*慢車到花蓮,雙腿跑峽谷-Taroko gorge marathon in Hualien

Nov 2007

The fastest way to travel from Taipei to Hualien is to take the Taroko express train. The ticket is hard to get, especially on weekends. Well, in any case, I would prefer to take it slow and go for the slowest local train.

The train runs along the pacific ocean coast line. The best thing I love about the local train is you get all the space and time, if you are willing to spend more time on it and enjoy what she has to offer. Here's the catch. For a cheaper price, you get the green comfy classic seats. No reservation required. Actually the whole car is yours most of the time. There are fans on the ceiling, which you may not use it because you can open the window and feel the wind. Doesn't it sound cool? Last but not lest, the train stops at every station, so you won't miss anything.

Only a few of these trains are still in service. Lessons learned: preserve the heritage, or try it before it goes away.

And then the highlight: 42 kilos in Taroko gorge national park

The run starts at the entrance of the central cross-island highway. Runners first run southward, turn back in front of Asia cement company, and then all the way into the valley. Along the way, you will pass many scenic spots along the cross-island highway. Among them are "Tunnel of nine turns", "Ever spring shrine", dedicated to the workers sacrificed for the construction work, and "Swallow's Mouth", where swallows build their nests. Moreover, the race is traffic free, which is rare in Taiwan. So you really get a chance to fully enjoy the magnificent views.

Runners face an uphill battle until they reach Tiansiang (天祥), where they turn back again and run toward the finish point. Don't feel relaxed too soon, because there is a good 18km left from Tiansiang to the finish. If you are not fit enough for a full marathon, you can start with a half one. Just bear in mid that you will miss the nine turns tunnel and the swallow nests, because the half marathon has its turning point at Sipan (溪畔).

This is a premier event for marathon lovers. Interested? Sign up online at

http://www.sportsnet.org.tw/en/

The 2010 run is scheduled on Nov 6th. Registration opens some time around August. Places fill up really soon, so don't miss it!


Runner of the day!

The characters written on his back is: "I like you". Probably he's gonna present this running jersey to the girl he's dreaming of.

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時間是2007年11月,我捨棄太魯閣號,特地搭乘為數不多的平快車從台北前往花蓮,希望在慢車消失前再多看些什麼

車上一如往常沒什麼人,車頂的電扇在11月的天氣和窗外吹入的涼風之中顯得多餘,也不用特地去選海景座位啦,想坐那就坐那,想換就換

火車在每一站緩慢的停下,煞車的同時發出金屬磨擦的聲音,停留的時間,或是看著空蕩蕩的月台,沒人上車也沒人下車,或是靜靜的等候讓快車先通過,在慢車之中,時間和空間似乎不存在著抵換關係(trade-off),既然有更多的時間獨享一整節車廂和窗外的太平洋美景,何必一定要蓋高速公路,要太魯閣號增班呢?

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