Much-needed recovery
More than seven months would pass between my third run in Greenland and my seventh in China. The break was a welcome one, although, throughout the period, I kept on doing light training. This was, of course, stepped up in preparation for the next.
This year I left home on Tuesday 16th May, and the trip was entirely traditional. I had signed up for the group without planned outings, which gave me the freedom to do what I wanted. On the day we arrived, I went to the Pearl Market to talk to some tailors. I ordered a blazer set to wear at events at our local bird shooting club, with chest pocket emblems and ties with the club’s logo on them.
We spent the first night of the trip at the Qianmen Hotel. I had previously eaten at this hotel, and in the years to follow I would stay at this excellent establishment several times.
On the Thursday inspection tour to Yin and Yang Square I noticed that many of the runners and members of the medical team were not there. That was a bit odd.
Without power and hot water
This year, I got another hotel in Jixian, and after the rather disappointing Yuyang Hotel the previous year I was now at the Jian She. This turned out, however, to be of a similar standard. There was neither power nor hot water in the rooms, and it was quite a challenge to get things fixed.
Buying a suitcase –highly entertaining
I had the day before the race to myself, so I relaxed and went for a walk in the city. Karin’s daughter, Rika, had asked me to buy a pink suitcase for her. This was a challenge several times over.
On one street corner, I found a shop that sold bags, so I went in to see if they had the desired suitcase and found one, too. While I walked around the shop, about 20 Chinese men stood outside their noses almost pressed up against the glass, to see what this rather odd tourist intended to buy. When I came out of the shop with a pink suitcase in my hand they really started talking. I naturally did not understand what they were saying, but I’m pretty sure it was about me.
Pleasant weather
The Great Wall Marathon was run this year on Saturday 20th May in the best whether I had experienced so far on this run. I don’t think the temperature exceeded 20°C at any time, and there was light cloud cover.
My entire race went as planned. I was at the top of the mountain after three quarters of an hour and over the Wall an hour later. The big main road and the incline in the middle of the run went well. I ran most of the time, although I did occasionally walk. I negotiated the uneven dirt and stone tracks with extreme caution. I had no intention of falling and sustaining an injury. I counted on getting back to the Wall by 12.30, which I did. Now it was time to pass through “hell”, although it was not hellish this year. As usual, it was tough going crossing the Wall for the second time but I had no problems and kept going almost all the time.
I crossed the line with a time of 6:56:26, which was my best time in many years. It was wonderful to run across the finishing line to meet Thomas after the difficult trips of late to South Africa and Greenland.
The event was in a state of tremendous growth, and for the first time there were 1,000 runners from no fewer than 36 nations. The medals were also bigger for the fourth year in a row.
Missing suitcase
When we arrived that evening at the Dong Fang Hotel, one of my suitcases was missing. It was the new pink case I had bought for Rika. The guide telephoned the bus driver. It turned out that it was still lying in the luggage compartment of the bus, where he had not seen it. To me it was a complete mystery how he could miss precisely this pink suitcase but I could have it back the following morning at 9 a.m., which I accepted because it only contained dirty washing and things I didn’t need. Later, it turned out that the case actually contained the bag containing my wallet, passport and other valuables, which was not at all nice. Because I also had to go to the Silk Market the next morning, I had to get hold of my money. I contacted the guide once more, who assured me that the case would be at the hotel at 7.30 in the morning.
At breakfast on the Sunday morning, I saw the bus arrive at the hotel entrance and immediately dashed out to get my case. Back at my table, I was able to ascertain that nothing was missing.
Sugar cold
I spent most of the day shopping at the markets. I picked up the textiles I had ordered from the tailor and bought all the far too many things other people had asked me to buy. At the Pearl Market, I went completely sugar cold, or at least something like it. I walked around in a state of confusion and couldn’t find the exit. Nor could I work out which floor I was on. As soon as I got out, I found something to drink in the fresh air and was fine again.
Gala party on speed
Unfortunately that year’s gala party was a bit of a joke. It was held at a large Beijing Hotel where the main hall was to be used for another event the following day. This meant that our event had to end as quickly as possible, so they could tidy up, clean the place and get it ready for the following day. I found it really odd that they couldn’t hire staff to do the job at night, so that we could have a decent party.
Dave Cundy bid us welcome, after which there was a huge Chinese show. The food was soon out of the way, and during the dinner, the prizes were presented and various people honoured. The whole event was characterised by the fact that it had to be got out of the way, unlike previous years where everything was done in a more dignified fashion. The beer taps were closed after only three quarters of an hour, and the whole party came to an end at 7:30 p.m.
The evening’s after party at a large bar was not the same as it used to be, either. There was very loud disco music, and I felt a generation too old. I only spent a couple of hours chatting to good acquaintances from all my years in China before I took a taxi back to the hotel shortly after 11 p.m.
Misunderstanding and a lurid date
I spent the last whole day in Beijing relaxing and shopping. The most curious happening of the day was when I was on my way home from the Silk Market. Again, it was one of those situations, where two people misunderstand each other’s body language. A prostitute was standing at the taxi rank and offered her services. I declined with a smile, but it was perhaps precisely that smile that led her to believe something entirely different and gave her hope. I got into the front seat, and she was about to leap into the back, and I had to act quickly to stop her doing so.
Final act for the troublesome suitcase
Tuesday 23rd May was the day of my homeward journey after, generally speaking, a satisfactory trip. This day also had its curious quirk. When I picked up the pink suitcase from the baggage conveyor it had lost both its wheels, and I was given compensation for the case, which was beyond repair. It obviously didn’t want to go home to Rika.
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