21.1 km = 13.1 miles?! Half Marathon!!

Last year, I participated in the "Fun Run" for Khon Kaen's biggest event of the year.. the Khon Kaen International Marathon!  This year, I wanted to go bigger and give myself more of a challenge. 4.5K is easy peasy for me now.. whats tougher than a half marathon?! Well, only the marathon of course but I knew I wasn't ready for that much of a challenge yet. Better tackle the half first..

9th Annual Khon Kaen International Marathon!

The week leading up to the half marathon, I was a little nervous. I'll be honest, I hadn't take my training TOO seriously and the longest I had ran in the few months prior was 7.5 miles. I was running 4 - 5 miles everyday on the treadmill no problem but 13.1 miles was an entirely different ballgame.  Also, I had been training on a treadmill and the last time I ran outside was at the last race a year ago!  AND Thailand is HOT and HUMID and even though its currently "cold" season, its definitely NOT cold.  Well, this should be interesting.  The weekend of the marathon snuck up on me quickly as time and events have been doing that a lot to me lately and before I knew it, it was marathon weekend! The day before, I shared a cab to the University with some Thai peeps from Bangkok I met in front of the Pullman to pick up our packets and bid numbers.  Once checking in at KKU, I opened up my packet and found my medium sized racing tank and held it up to myself.. now, I am the size I was when I left America and this tank wouldn't even fit a 10 year old child.. better swap it in for the large.. make that, an XL. Thai sizes.. Boy oh boy. I spent the rest of the day mentally preparing for the grueling challenge my body was about to endure and also made a new music playlist to help take my mind off the pain during the race. Then I spent the evening watching numerous episodes of "Jersey Shore", nothing like Snookie drama and watching a house of meat-head guidos living drunken lives to turn off my brain and fill it with trash so I can't think of anything else while watching.

Sunday morning was here.. half marathon day!

2:48 am: Woke up frantically after having a dream that I missed my alarm and knew I was late for the marathon because the sun was up. I was only upset I missed it because I paid 800 baht to run the thing!

3:00 am: Time to get up and get into racing gear!  I had my hair in braids from the night before, threw on my shirt, shorts, running shoes, and put together a quick banana peanut butter toast for breakfast to go.  Couldn't forget my ipod and 90 baht, just in case of an emergency.. like having to stop mid-race and hail a cab home.

3:30 am: Met Jay and Caitlin, two other teachers my age from my school who were running also, downstairs at my apartment lobby to attempt something that has never been attempted by us.  3 tall farangs on one motor bike.

3:40 am: After taking a few minutes to get situated, we were sailing through the empty streets of Khon Kaen and were on our way to the race!  With me crouching in front holding onto the front of the bike and the basket, Jay driving, and Caitlin on the back. Thai people on their way home from their Saturday night out sure had a funny sight to see.  It helped get the adrenaline going quick as all three of us were getting pumped and yelling "YEEEEAH MARATHON" while zooming down the dark quite streets towards KKU.

4:00 am: Arrived in one piece, parked the motor bike, and found the starting line. Scoped out the scene and found some free good smelling muscle lotion stuff.

4:15 am: Jay was signed up to for the full marathon so it was time for him to get to the starting line.  Caitlin and I stood on the sidelines to cheer him on at the start, he was super easy to spot as he was not only farang, but the tallest in the crowd.

5:15 am: Caitlin and I wondered around the area in search for a restroom, which was more of a challenge to find than you'd think, then did a small warm up and stretches.  We saw huge signs and tables for "Food for Marathon/Half Marathon" being set up so I was stoked to have something to look forward to at the finish.  Time to go to the starting line.

5:25 am: AHHH! Countdown of ha, see, sam, song, neung.. GOOO!!! We were off and I started my new playlist. I figured "I Gotta Feeling" and "Don't Stop Believing" were two good songs to start the race off with.

The race was clearly marked with how far we've gone so far and the police/security did a great job with shutting down the roads.  The entire race, I tried to preoccupy my thoughts so I wouldn't think about running.  But of course when you're trying not to think about a certain something, that thing you're trying so hard not to think about ends up being the only thing on your mind.. This is kind of how my race went.

1 km: "Hey, this isn't so bad. Phew, so far so good!"

2 km: "2 kilometers in, 19 to go! Put your hands in the air, say yeah yeah yeah.."

3 km: "Are you kidding me?! I didn't know that there were hills on this course!"

4 km: "I bet that was the one and only hill and at least that means it'll be a downhill on the way back. Feeling good, stick with the Thai chick with the pink shoes."

5 km: "What the heck is this woman doing? Not only is she stopping mid-half marathon to get her photo taken in front of marathon signs but she is wearing a purple feather dress. I can't let her beat me. Just gotta do what I just ran, 3 more times!"

