Training Log Archive: Nadim

Guangzhou, China. From Shamian North St. clockwise around the island to Shamian South St. and on to Shamian North St. again for a plain loop. I did two loops altogether. I might have ventured off the island but my GPS watch battery was dying and there will be other days. It was perhaps in the low 70s F but the humidity was darn near 100%. I saw a few other runners going the other direction. I was moving faster and they seemed chagrined by that. There were aa few badminton players but not as much exercise going on as in the park we ran in in Hefei.

Travel day going from Hefei to Guaungzhou. It was rather hot and humid upon arrival. It rained as we left the airport reunited with the families we met in Beijing. This time, we all had our adopted kids. The others were all much younger. We went straight to the doctor offices for US entry health screenings. One of the biological kids of the other families had been sick for 3 days, probably from something he'd eaten earlier, so he got some medication too. Once we arrived at our hotel we walked around and it was so steamy after the rain that my camera lens would fog immediately. We walked on our island through a Cantonese historical district, then over a bridge to a modern and air conditioned mall. I carried Xue Bo most of the away back; under a half mile.

Hefei, China. Starting from Shouchun Rd. After Peggy ran, she convinced me that I had enough time to run too. I had already planned to run around in Xiaiyaojin Park the next time but Peggy had beaten me to it with her run. I found many of the things that she had such as the people doing Tai Chi, playing badminton, line dancing (without music--one group did it with red fans), as well as some stretching, and exercising with a yo-yo like device that whirred as it spun on a string around the body or legs almost hula hoop-like(we'd seen something like this when seeing acrobats in Beijing). The temperature was in the upper 60s with with the sun out again, and the humidity pretty high, it felt a bit warm. The grounds were all well landscaped. I think I got close to Suzhou Rd. before turning back.

Bengbu, China. After visiting and touring her orphanage, we drove then took a short walk the rest of the way to the hospital where our daughter was found.

Bengbu, China. We hiked in a park along a lake to what is known as something like the Mason-Dixon line of China--a north--south separator. His one was commemorated by a tower sculpture several hundred feet tall with a dragon head on top, and blue and red components. The park let us see a distant shoreline where our daughter's orphanage used to be located. The park was nicely landscaped. Large boulders were placed vertically on land and just off the shore. Not one, but two wedding couples were decked-out in their finest dresses and suits for pictures. Bengbu is known for fresh water pearl production though we saw no evidence of this.

Hefei, China. Starting from Shouchun Rd. I got out for another run along the river. I ran down the east side 3 bridges down like before to Suzhou Rd., then I crossed over and ran up the west side. It was a bit easier to tell which bank was east or west today since there was enough sunshine in the sky for a shadow for the first time since we've been here. The usual people I had seen in the morning were gone. In their places, many parents were with their children as they got their kids home from school. School started here on Monday.

Hefei, China. Starting from Shouchun Rd. I got out for another run along the river. I started on the west side, the section bordered by Xiaiyaojin Park and I went down river to the 3rd bridge, crossed over, ran up to the next bridge, crossed back, and stayed on that side till Shouchun Rd. As I started this run, I again felt weak early on from stuff in my lungs but this time, I only got a little better (I had as relapse on my summer cold). Near Shouchun Rd. There were people ball room dancing in a square, and I saw all of the same people that I had remarked on yesterday. It wasn't that hot but it was very humid. Since being in China it has been hard to tell north, east, west, and south because it has continually been overcast with smog. It did rain a lot later on, for most of the day. Our job for the day was the finishing of a adoption paperwork that we'd started yesterday. A at the end of the office visit, we were handed an official certificate of a adoption. Our daughter had her first pizza w/us in the evening, and we Skyped with our son Max.

Hefei, China. Starting from Shouchun Rd. I got out for a run along the river. This was the section bordered by Xiaiyaojin Park. I ran down river for 2 bridges on the east/right side before crossing to the left and going to one more bridge on the left. I felt rather tired in the first quarter mile as my lungs are still full of phlegm. This got much better. The trail on the west/park side was made of pebble mosaic sand it was nicely landscaped. I saw a man using a net on a pole to either fish out trash or fish out fish. A group was moving in a circle on the dirt probably practicing Tai Chi. Another group of men at the 3rd bridge were apparently gambling or gaming. I felt the temperature rise when I passed them. I crossed to the east side and took that all the way back.

This was our big day. After nearly 5 years, we finally had a trip to the orphanage to meet and pick--up our 7 1/2 year old daughter. She was awaiting at the door in the white dress that we had sent in the care package. She was with an orphanage director and all that suddenness was a big surprise to us. After paperwork we took her back to the hotel. We got used to each other more and more. We took her to get some clothes but she enjoyed the park the most--a pretty good sign that she'll fit right in.

Hefei, China. 45 sit-ups in the hotel after a day of mostly traveling.