.
I ended up running for about half marathon distance and bonking halfway through due to only having a black coffee and coconut before starting. Plus I hadn’t started till around 2 pm so was completely wasted.
Passing farmers halfway through the run when my energy was low I asked if they could sell me a coconut from their plantation. After drinking the fresh juice of a coconut and scraping out the meat I was ready to roll again even if my stomach was full.
My run ended with a 5K steep descent of asphalt. In the past I’ve run five minute miles down here, but my legs not being used to the elevation I could only manage eight minute miles.
I finished the run off by taking advantage of the fact I was next to the sauna at the temple. There was only 10 minutes left so the lady allowed me in for half price and I sat in 43°C heat as a cool down.
I then had to hitch a ride back to where my moped was in Had Rin. I first got a short ride from Steven on a moped, an English fellow who had also just used the sauna.
After that an Israeli guy picked me up in a 4x4. He’s been living in Thailand for 12 years he took me most of the way. Finally after sticking my thumb out for a few minutes a fiftysomething-year-old Thai man picks me up on a Harley Davison and I ride to my moped in style. Even if the Thai guy was drunk it was a cool ride.
I then rode my moped down to the night market and ate a papaya salad accompanied with a fresh mango smoothie. The food here is next level amazing. The papaya salad was spicy hot even though I’d asked for medium level of chilly. Just Gotta become acclimatised to the chilies.
Next came massage. I opted for the 300 barbt Thai massage. The woman pretty much destroyed me, by standing on my back with her knees.
I know deep tissue massage aids recovery in athletes so I rode out the pain. She was working on my tendons in my right arm as if playing them like a guitar, each tendon pinging. Then it became too much my reaction was to laugh out loud so she went to work even harder.
I love being here. I keep on saying this is my home. I feel privileged to have a nine month Visa which if wanted can renew for another nine months. After selling my motorhome, my car and giving away or selling most of my possessions, obviously not my Trail running shoes from Hoka. I feel like a free Bird.
Then came the end of my day which includes hiking back through the Thai jungle to the sanctuary. Either the hike or a taxi boat is the only way of returning. So I took the jungle and always will do because the boat is expensive. I finally lay on my bed and went to sleep at about 2:30 am.
If you read this entire blog and find any value please comment and share with your friends. I’ll be doing a daily blog whilst here and sharing my training, adventures and everything in between.
Also anyone interested in Ultra Marathon online Run Coaching please check out my website www.kristianultra.com I offer all sorts of help to Newbys and professionals and again everyone in between. I have 20 years experience in endurance Running and 10 years experience coaching.
Peace have a great day.