I’ve long been amused and intrigued by the exercise habits of locals here.
On one hand go out into the province and see the 60 year old farmer who is lean and ‘cut like a freakin steak’ with not an ounce of fat on him, work is obviously his exercise. Then come to the city and see the soft city folk pay have a go at exercise...
Years ago all you would see was the groups of aunties doing their unenthusiastic dancercise and the guys playing volleyball or keepy-uppy shuttlecock stuff (which is actually pretty difficult - but not great exercise)
Nowadays you can see more people trying to exercise, but many don’t really know how. In recent years there has been an explosion of MAMILs on pretty nice bikes with all the gear, but largely they seem to go for leisurely cycles around Camko three abreast chatting to each other. I’d be surprised if they get their heart rates into cardio zone for any of their rides.
And then there is the plonkers with the sauna suits who seem to think that wearing these for an hour a day will help them lose weight, as they drink supersized coffees with extra sugar and sweet milk. I’m sure those suits must stink.
But recently I have seen the rise of the electric scooter, when I am running in the morning I invariably meet 2 or 3 chaps (one who has a sauna suit) standing on his electric scooter for his morning exercise - he does a few loops of the Camko loop and that’s his morning exercise. I’ve overheard him referring to his trips as ‘exercise’ while I’m doing my stretches.
Given that most schools don’t have a Physical Education program, I reckon we are still years away from locals knowing much about the benefits of exercise and coupled with the crap the city folk are eating, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the average life expectancy stop increasing/stagnate in the upcoming years.
Over the years here, I have had several friends at different stages ask if they can run with me. Now I just say ‘no, I prefer to exercise alone’. Because what invariably happens is the run for half a k then they stop and complain about how tired they are, how their heart is pounding and they simply just can’t run more. It’s really annoying!
Khmer Exercise habits 2020
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Just like elsewhere, people will eventually start to exercise, it is a natural development as people have more disposable income and time.
Ten years ago, you hardly ever saw anyone running in Vietnam, now there is a race almost every weekend and the races sell out in no time flat. There are also loads of serious bikers out there.
I used to lead a running group in Siem Reap a few years ago and there were plenty of people joined. Most of them went from hardly being able to run a block to some serious running. One of them runs the 10K in under 30 minutes, which is considerably faster than I am....
Ten years ago, you hardly ever saw anyone running in Vietnam, now there is a race almost every weekend and the races sell out in no time flat. There are also loads of serious bikers out there.
I used to lead a running group in Siem Reap a few years ago and there were plenty of people joined. Most of them went from hardly being able to run a block to some serious running. One of them runs the 10K in under 30 minutes, which is considerably faster than I am....
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Yes, but you lured them into the group with the promise of free beer at the end of the run... we all run quickly for that!Hanno wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:29 amI used to lead a running group in Siem Reap a few years ago and there were plenty of people joined. Most of them went from hardly being able to run a block to some serious running. One of them runs the 10K in under 30 minutes, which is considerably faster than I am....
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Oh yeah I know there are a number of Khmer runners and a few of them are pretty decent. But, for me, they are very few and far between.Hanno wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:29 amJust like elsewhere, people will eventually start to exercise, it is a natural development as people have more disposable income and time.
Ten years ago, you hardly ever saw anyone running in Vietnam, now there is a race almost every weekend and the races sell out in no time flat. There are also loads of serious bikers out there.
I used to lead a running group in Siem Reap a few years ago and there were plenty of people joined. Most of them went from hardly being able to run a block to some serious running. One of them runs the 10K in under 30 minutes, which is considerably faster than I am....
The few running groups here seem to be mostly foreign led.
I remember 10 years ago in running events here there were quite a few people joining in wearing flip flops and jeans. There arent so many of those now!
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Hahaha, seen that too. I did the first Yangon Marathon a few years back; not only were the locals wearing flip-flops and jeans, they also took off at a full sprint. I started picking them off a couple of miles on, either winded or chafed to bits.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:11 pmThe few running groups here seem to be mostly foreign led.
I remember 10 years ago in running events here there were quite a few people joining in wearing flip flops and jeans. There arent so many of those now!
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Gyms are meant for selfies not for exercise.
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Were you at any of the early bokor mountain half marathons?Hanno wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:31 pmHahaha, seen that too. I did the first Yangon Marathon a few years back; not only were the locals wearing flip-flops and jeans, they also took off at a full sprint. I started picking them off a couple of miles on, either winded or chafed to bits.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:11 pmThe few running groups here seem to be mostly foreign led.
I remember 10 years ago in running events here there were quite a few people joining in wearing flip flops and jeans. There arent so many of those now!
They had cans of coke on the refreshment stations - and stations were set up at weird intervals. There was one after maybe 1.5km and these young Khmer folk were absolutely legging it at the start, reached the refreshment station punctured and saw that there was coke for free. Some skulled a can or two then started running again only to be doubled over puking 300 metres later.
It was carnage!
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Yes, I remember that. Fun to watch and the run itself was nice. Though staying at the Thansur Bokor Resort was a nightmare.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:26 pmWere you at any of the early bokor mountain half marathons?Hanno wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:31 pmHahaha, seen that too. I did the first Yangon Marathon a few years back; not only were the locals wearing flip-flops and jeans, they also took off at a full sprint. I started picking them off a couple of miles on, either winded or chafed to bits.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote: ↑Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:11 pmThe few running groups here seem to be mostly foreign led.
I remember 10 years ago in running events here there were quite a few people joining in wearing flip flops and jeans. There arent so many of those now!
They had cans of coke on the refreshment stations - and stations were set up at weird intervals. There was one after maybe 1.5km and these young Khmer folk were absolutely legging it at the start, reached the refreshment station punctured and saw that there was coke for free. Some skulled a can or two then started running again only to be doubled over puking 300 metres later.
It was carnage!
"I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes."
Charles Lindbergh
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Some of the arm flapping exercises and stretches the older local women do at dawn are hilarious and worth getting up for alone. I'm guessing they're inspired by elderly Chinese morning rituals and all about blood circulation or something.
And those leggings men wear with the gaps in the back of the knees, what the fuck are those things all about?
And those leggings men wear with the gaps in the back of the knees, what the fuck are those things all about?
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