6 km: "NOOO Why does that look like another hill up ahead?!"

7 km: Feeling good, singing to myself and dancing in my mind to "Teenage Dream" and "I'm Sexy and I Know It". "Hey, am I actually having fun running? Lets see, 7 km is how many miles? Hope my hair looks okay."

8 km: "WHAT the marathon Kenyans are on their way back already?! Damn, they're fast. What the heck, they have to run marathons as a living.  Marathon chasers and they win them ALL. What's this, the immigration office? Man, we're in the middle of no where! Hey, theres a new Tesco Lotus here?!"

9 km: There were a few minutes around this time that I totally had a "Aha! I LOVE Thailand and I love my life" moment.. It really inspired me to keep going and I felt really good mentally.  It was a cool feeling to have while I was doing something so challenging.  Then I tuned back into my surroundings, I think I look around too much. "Wow, its getting lighter.. half marathon sun rise over Khon Kaen! I'm gonna high five that old Thai man. Grrr people, stop taking pictures of me!"

10 km: Half way done and at the turn around point in the course!! "WAHOO! Better grab that cold water and dump it on my head in celebration.. AHH water in my ear! Cold, cold water!" "HAHAH look at that silly person in the dog costume dancing"

11 - 15 km: This part of the race was tough for me, think there was a lot of cursing in my mind to try to motivate me to keep on going. Think the heat and humidity was getting to me.

16 km: "What would I do if that huge stray dog right there eating trash on the sidelines started chasing me? What if he bit my leg? What would I do? I'd get my money back, thats for sure. PHEW past him."

17 km: "MAAAN my legs and booty are sore.. Oh sweet, a fruit stand! I CAN'T stop! Better grab a banana and watermelon on the go.. mmmm juicy watermelon." After sticking half the piece of banana in my mouth "**cough cough cough** Ahh, piece of banana stuck in my throat! **cough cough cough** *finally cough up the banana and spit it out* Lesson learned, no eating and running during marathon!"

18 - 19 km: "Survive, survive survive! Remember what Coach McCarthy said in high school cross-country.. 'Pain is temporary, glory is forever!' Just suuuuurvive! How is that 60 year old man so quick?! Why is this Thai guy running with me and asking where I'm from? Can't he see I'm not in a chatty mood right now?"

20 km: "One more KM! Less than a mile! Pick up your feet and go!"

Last 500m: "500m! The faster you run, the faster your done! I see the finish line! 400! 300! I'm getting ice cream for dinner! 200! French fries too if I want them! So close! 100! Pass that chick and GO GO GO GO GOOOOO YEEEES!"

I did it!! I crossed the finish line faster than my goal time by 4 minutes and received a finishing medal!  After wobbling for a few minutes, I realized how much pain my legs were in. Some woman clearly saw that I could barely stand and took me to this little stretching hut with her "new innovation" ..a huge stick thing with a rope used for stretching out your legs. After sitting for a few minutes, I felt okay enough to hobble around to watch the finish line for my friends.  Not long after, Caitlin ran in and not long after her came in Jay! We all finished the race and were alive!!! All three of us were so happy and felt so good (minus the physical pain), runners high! Our friends Emily and Michelle came to show their support and were so surprised to see me finished early and with a smile on my face. Not too long after, I scoped out the free food which was mostly fish ball soup, deep fried meats, white rice with egg, and 7/11 bread. Ehh, not my thing so I had plenty of the free water and sports drinks. After chatting some more at the finish line and taking a few pics with the multiple groups of Thais who requested to take photos with us, Jay, Caitlin, Michelle, Emily and I all headed home for some much needed rest.. and this time, all five of us squeezed on the motorbike! Haha, just kidding.. but maybe we should try it.

WAHOOOO half marathon! Cross that off my life bucket list!

Ps. I've already done some internet searches and have begun planning for my next big race!

WINNING! Medal winners!

You Know You've Been in Thailand Too Long When...

I've been living in Thailand for over 15 months now.  I've realized that I'll probably have more of a culture shock leaving here than I did moving here.

Welcome to my Thai life.. 

