While I was out, I remembered how much I used to love jogging. I used to do it all the time, but I quit while I was in China because people would always point and stare and laugh and cough.
This is the street we used to live on. I know just what you're thinking, and I couldn't agree more, it is beautiful, isn't it.
Nobody runs in China, unless they've just stolen something or they're on fire. It's just not a common form of exercise.
Nope, this is how most people exercise in China
Public exercise equipment around every corner.
This must be why Chinese people are so healthy... and tired.
They also like to ride bikes. But I never saw anyone wearing a helmet. Most people just wore these welding mask things, just in case they had to perform an emergency weld.
And perfect if you're having a bad face day.
Anyway, it was sure nice going for a little jog here in America. My favorite part about jogging isn't the pain, soreness, hyperventilating, or even the vomiting.
It's the smells.
If you go for a run in the evening the smells are AMAZING! Except if garbage day is the next day and everyone remembered to take their garbage cans out to the curb, then the smells are just okay.
But every other day is fantastic.
Why? Because that's when people are making dinner and doing their laundry. The lasagna/downy smell is unbelievable. Sometimes I'll just stand by the side of someone's home, right next to the dryer vent, and try to guess which kind of detergent they use.
You'd be surprised by how many people will let a complete and sweaty stranger into their laundry rooms to see which detergent they're using.
ZERO!
21 comments. For every comment received:
Wow! If us overweight Americans had exercise equipment on every corner someone would find a way to sue for some shitty reason or another. But I would totally be skinny and HAWT!
I remember all the exercise equipment in China... And no joggers and lots of bikes! I went there right after I ran a marathon and I just wanted to run through the parks... but I was told that wasn't a smart thing to do. Bummer.
Do you look weird if you run from exercise equipment to exercise equipment? And how come distance runners from China are always so good? Do they run in secret? And how do you get to one end of the great wall of China quickly? Speed walk?
I personally enjoyed how everyone in the pictures were exercising and then there was your cutie pies playing on them :)
I didn't see many "Welding masks" where I went, but I saw plenty of jackets on backwards and everyone was wearing a face mask. Those welding ones must be communist government issued masks. Maybe that is how they boosted their economy!
That is a beautiful street! And crazy on all the public gym equipment. Where do you think I could find me one of those welding masks?
I need one of those welding masks just to hide all of the stupid zits on my face.
Forget the welding maskes. I plan on bringing those dog cones back in fashion, for people.
That is fascinating! I had no idea..
I would be happy to tell you what type of detergent I use, but if you ever saw my laundry room, I'd have to cut out your tongue so you could never tell how horrendous it is...
I need one of those welding masks. I have been having a bad face decade.
You would hate running past my house; we never cook and I only use fragrance-free laundry products. We do have a strong whiff of eau de diaper.
"An emergency weld." You'd be surprised... ;)
Well if it would make you feel any better...I didn't win either. I was sort of hoping I could be Leno to your Conan......
I got a kick out of the exercise equipment when I was in China---it's way more fun than what we have here.
That's why I never ride bikes anymore. I wouldn't be prepared for an emergency welding situation, so it'd just be irresponsible.
(I want to bring you home with me and lock you in my closet to be silly and make me laugh. I would feed you lasagna and let you smell my laundry detergent. Except I don't have a washer or a dryer. But I would buy detergent just for you.)
HaHa!! Bad face day! I love it. I have one of those everyday!
AND, I would totally let you into my lanudry room, if you promised to do my laundry!
I love to hear the China stories. When we were in Switzerland to visit my mom 9 years ago, they had life sized chess boards and pieces. The kids were little and the pieces were larger then they were. Good thing they weren't heavy.
i love the kirkland dryer sheet smell. i walked outside my front door last week and thought i was in san francisco. the dyer vent made fog that thick. it was dark and cold, but the fog was warm. i loved it. and it smelled awesome. i love running in the morning. when my eyes are tired. and it's still cold. plus it totally boosts my confidence to know that everyone else is sleeping, and i've already done this great thing for me. i'm sounding like i do this often, when really i haven't run since july. and even then i had only run for a month and before then it had been at least a year and a half since my previous run. but way back then i did run a lot. in idaho. i love running there. roads that go by farms without stop lights and lots of flat pavement.
p.s. i really love the exercise equiptment on the street. free toddler toys:-)
Amen to that!
My favorite is when you can smell people doing their laundry, or in the spring, and you can smell the blossom, or the cut grass.
Ah....
Please get a mask and have a giveaway! That would be the best ever!
HA!!!!!!!! Love the face masks on the bikes! I remember going running once in China. I never did it again. They are not afraid to GAWK there, with mouths a lolling too, hilarious! LOOOOOOOOVE your pictures! That exercise equiptment is SO funny!!!
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