Genghis Khan 2014: Bike + Run in a Sea of Green

The Hutong Running Team with 2013 Full Marathon Winner + Heyrobics Founder Linus Holmsater

A race that started in 2007, the Genghis Khan MTB Adventure & Grassland Extreme Marathon has only gained popularity exponentially each year since. Since I first signed up on my own in 2012, I had such a positive experience running my first half-marathon through the breathtakingly beautiful grasslands and meeting so many awesome people that we rallied up a group of over 10+ to join The Hutong running team in 2013. This 2014, we’re so pumped to do it again even bigger and bolder with a 15+ gang of runners and bikers ready to take on the grasslands in full force.

Though we have been talking about this race off and on since last year, the real call to action is their Early Bird Special that entitles you to discounted race participation fees. Full price breakdown here. Early bird discount ends just before the Chinese New Year, Friday night at midnight.

“Don’t hesitate as 610 people have already confirmed their registration, once again a sharp increase compared to last year and a four digit-participation number becomes increasingly likely for this summer. Please note we impose a 1200-person limit for 2014.” – Nordic Ways

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Heyrobics’ Introduces Heynonstop! 100 minute Workout

Too. Much. Turkey.

Time to work off that food belly!

The sexy, sweaty swedes behind Heyrobics are hosting a new workout concept called “Heynonstop – 100 minutes of non-stop jumping, sweating & smiling!” 

Taking place the next two Tuesday (December 3rd and 10th) at their Workers Stadium Indoors venue, you can join both your favorite instructors including Linus, Alyssa, Josefin and Ali along with some of new Hey! instructors -

“Extremely challenging, yet ExtremelyForEveryone! We’ll bring the beats, some headbands, something to drink, and lots of happiness! You bring… YOURSELF! And maybe a friend!” – Hey Team

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By Modo + Mosto: MOKA Bros ROCKS Nali Patio

Mosto + Modo Team Introduce their Newest Restaurant Concept: Moka Bros in Nali Patio

The third restaurant by the unstoppable and ever-popular Modo Urban Deli & Mosto Team, Chef Daniel Urdaneta & Alex Molina’s newest restaurant concept called MOKA Bros is a healthy, street-style casual cafe with fresh juices, smoothies, salads, power bowls, wraps, sandwiches, sweet and savory crepes and a delectable dessert display at awesome value prices.  

Located on the first floor across from Mosto in Nali Patio, it’s taken over part of what was once international pizza chain Ciro’s Pomodoro and what a difference Moka Bros is making. Already a noticeable difference, Nali Patio has been blessed receive a boost of positive new energy and style.

LDS Snapshots of MOKA Bros:

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HeyRunning Camp: Fit for Fall + Marathon Training

On & Off Track Manager Neil Fraser Leads Running Drills

I owe my 2.5 hour half-marathon time to the good people of Heyrobics and HeyRunning, who whipped me up in decent running shape in just a couple of months. Knowing how difficult it is to motivate myself to make time to run, this friendly group of runners is exactly what I needed to keep me committed and it was a million times more enjoyable than the few times I found myself running aimlessly around Chaoyang Park.

I completely relied on HeyRunning to train for my half marathon in the Inner Mongolia Genghis Khan Festival in early July and it worked! Though I pretty much matched my time last year, I ran the entire route this year feeling stronger and more at ease than past races.

Not only is the HeyRunning Camp good at making running and exercising fun, their sessions are all strategically planned to challenge runners and help you develop your muscle strength and improve your running technique. And their interval training and sprints are exactly what your body needs to ultimately make you a better runner.

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LumDimSum 1-on-1: Middle Kingdom Fitness’ Tim Hill

Wonder How to Get Yourself Up on These Rings?

Fitness is a tricky subject.

Though everyone can agree that it’s important to stay healthy by eating right and exercising regularly, not many can agree on their choice fitness method. A very subjective part of one’s lifestyle, how much and how often you exercise is very much dependent on whether or not you actually enjoy whatever it is you do to stay active.