You know you've been in Thailand too long when.. (Chelsea edition)

• A bug is in my rice or noodles and I pick it out and continue eating my meal
• I no longer flinch in fear of getting rabies when passing by a barking wild stray dog
• I carry a supply of TP everywhere I go
• I keep a small baby powder with me everywhere I go during hot season
• When I skype with my friends, I'm most excited to hear what they had for dinner that night
• When a Thai person tells me to be somewhere a certain time, I follow a simple equation.  Time told to arrive + 20 to 30 minutes = actual needed arrival time AKA Thai time
• Mosquitoes no longer find me tasty
• I don't remember the last time I buckled my seat belt while in a car (thats a lie, I frantically fastened my belt when in the back of a cab when our drunk cab driver in Malaysia began angrily ranting about the Malay mafia and speeding through police checkpoints after accepting a time challenge from himself to see how quick he could get us to our hostel). Correction: I don't remember the last time I buckled my seat belt while in a car while in Thailand.. I think the answer is I never have.
• Whats a knife? I cut up my food with a spoon and eat my meal with spoon in right hand, fork in left.. its more of a shoveling action
• I don't think twice about need to pay to use a public restroom and I'm thrilled to find one that isn't a squatter
• I have begun doing the hand gesture of having my right arm out, palm down, and waving my fingers back and forth which is used to hail cabs and as a way to say "come here" (I use this often with my kids) to my western friends 
• I no longer even think about my wardrobe options, what I wear to school depends on what day of the week it is. Monday - yellow, Tuesday - pink, Wednesday - green, Thursday - orange, Friday - blue.
• I stand in the shadow of the telephone pole while waiting for the songtell in the morning
• Ice in a glass of beer is 100% completely normal, and so it drinking a large strong drink out of a plastic beach bucket
• Crazy bugs like the green praying mantis are everyday occurrences. Hey, I've even eaten bugs at the night market! Thai crunchy snack
• No longer find strange that the entire country stops what they are doing at 6pm everyday for 2 minutes while the Kings Anthem is played, as well as paying tribute to the King by standing to his song before seeing a movie at the cinema
• I find myself tapping my toes and start dancing to Thai and Korean pop music.. and I like it
• Its all about Thai baht. Even though I can quickly convert Thai baht to American dollar if needed to, my mind strictly functions on the baht
• I get freezing cold when it drops below 70 degrees, my body has adjusted to constant heat and humidity
• I hop on the back of a motor bike with no second thoughts of "I need a helmet"
• "Are they a lady? A boy? A ladyboy!"  Thailand is one of the most inexpensive places places in the world to get cosmetic surgery ladyboys are quite prominent in Thailand. I've seen hundreds (hand size and adams apple are harder things to disguise) and I'm sure I've come across dozens that look so good I was fooled.  But I don't see it as some phenomenon, they are just another person at the mall or songtell and they are seemingly accepted by Thai society.
• I have spent HOURS saving and bookmarking recipes to whip up for when I finally make a move to a "real world"
• I've got people all over town that know my favorite meals and can make them exactly how I like it.  No need to say a word other than mutter "Same Same Ka" and my fried rice lady, som tom lady, pad thai lady, fruit market lady, yellow curry guy, and watermelon lady know exactly what I want and will whip it up just how I like it.
• If my Thai dinner costs more than 30 baht (a dollar), I know I'm being ripped off
• While walking through/by a group of parents, teachers, elderly people, monks, or government workers, its now very natural to duck/bow my head as a sign of respect
• It wouldn't be an everyday songtell ride to school if the driver didn't speed down the opposite lanes with his horn blaring to cut traffic then slam on his breaks when a passenger rings the bell to get off. Then someone else rings the bell 5 seconds later as they didn't want to walk 30 feet
• I expect to hear "Farang! Farang!" as well as "TEEEECHA" amongst the crowd everywhere I go. I'm used to my blonde hair making me stick out
• I'm not weirded out when the old lady next to me on the songtell begins stroking my arm while saying "SoooIi! SooooIi!"
• I can cross the street of a highway of traffic in five seconds flat by dodging all cars and motorbikes and using the dotted lane lines
• Everything is "same same but different"
• Seeing my kid speed off after school with both parents on the motor bike along with a baby and family dog and not a single one hearing a helmet doesn't make me think my kid lives in an unsafe home or is brought up by an unfit family
• When I tell Thai people in Bangkok or in the south that I live in Khon Kaen, they respond in uncontrollable laughter. I now know why. Khon Kaen / Isaan is the Iowa or Nebraska (BOONDOCKS) of Thailand.
• When staying in a guesthouse or hostel, I consider the geckos just extra weekend roommates and its lonely and too quite without their constant lurking and chirping
• When traveling, I accidentally start conversing to other travelers in broken English forgetting that they are fluent English speakers
• I spy an elephant walking down the busy street while I'm enjoying my noodle soup dinner and it approaches my table. Nothing new. 
• "Hurry and clean up! Teacher Chelsea is hungry and ready for lunch!"  "Teacher Chelsea says you need to share the legos." "Teacher Chelsea thinks today we will dance to the hokey pokey!"  Speaking in third person has become more comfortable than first person talk.

