Running around the world: Taiwan and New York

Been a little while since my last “running around the world” post.

The last two covered Japan and an extended period in Australia. Since then I’ve been to Bali, Hong Kong, Taiwan and New York!

Except not as much running. I increased speed and distance too quickly towards the end of my time in Melbourne. That resulted in some pain developing in my right leg. Minor quad strain. The cure: rest, i.e. no running.

I’d been looking forward to early morning beach runs in Bali, so this was disappointing. Actually booked somewhere by the beach just for this reason. A couple of short test runs quickly confirmed that the pain wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

So no runs for a few weeks.

Frustrating!

On the plus side, I did relax a bit and also did a three day diving course and got my licence. And then there were also some stunning sunsets!

Moved onto Hong Kong for nine days and no running there either. Not healed yet. Turned out to be the least of my worries, I experienced the mother of all gout attacks. Something I’d dealt with before. Usually left me hobbling for a few days about a couple of times a year.

This time it was much worse! Definitely no chance of a run. Could barely walk!

I hobbled my way from Hong Kong to Taiwan. No thoughts of running in Taipei. Hoping it would get better each day.

Hobbling from Taipei into Hualien and then Taitung. Hobbling from 2023 into 2024.

Finally went to a clinic, was prescribed anti-inflammatories and it all cleared up. But still not ready to run. I toured around by train, from city to city. Made use of the bike sharing scheme to get around.

My last few days in Taiwan I headed to the stunning Sun Moon Lake. Cycled 33 km or so around the lake and then on my last day at the lake, finally, did my first proper run in almost five weeks!

It felt great! The time off had given the quad strain a chance to fully heal. No hint of pain. The run itself along the lake was beautiful and I am thankful I was able to do this run. My only run in Taiwan!

Then onto New York. 14 hour flight from Taipei!

It was freezing. -5° C when I arrived with a “feels like” wind chill of -10°. One day down to -14° C!

Undeterred and only in t-shirt and shorts, I headed out. I didn’t have any other running gear. I did have gloves!

Running to the other side of the bridge, an NYPD cop shouted at me “aren’t you cold?” What could I say? “Yep. Just carried on. Running faster was the only solution!

Ran to the Brooklyn side and back.

That run felt great!

I was able to get in another run a few days later around the bottom of Manhattan. I was staying in the Financial District so this was all very convenient. Also, like London, there isn’t fast flowing traffic on these little streets so crossing is easy regardless of traffic lights (unlike Australian cities).

Battery Park, World Trade Centre and a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty (not my first time in NYC).

Only these two runs in New York sadly, as the inflammation came back. Something I am getting locked at now and hoping there isn’t permanent joint damage.

In 2019 I’d run 10 km in Central Park and was hoping to do so again. That’ll have to wait until my next visit. I’d also love to run on the New Jersey side. There are fantastic views of the New York skyline from Hoboken.

Stay tuned for more running around the world!