Which of These Three Titles Do You Like Best?
One week removed from holiday and we are back in our groove. I've got three potential memoir titles. Which is your favorite?
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Moments of the Week (Jan 8-14)
We went from a party of 5 to 6 for the week as Randy bunked with Jero. He cooked us a spicy Tinola Manok, hiked Dragon's Back to Big Wave Bay, ate Goose, bought some supposedly only in HK DVDs and finished his visit with a trip to Disneyland.
Lea and Jero had their Cross Country meet of 2024. They learned their lesson and didn't eat right before their run.
Feris read Divergent, added it to her top 5 books, and is on the path to young adult books.
Suddenly, it's impossible to find a 5-person taxi. Two buses, two trains, and two hours later, we got to the MacLehose Section 4 trailhead. It took us over 5 hours to hike the 11 miles and tackle the 4600ft elevation gain. The weather was good, the views were great and we were all gassed, hungry, and thirsty by the end. No complaints or tears from the kids. Maricar hit a wall, but she ran 8 miles before the hike. Six more sections to go.
Sunday afternoon was used to recover from our hike and play “Cover Your Assets”, one of a half dozen games Jeff included in a holiday care package. We finished a round and we'll give it another go next week.
I’m Writing a Memoir
Which Title do you like best?
My memoir is sitting with a copy and line editor and I’ll get it back by the end of the month. In the meantime, it gives me time to design a cover and finalize a title. I’m hoping you can help me with the latter today.
Which of the following do you like best?
A Journey Unscripted: A Family's Life Abroad, Beyond the American Dream
Unscripted Journey: A Family’s Life Abroad Beyond the Rat Race
Beyond the American Dream: A Family’s Unscripted Journey Abroad
Please send me your feedback (Comment or DM).
For context, here is the “Back Cover” Description:
What if a young family of five, went off script and moved abroad to explore a life beyond the American Dream?
Growing up, the prescribed plan was always to get an education, a stable job, find love and marry, buy a house, and then raise a family. All was going to plan, until in 2019, James flipped-turned upside down the life of his family from a secure and proven California Dream to one as wide-eyed expats in first Berlin, and then Hong Kong, surrounding themselves with the unknown.
Why did he give up a good thing?
What happens, when six months into the master plan, a global pandemic hits?
How will this experience shape the path forward?
And lastly, was it all worth It?
This is the journey of pressure testing strong opinions about how life is supposed to go and then, come what may, holding on loosely.
On The Move
Run With Me on Strava - 52.54 mi, 5,686 ft
Do you keep a running journal?
Between my Strava notes after each run and this end-of-the-week rundown, I think I qualify. Moving forward, I'll comment on bigger-picture progress as it relates to a training cycle, body status, and relevant running metrics.
Weekly Group Runs
Tuesday - Beach Fartlek Flip
2min on, 1 min recovery. 30 minutes/10 sets. Flipped directions after each set, ideally starting and finishing at the exact same spot.
Thursday - Cresting on DB Hill
I hate this hill. It’s long and gradual, similar to many of the bridges at the HK marathon. I’d rather get a hill over with. The workout called for keeping a steady pace and a final acceleration on approach to and through the peak. Useful technique for race day.
Completed my 1st trail run of the year. I felt rusty with my footing and judgment when climbing hills. It was supposed to be a short one. Every time I run a loop to Mui Wo (nearby town) I always underestimate how long it will take me. 90 minutes turned to 180—no wonder the kids don’t trust me on hikes.
The next trail run will be the HK100 on Saturday.
I’m feeling healthy and fit leading up to the race, but wish I had more trail time over the past few weeks. Unlike a road race, I’ve found trail running to be all about feel. My race strategy is to be conservative with my pace and focus on eating 5000 calories.
Minimum Goal: Finish
Goal: Sub 16 Hours
Realistic Goal: 15:30 Hours
Stretch Goal: Sub 15 Hours
What is the HK 100?
Overview:
The Hong Kong 100 course starts in Pak Tam Chung on the east side of Hong Kong's New Territories and winds its way west along coastal paths, across beaches, through ancient villages, over hills and through valleys before finishing after the descent of Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong's highest peak (at 957m). The 103km journey climbs over 5,300m and much of the climbing is in the second half of the course, so it's important that runners pace themselves sensibly over the first half, leaving something in reserve for the hillier sections later on.
Course Play by Play -A lot of the following is gibberish unless you've personally been on these trails.
The first half of the course winds around the coast of the Sai Kung peninsula. The first 800 metres are on a sealed road before a sharp right turn leads to the Sheung Yiu Country Trail, which features 5km of classic Hong Kong winding country trail with views out to the islands in the South China sea. A further 5km on sealed road over dams built to form reservoirs leads to the first support point at East Dam (12km). Don't forget to take in the views of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark as you refuel!
