Did you know pineapples grow on bushes? I sure didn’t! But that’s just one of the many things I learned today at Pineapple Land!
I not only got to see the infamous pineapple bushes – I also got to sample all the different wines, juices, cakes, and cookies that can be made with the delicious fruit!
Once Mary and I had stuffed ourselves with free pineapple samples we headed to the Aquarium.
I loved the Okinawa Aquarium for two reasons:
1. It had a really cool shark tank full of different kinds of sharks, including a terrifying bull shark;
2. The official name of the aquarium is the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Apparently my last name means “beautiful” or “graceful” in the Okinawan dialect. What a perfect translation!
Adjacent to the aquarium is the Tropical Dream Garden. The garden was full of beautiful flowers and beautiful buildings:
Here’s a pic of Mary looking amazing,
And here’s a a pic of me looking amazed at the size of that sausage tree!
The garden also had a real koi pond. I did a little fish feeding,
And then watched the frenzy!
I have been absolutely LOVING my time in Japan. The weather’s been amazing (locals complain about the freezing cold 70s!), and everyone I’ve met has been ridiculously nice. I’m definitely experiencing some sensory overload, but I’m enjoying every minute!
I made it! But the trip wasn’t without a few hiccups. After a mad dash to my departure gate at LAX (apparently TBT stands for “Tom Bradley Terminal,” and not a California version of “To Be deTermined” – whoops!), I found myself doing some serious sign language in effort to find my gate in Taiwan, and then even more panicked pleading to get through customs in Okinawa. But eventually they let me through!
I was excited about flying on a 747 airplane, but apparently they are commonplace in Asia – the runway in Taiwan was full of jumbo jets!
Mary and her husband Charlie were waiting for me at the airport and we wasted no time taking in the sights!
First stop was Shuri Castle – the one-time home of the Emperor of Okinawa. The original structure was destroyed in WWII, but the rebuilt version is still pretty spectacular!
After that we headed to the shops on Kokusai Street. Mary and I treated ourselves to some pineapple on a stick,
And then I sampled some fresh sugar cane juice!
It tasted like sweet wheatgrass – earthy deliciousness!
We continued our stroll through the fish market,
Which inspired us to get sushi! I was adventurous, but Mary stuck to the fish-free variety.
And then I went home and took a shower, because judging from that last picture I really needed it! Can’t wait to see what’s on tap for the rest of the week! Sayonara!
Last weekend I ran a 15k in Serenbe. Serenbe is a planned community south of Atlanta. It looks like it’s straight out of a movie…
With perfect homes, farm-to-table dining, quaint shops, and gorgeous trails, it’s hard to believe the town is less than an hour from the urban sprawl that is metro Atlanta.
This race was my first hard effort since Hawaii, and while my performance was nothing to write home about, it was nice to know I can still run 9 miles at a decent clip!
Official results haven’t been posted yet, but I think I was somewhere around second place. What I do know is that this race is a blast – a great opportunity to catch up with friends, run some beautiful trails, and celebrate post-race with some live music and adult beverages. A very nice escape from the “real world” and absolutely perfect way to kick off my “off season.” Cheers!
My trail running sidekick/cousin Collin and I post-race!
It really should be required. Ironman should make all athletes volunteer or cheer for at least one race per year. Because the only thing more humbling than finishing an Ironman is watching 3,000 other people fight through the ups and downs of a 140.6 mile, all-day-long race, in effort to cross that line and hear those magical words “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!” Talk about inspiration!
I was in search of just that kind of motivation when I traveled to Panama City Beach to cheer for friends racing Ironman Florida last weekend.
The sunny sky is deceiving - it was FREEZING!
I got to witness Kathryn CRUSHING the course and nabbing a Kona slot!
And see Linda pass nearly the entire field in route to a 2+ hour best time!
And listen as IronMike and Jon-Jon both heard “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN” for the first, but definitely not last, time.
IronMike blazing through the run
Jon-Jon and I went to rival high schools, but I try not to hold it against him
I walked away with a new appreciation for the sport (and amazingly, NO hangover!)
The Dynamo Multisport Crew, post-race
Now I’m more motivated than ever to make the most of the next few months. I know solid winter training is the key to fast spring races. Bring it on!
BONUS!
So it turns out the good people at TYR caught Diablo blabbing about our bet ON CAMERA! Check it out! (I’m thinking maybe it was divine intervention that led to his mile 21 collapse?!)
And just in case you need a laugh — here’s me stumbling through my own interview! Hope I don’t get too famous…
My 2012 triathlon season is officially underway! In my first official workouts I’ve swam, biked, ran, and even done stretch cords for the first time in like 10 years. OUCH – my arms are almost too sore to type.
But wait – the calendar barely says November – 2012 training already!? Yes, that is right. I’m getting an early start to the year because I’m taking a huge leap this year and doing some big early season races!
And it’s a good thing I’m an expert bike packer because these races are all over the place!
So that’s the plan for 2012 Part 1. Hopefully Part 2 will require a bigger map!
Between now and April I’ll probably jump in some fun running races like the Serenbe 15k, Hogpen Hill Climb, Red Top Rumble, and Vision Trek 10k to keep things interesting. And of course, this weekend I’m headed down to Panama City Beach to cheer for friends racing Ironman Florida! (And maybe ring in the new year at Club LaVela?!)
Hi! I'm Haley. Professional triathlete, multisport coach, occasional blogger and aspiring stick figure artist. I grew up swimming, worked in public accounting for a few years, and now I swim, bike, run all over the world. Thanks for checking in and please continue to follow along as I navigate the ups and downs of this crazy life.
