Although recently I’ve focused on running, the second aspect of this blog is the trials and tribulations of the final year of my PhD.

For the last 6 months my flow assessments and data analyses have been driven by one goal. The presentation of my research at the 3rd Biennial Symposium of the International Society for River Science in Beijing. This time next week I will have presented my work, it’s good to see that I am arsing about blogging rather than writing my speaker notes.

Luckily, I am presenting on the first day. This means that I can sit back and enjoy the rest of the symposium and the trips to the Forbidden City/Summer Palace and the Great Wall of China. I am slightly disappointed that we aren’t getting a guided tour of the 2008 Olympic Stadium. As this trip is essentially costing me nothing, I can’t complain too much, I would have loved to have seen inside the Bird’s Nest.

I was slightly concerned about the lack of running opportunities, when I saw the campus map, I spotted two (possibly three) running tracks and what looks like a small park area opposite where we will be staying.

I will make room for a set of running gear. Provided that I stay away from drinking tap water, inhaling too much polluted Beijing air, and getting lost, what could possibly go wrong!?

Seriously, does anyone have any tips for running in China? I’m meant to be doing a 6-mile run the day after I arrive. Perhaps I am being slightly ambitious!

I’ve ordered my foreign currency to be collected at Heathrow, got my Visa sorted, booked a Heathrow hotel room for the night and have made a packing and shopping list. What else do I need to do?

I need to finalise my presentation and speaker notes!!