Another 6 a.m. wake-up. Arrived to a downpour (Pic 1).
We still ran once the rain lightened up—true “open-your-eyes-underwater” experience (Pic 5). Visibility was under 3 meters… (hurt to keep them open, had to alternate eyes).
Half an hour later, it eased. At least the path ahead became clear (Pic 3).
About 8km was on mountain trails—rocky paths, tangled roots, stone steps, followed by a short section of brick road. All along the way, occasional “puddle stomping”—some deep enough to submerge ankles. It was easy to slip on unseen stones below the surface, but thankfully no one got hurt.
Around the 2km mark, I already felt off (heart rate soaring). Still, I pushed on breathlessly all the way to the hydration point (around 4km), where I drank 400ml of Polar Sweat.
The last 2km uphill were mostly walked; gentle slopes and flats were jogged slowly. Finished in about 75 minutes, average HR 188—spiking to 195 even when slowing down (Pic 4).
Yet the park and city looked beautiful after being washed by the rain—a stark contrast to the initial storm. After the run, I felt deeply relaxed, not really tired (though my muscles still needed the massage gun).
Also spotted a black-and-white cat (Pic 9) who stayed around the whole time—quite charming.
Probably my most fully-equipped run yet (Pic 2). Carried disinfectants just in case (last fall left a scar since I didn’t treat it well…). On the trail, my pack held only meds + water. Waist pack for my phone worked nicely (not usually worn—throws off balance/rhythm). Also my first time in trail shoes—far better grip, way safer.
BTW, having buddies or a team makes tough things feel smoother and lighter. This was a group event—waking up super early, pushing through unexpected heavy rain, keeping momentum on tired climbs… It all felt more doable when others were doing it too. “If they can, why can’t you?”
Wishing you steady strides,
Xiao Chen Notes
Sept 7, 2025, noon