Christmas and a Marathon

I figured I should really post my Christmas blog before another Christmas happens, especially given that it's almost the end of February.  My first Christmas in Chaiyaphum was amazing.  I still had school, but instead of teaching classes, we had a day full of activities.  Satri had a talent contest where we (foreign English teachers) judged our students on singing and dancing competitions.  

My M2/1 class sang the best version of "Last Christmas" and had the best dance to go with it. 

Foreign English department with our head 

The best part of my Christmas was my family coming to visit me.  My brother and dad's first time in Thailand, my family's first time in Chaiyaphum.  I felt so lucky to have them come see me where I teach, where I live, and who I hang out with.  It was difficult not being able to see them the year before for the holidays, so it was truly an amazing present and gift to have them here with me.

My family got to see a bit of the Christmas assembly with my students, I got to show them around Chaiyaphum, the night market, the little town I love and now call home.   I gave them rides on my scooter, the blueberry, my favorite mode of transportation.  I was excited to play tourist with them and got to sightsee and visit places I haven't yet seen.  They stayed for a few days, a short trip, but much needed.

Stone Henge

Flash forward a few weeks and we are now in 2015 (how did that happen?!) and Satri had our holiday party, cowboy themed included.  If you think Americans like themed parties, you haven't been to a Thai party, themed parties are no joke and they are pretty much the best things ever.  Not only was it an all you can eat feast (my favorite), there was free pitcher beer, and yes each of us had our own beer pitcher, because Thailand.

Every once in a while, you'll come across some batshit crazy people who just one day decide to run a marathon.  Yes, that person is me.  A couple girls here decided to start training for a half marathon, and because I have completed a marathon before, I thought, well, I can do a full, why not?  I woke up one Saturday and thought, if I can run 15 miles today, I'll sign up for the marathon, if not, oh well.  So, about two and a half weeks of training, so basically no training, I found myself in Khon Kaen, a two hour trip from my town, at 4 am, standing with hundreds (I wouldn't say thousands because there weren't thousands) of Thais, foreigners, and travelers of all ages all with one goal in mind: to finish a marathon and earn bragging rights and a badass status.  

I was so lucky to have some amazing friends come along on their scooter and cheer me on.  This marathon was very much Thailand in that it was a bit disorganized.  There weren't cheerleaders (except for Val and Sam), minimal water stations, and zero bathrooms-well, the bathrooms were at the gas stations we ran past.  

The route was beautiful through.  Marathoners ran through a temple, around the Khon Kaen college, and all around the town.  Now, because Thailand, it got hot, and got hot fast.  Struggles were real around mile 18-26, the wall hit me and hit me hard.  Unlike my Portland Marathon where I pretty much blacked out the entire time, I unfortunately felt every muscle, every thought, everything.  Things definitely became difficult around mile 18, especially when I tore a muscle, which had been acting up running the past couple weeks.  Running was painful and the mile markers were off.  This was also their first year using timing chips, so times were off as well, but like any race, I sprinted those last strides and earned my medal, and bragging rights- a twice marathon finisher!!

Running 26.2 miles and finding out you still have 2 more miles to run on the course.

 I definitely felt every muscle for a few days.  The bus ride back to Chaiyaphum was rough, but I am so glad I ran another marathon and so proud I not only got a medal, but more so I finished another marathon.  I admit, I'm extremely crazy, because not many people do things like this, but when else in my life, could I say I was able to successfully complete a marathon in another country, in Thailand, the land of many smiles?