Our adventures started after Saturday morning coffee and veggie omelettes. Ellie and Steve (a friend visiting from the U.K.) met us at the bus stop and we traveled one hour to the northeastern coast of our island home.
Our first stop was Yeliu, a peninsular geopark known for its unique rock formations. Sunny blue skies and the cool sea breeze provided the perfect setting for our exploration.
We hiked to the highest point on the peninsula and took in the vivid turquoise panorama.
We hiked up an appetite and ate stopped at a picnic table for simple Taiwanese noodle bowls. After resting and chatting awhile, we walked back to the main road and caught a bus down the mountain.
We said goodbye to our British friends and disembarked at the village of Wan-li on Green Bay.
Next, we registered for the race and I picked up my information packet and free tote bag and running shirt. Unsure exactly where our hostel was located, we soon found it conveniently right across the street from the starting line. The owner, a middle-aged woman, warmly greeted us and showed us to our clean and comfortable room.
Although she spoke no English, I was surprised and encouraged to find that I could communicate all the basic information we needed (thanks, Teacher Evangeline!)
We dropped off our backpacks and headed to the beach for a late afternoon stroll. Several stranded pufferfish laid strewn about the sand, and the salty smell of fresh seafood filled the air.
Following the beach brought us to the local fishermen's wharf, which was bustling with weathered men in rubber boots selling their days' catch.
As we walked through the village we felt shocked by the rural "small-town" feel. "I can't believe there's no 7-11 here!" Kalan exclaimed. I guess we've grown quite accustomed to the hustle-bustle and convenience of city life.
A bit later, Ben and Beth arrived in town and met us at the hostel. Soon after, our fellow hostel guests checked into their adjacent rooms...five Taiwanese runners, all about my father's age, all retired teachers, and all super excited to converse with us in English. They shared their pre-race snacks and drinks with us, including a local liquor distilled from sorghum.
"Helps me sleep good before big race," one of them exclaimed, who claimed to run an average of 35 marathons each year. "Please--try some!"
I politely declined, convinced I would never wake up in the morning after a sip of the vodka-like liquid. But we had a fun time talking and laughing with our new friends.
By nine we were snug in our bunk beds, trying to catch some winks before our 5 am alarm. I had trouble falling asleep because I felt so excited, but after a while the days' hiking and exploring caught up with me and I drifted off to a dream about running on the beach...
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