From the support point to the first checkpoint requires a climb over Sai Wan Shan (314m) and crossing Sai Wan and Ham Tin beaches. Enjoy the waves crashing into the pristine white sand and ignore the temptation to join the surfers.
From CP1 (Ham Tin - 21km) to CP2 (Hau Tong Kai BBQ site - 34km) the course undulates along Stage 2 of the Maclehose Trail to Pak Tam Au (cross the road carefully!). From Pak Tam Au you climb steeply up Ngau Yee Shek Shan which rises to almost 400m above sea level. This is a more beautiful climb than its name (“Cow’s Ear Rock Hill”) suggests and the views to the islands (including golfers’ paradise, Kau Sai Chau) to your left as you summit are some of the prettiest on the whole course. After the descent you turn sharply right at Cheung Sheung to fly down the Cheung Sheung Country Trail, a soft and bouncy trail runner’s dream. Turn left when you reach Hoi Ha Road and CP2 is about 300m up the road on your left.
Suitably refreshed, to reach CP3 (Pak Sha O – 43km) turn right out of CP2, cross the road (carefully!) and re-trace your steps back down Hoi Ha Road. After about 200m, turn left onto a trail which heads down to Tai Tan village. When you reach the village, turn left on the trail to Hoi Ha. Although this trail looks flat from the course profile, it is a wee bit technical, featuring rocky and rooty trails, with some wonderful sea-views to your right- hand side. Hoi Ha, at around 41km, is a marine sanctuary, where if you swapped your running shoes for a mask and snorkel you could see soft coral, anemones, clown-fish and garoupa. CP3 (Pak Sha O – 43km) is inside the youth hostel just beyond the Pak Sha O turning on Hoi Ha Road.
From CP3 to CP4 (Yung Shue O - 51km) is a mixture of fast coastal path and dirt trail. Watch out for the magnificent views across Kei Ling Ha towards Ma On Shan ("Saddle Hill") as you approach the CP.
As you leave CP4 the real climbing starts. Kai Kung Shan ("Rooster Hill") (399m) stands between you and your drop bag at CP5 (Kei Ling Ha - 57km).
CP5 to CP6 (Gilwell Camp - 70km) is the race's longest and hardest stage (make sure you have enough liquids), but includes some of its most beautiful scenery. The ridge line after Ma On Shan provides incredible views over Sai Kung and the hundreds of islands in the South China Sea, and the chance to open up on smooth, runnable orange-colored dirt trail. A warm welcome awaits at Gilwell Scout Camp.
If you can drag yourself away from the campfire and the marshmallows, the route from Gilwell Camp to CP7 (Beacon Hill - 78km) provides the best city views of the whole course as you traverse behind Lion Rock looking out over Kowloon to the shimmering glass towers and neon lights of Hong Kong island. Feast your eyes on the world's most beautiful cityscape, before climbing up to Beacon Hill where the party will be in full swing.
From CP7 to CP8 (Shing Mun - 86km) requires a sharp descent into monkeyland, then for 5km you'll be sharing the trails, the bridge across Tai Po Road (which every runner must use for both safety and fairness) and the climb up the sealed road of Golden Hill with the cheeky, thieving, mischievous macaques. If you eat here, they will snatch your snack!
As you leave Shing Mun you have just 3 climbs to go. First up, the strength-sapping but majestic Needle Hill (532m). It's very steep, but with a steady plod you're over the top before you know it. And don't forget to enjoy the views to your right of Sha Tin - the world's finest horse-racing stadium - and to the left of Tai Mo Shan - Hong Kong's highest peak and the culmination of your journey. After Needle Hill comes Grassy Hill (647m), a winding sealed road (runnable for the toughest competitors, plodable for mere mortals) and the sharp descent to CP9 (Lead Mine Pass - 93km). Don't even think about dropping out here - you have just 10km to go and the CP is inaccessible to vehicles, so it's easier to shuffle to the finish than to walk out of the country park!
One last push and you're over Tai Mo Shan (957m) and have a 4km run mostly downhill (with, since the hugely popular 2016 route change, some trail, some steps and one uphill bump) to the party and the glory at the finish line. What could be simpler?
I like Beyond the American Dream: A Family’s Unscripted Journey Abroad --But you and your family are so much more! You blow me away@
How much of the decision was about getting “out of the rat race?” I think that’s hugely appealing to people in corporate America - but if it’s not the central part of your story, then I’d leave it out of the title. I like #3 over #1, personally!