Run to the Beat May 19, 2019 Changping, China

This race was held in Beijing, but was about an hour and a half from where we live. I decided to make this more fun by booking a hotel. The girls love hotels because they get to eat a buffet breakfast and watch TV.

I booked a hotel about 2 miles from the race start. We stayed right next to the Ming Tombs. It took us quite a while to get to the hotel because I went to the wrong place for packet pickup. The girls got so frustrated with me. But, I told them that I usually do really well getting us place, but sometimes I mess up.

There were quite a few restaurants all around us and the girls had fun trying new foods. It started raining really hard so we hung out in our hotel most of the evening.

I got really excited when I reached the start line.

I couldn't believe that I was actually running 2 half marathons in China. I went through the whole process twice, in a country that doesn't even speak English. These experiences are so cool.

I get to see how different things in my favorite sport in a different country. So far, I felt so supported by the race venues and the Chinese people. They really make me smile and they have so much energy. "Jia You" is such a cool thing that they say and they say it with so much passion and energy.

This race went through Ming Tombs reservoir.

This is the resting place of 13 Ming dynasty emperors. The tomb area is surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Ming Tomb reservoir is located between the Mangshan and Hanbaoshan mountains in Beijing.

I took the girls to Mangshan Mountain forest park after the race. The 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2011 Beijing Triathlon World Championship was held at Ming Tomb Reservoir.

I had no idea that this race was going to be so hilly. It was very similar to, "Garden of the Gods" in Colorado.

I hadn't done any hill training. Beijing is very flat, so it is hard to find hills around my apartment when I run.

The music on the course and the beautiful scenery kept me going. One of the largest forest parks in Beijing is the Mangshan National Forest Park.

There are many trees and flowers scattered across the mountain. There is a big Buddha, which weighs 3000 tons. The girls also enjoyed looking at all of the decorations, which included kids and pretty flower arches.

I got asked for my autograph from a taxi driver when we were coming home. This experience made me realize that we don't need to leave Beijing to see new and exciting things in China.