One of the great things you can do in Singapore which you wouldn't do in California is to run by the beach in the middle of the night. Even when it's deserted. Okay, the other thing you can do is drink with an open can in the middle of the street, anywhere, even when you're 18, but let's not go there. I can't imagine running down the Ohlone Greenway in El Cerrito or at Caesar Chavez in the middle of the night. If you don't get killed you'll probably get mugged. Or mugged and killed....
The only time I ran in the middle of the night (once) was in freshman year. The route was standard, one round around campus, but no it wasn't a nice flat round! First leg out of the dorms you go right upslope on Bancroft. It feels okay at first, but you just want to die when you hit Piedmont. Then its flat along Piedmont and you run down Hearst, which is such a breeze! The flat stretch along Oxford really feels like a warmdown, but then up Bancroft past the RSF and back to Unit 3 and that's a real test of endurance! I always made it though, my dorm mates thought I was a commando or something. But those were the days when I was actually slim and fit haha!
One of my other running routes was one round around the back of Albany hill, up to Central and then down San Pablo and back onto Solano. That one was long and tough, almost blacked out once! The thing that really kills you is when you pass Dunkin Doughnuts but you can't go in! I make sure I don't carry any cash when I run so I don't get tempted. I never ate at Dunkin by the way. Guess it can't beat fresh Krispy Kreme....
The last running route is of course back and forth on the Ohlone Greenway up to St John's Church near Portrero and back. It gets kinda quiet on the weekday's though, and sometimes theres a patrol car going back and forth, so I get a little freaked out, especially when I go by the low cost housing areas. But so far so good, nothing happened.
Anyway, right now I actually have a pair of shoes just for running. I used to use my running sneakers for anything under the sun, but after I spoiled the last pair playing golf and tennis, don't think that's gonna work out anymore. I think running shoes just aren't made for good lateral movement. Or maybe I'm just making the wrong moves.... Either way, its time for a new pair of shoes. ;)
Speaking of shoes, I actually have too many pairs of shoes. Even some that I never really used. I have one pair of North Face hiking boots worth US$100 with Nubuck leather that I never really used. I always wanted a Nubuck because it's like the ultimate leather for hiking boots. But sadly the boot is just so hard that its so so uncomfortable! Then I have a pair of Timberland low cut gortex hiking shoes, which was great for rainy weather, but then the sole keeps coming out when it gets too wet. Waterproof, but not the sole, damn... And don't get me started on the bowling shoes, which I have used only twice (and don't ask me why I bought them, I can't even bowl a 100). My best shoe buy? Timberland hiking/construction boots worth $70, with steel toe and insulated base! Why is it so good? Cos its construction safety standard but yet its very comfortable, for hiking, how bout that? I wouldn't use it for too much hiking though, the steel toe gets in the way after a while....
Yah I know my lady friends will be going, "What? That's it? I have like 200 pairs I don't use!" Well, girls tend to buy real cheap shoes but many many of them, to match every single outfit. Most of my shoes cost at least a hundred and are durable enough to last a few years. I have a female friend who throws away shoes every 3 weeks or so...
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