Catching Up

Oksu Station, Line 3 up Cheongyecheon Stream to Cheongye Plaza, back Jongno Blvd to Kwangjang Market crossing Cheong gye to Bangsan Market, west to the Hammer Man and on past Ahyeon Furniture Street and Ewha Wedding Street into Sinchon and home

Date: Friday, 20 March

Distance: 14.39

Time: 3:04:08

Walk to Soccer Field, hit the track for speed run, and then back through ‘hood.

Date: Sunday, 22 March
Distance: 8 laps on track
Time: 22:13

Leisurely jog into campus, then aerobic workout on steps of Amphitheater.

Date: Monday, 23 March
Distance: 3864 steps Yonsei Amphitheater
Time: 25:02

Seodaemun-gu run past Gu office around back on Ansan, past Independence Park, through Kyonggi University Campus back into Sinchon and home

Date: Wednesday, 25 March

Distance: 7.14 miles

Time: 1:22:52

Time is piling up like dirty laundry and I really need to get back on schedule with the blog, so here are the latest stats. Yes, I have been, thankfully, staying on schedule with the runs, just not disciplining myself to be accountable via the blogging. The building is in the final stages of construction and we have spent considerable time there the last few days. As we move into relocation mode and develop work schedules for a variety of projects, even Jenny gets ignored. Running this week has an added urgency, as I try to shed one more kilogram before the wedding of Andrew Linkhart and Yuri Kang on Saturday. Not sure it will stick—these last two week, I have a ravenous appetite following the long runs.

The Comfort women are back in the news. These women, survivors of WWII, continue to testify of the horror and violence of being kept as prostitutes for the Japanese army during that dark time. Unfortunately is it not so different today. A recent entry on outreach-international.org goes, “When we think of poverty, images of sick children, starving mothers, war and more come to mind. But there are many more abuses of the poor. Most residents in impoverished communities do not own their homes, making them susceptible to the whim of the owners. Homes are made of impermanent materials and need repair often. When unskilled families attempt to fix things themselves, leaking roofs and broken toilets remain…Sometimes parents allow their children to migrate to find jobs in other regions, but it is risky because they can become victims of sex- and labor-trafficking industries. Even when children remain in school, some teachers require them to spend long hours cleaning the school, rather than learning in it, and even require children to buy food and equipment from them personally.

Outreach International helps persons who are taken advantage of. Helping people come together in a working community … People become empowered to resist abuse. And meet their challenges in new ways.”

The Japanese occupation in Korea was one of abject poverty. To force young women into army brothels was often seen as a step up from the squalor of their living conditions created by an unjust and violent occupation of their homes. Join me in running to end poverty one child, one family, one village at a time.

Round and Round We Go

Date: Monday, March 9 Heart Attack Hill and Yonsei Amphitheater Steps
Time: 48 min?
Distance: 4.75 miles

Date : Wednesday, March 11 Yonsei University Running Track
Time: 1:13:02
Distance: 6.23 miles

This week has been quite active with appointments and trips to the construction site. A biting wind wants to accompany us wherever we go. So, I am combining the two runs in this blog entry. Holding oneself accountable for all to see can be a drag--but, that's why I am posting this. WYSIWYG.
Yonsei University has a new running track and soccer field. Until this year, it has been a sandlot that would be unbearable during yellow dust season. The upgrade is nice and is bringing out the neighborhood as well as providing a place for the ROTC class, the Drum Corp, the Athletic Dept, etc. to practice. Only criticism: The field has fake green PLASTIC grass on it. OUCH!

Today, a Korean fellow joined me on the track. Waited until I jogged by, then kept pace with me. His perfectly dyed and combed jet black hair was a tribute to old Korean guys (I suspect he is about my age). His pace was steady. I admired his stamina and he stayed with me through 8 laps, before I gave out (I had already done 8). One of the fears I have overcome is the inability to speak to another who does not speak "my language." In my travels, I have finally found the joy that comes with freely conversing with someone--when neither of us have a clue what the other is saying. I commented on his good looks and athletic style, the weather, his hair, asked him about family and career...he kept up his end with steady comments about I don't know what. Who cares? We enjoyed our time together and I have a new friend and running partner.

Too often, the poor are confronted with those who would talk down to them, talk past them, talk over them, talking around them, but not sharing with them. Those who are poor need friends like you to spend time with them. Listen. And share. Join me in running to end poverty one child, one family, one village at a time.