• And I do things like riding elephants, Full Moon beach partying, zip lining, eating mystery Thai market snacks, teaching 50 five year olds English, scuba diving, and pulling the tails of two tigers with no fear.. I find myself to be invincible.  Thanks Thailand, I now have the mindset that if I can survive and conquer you, I can survive, conquer, and thrive doing anything anywhere!

Sidenote: I may be a bit strange and awkward when first moving back into a first world country where I'm not the only farang, so friends be ready to re-culture me! Its almost time for me to leave Thailand (sometime within the next three months) and have a new adventure! But for now, as crazy as it is.. I still love my thai-rrific life!

(I can't get enough of the word "thai-rrific".. I just think I'm so clever) 

Weekend in Chiang Mai chillin with some big cats

Sawatdeepiimai and Happy 2555!

Thats right, its year 2555 (song ha ha ha) here in Thailand. As if using military time, kilometers, and kilos didn't confuse me enough.. its a different year too?!

I have been getting resettled into the school routine of teaching and tutoring, and a three day weekend up in Chiang Mai thrown in there, and I'm finally getting around to blogging!  Heres a short recap of my holiday on the islands!

A few days before Christmas, I made my way down to Bangkok to take an overnight bus to Ko Tao, turtle island in Thai and is most well known for being the most inexpensive place in Thailand to get PADI certified! After I went to Bali last year, I decided that getting diving certified was something I HAD to do before leaving Thailand. My plan was to head down there solo for Christmas then zip over to the other coast to meet friends for New Years.  I was excited to do some traveling on my own, I find its easier and more fun to meet people that way.  On the bus ride down south, I was sitting next to Bergen, a girl from New Zealand who has been traveling solo for five months. We got along well, as well as we could after an overnight bus ride and being stranded at some strange travel agency as well as a very rocky boat ride (tired and no food and sketchy boat rides = cranky/on edge Chelsea), and decided to split a room as our schedules travel lined up nicely.  After a day or two, I felt like I had been traveling with Bergen for weeks and that she had been one of my long lost friends.  We spent our evenings together swapping stories, grabbing dinner, drinks, watching fire shows, and dancing until the clubs closed.  It was also nice to have a friend to spend Christmas with, we got good Indian for Christmas dinner then headed out to the beach bar "Lotus" for some fireshows and buckets. Not your traditional Christmas dinner but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

I decided to get PADI open water certified on Ko Tao and was SO excited!  It was a four day course with sections in the classroom with videos and quizzes and a written final exam, skills exercises in the swimming pool, and four open water dives in the sea.  There was six of us in our group and even though the visibility and weather were definitely not in our favor, Ko Tao was a great place to learn.  Along with my 9800 baht course fee, I got free accommodation for three days and my certification is recognized around the world.  I did two dives when I went over to Ko Phi Phi where the visibility was AMAZING and the coral and fish variety was breathe taking, because the visibility was so bad on Ko Tao and I was so focused on learning the diving skills, I felt like Ko Phi Phi was the first place I'd dived!  There, I saw deadly sea snakes, nemo clown fish, angel fish, barracudas, a sea turtle, and so much more. I LOVE diving and will extend my certification to the advanced open water in March, meaning I can do deeper dives and take specialty courses. Diving is basically amazing and is my new obsession, I'd love to do it everyday for the rest of my life! I even have a favorite fish, the box fish.

Diving Christmas Eve

 After Ko Tao, Bergen and I parted ways and I headed to Ko Phi Phi for my fourth time! I love this little island, great party scene, fun people, and nice beaches.. whats not to love?!  Emily, the new teacher at my school who took Jess' spot, met me down there for her first Thai island extravaganza! I went down to Phi Phi last New Years with Jess and Jenna so I was a little nostalgic this trip and missed my thai-rrific friends, but I'm glad Emily was able to meet me and we showed the island that Khon Kaen teachers know how to celebrate New Years.  I also got to meet up with my friend, John Johnsen! We went to Santa Barbara City College together years ago then he moved to Sweden.  He was traveling Thailand for the holiday with his girlfriend and we were able to coordinate New Years plans to be in the same place.  It was nice to see a face from home and New Years was thai-rrific.


Back in Khon Kaen, nothing has changed other than there is a new dinner hut right by my apartment building and it serves GREAT curry.  I'm at the last leg of the race now, only 58 more days in Khon Kaen (but who's counting?!).  I met some amazing people this holiday break which really inspired me to look into some new adventure possibilities for life after Thailand.. I haven't booked anything yet but my wheels are spinning and great plans are in the works.  I need to get all my ducks in a row as time is flying, and I'll post once my plans are official!

Happy New Year!