There are so many fitness trends popping up all over the world (everything from hot Bikram yoga to intense cardio sets like Insanity and P90X) and yet I’ve never quite found the perfect fit for me.

Active all my life, I make an effort to stay fit, but have never been very consistent with my levels of activity. I grew up with seasonal sports like soccer, tennis and skiing outdoors with my dad and older brother. In high school, I stayed fit thanks to pretty intense daily workouts on my cheerleading team, got sucked into the “going on long runs on the beach lifestyle” in college at UC Santa Barbara and since I’ve been in Beijing, I’ve sampled some Pilates by Alona and most recently been a regular at Heyrobics high-energy aerobics sessions and HeyRunning‘s Seasonal Running Camps. To be very honest, I have been quite happy as a regular participant of Heyrobics and HeyRunning the past few years and figured that I’d be pretty much set in terms of fitness as long as I continue to attend a couple sessions per week.

Continue Reading » LumDimSum 1-on-1: Middle Kingdom Fitness’ Tim Hill

Sweaty HeyWeekend: New Bar Workouts & Hills Run

Swedes Know How to Make You Sweat

I’m pretty sure the idea of working out with funky fitness moves coordinated to the beats of catchy tunes by a DJ on the top of a rooftop bar would most definitely come from the same quirky minds of the Swedish workout fiends behind Heyrobics (in China anyway).

I’m proud to say that I’ve been a Heyrobics participant since the very beginning and have recently committed to a minimum of two Hey sessions per week to work off all the ridiculous amounts of meals I force upon myself, eating out at restaurants in the name of LDS (it’s really all for you, my dear readers).  All jokes and ramblings aside, if I really have to work out, it might as well be to the beat of jamming music with people who actually know what it means to execute a full-body workout and make it fun at the same time. So whether I’m jumping around with the Heyrobics team or running around in both secret (and not-so-secret) parks with the HeyRunning cult, I’m a committed Hey’er.

Founder of Heyrobics and fitness guru Linus Holmsater started his Heyrobics sessions in parks and indoor gym locations and has now introduced a new monthly session that will take place on the top of rooftop bars, the ideal summer workout spot! That’s right, now you can treat yourself to a refreshing cocktail + BBQ session after an hour of sweating in the summer heat to a DJ’s beats!

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Little Yunnan Restaurant: Crazy for Fresh Crawfish

Go Cray Cray for Crawfish

The humble little hutong courtyard gem called Little Yunnan just got a little more exciting. (And when I say “a little”, I mean “a lot”.)

A lot has changed since my last visit a few months back, which was probably during the dead of winter.  Though Little Yunnan has and will always remain a popular spot for authentic Yunnan cuisine in a charming setting, I’m pleased to see how the restaurant has blossomed since the weather has warmed up.

Like it’s just woken from a cold winter’s hibernation, the outside courtyard has now transformed to feature the best seats in the house with every available table in full use, they’re about to launch a new menu and (saving the best for last) they have crawfish!

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Free Health Talk: Learn Chinese Secrets to Longevity

Cherry Blossoms in Yu Yuan Tan Park in Full Bloom 

With Spring in full bloom (I have a bunch of Cherry Blossom pictures to prove it), this is the season for activity, a time of renewal and the stirring and loosening of stored energy after the longest winter in the history of winters (that’s how long this past winter felt anyway).  Now that it’s finally over (hallelujah!), I’ve gotten back into the grind of training for upcoming half-marathon in Inner Mongolia (click here for info about the Genghis Khan Inner Mongolia Outdoor Adventure) thanks to Heyrobics and HeyRunning’s Summer Camp 2013. As great as it is to start pushing for more physical exercise and to “sweat like a Swede”, the motivation to push yourself really only comes in spurts (let’s be honest guys, we all have a tendency to get lazy and not hit the gym for weeks/months at a time) and what happens once there comes a day when your body just can’t handle a 5k run and hour-long intense aerobics programs?

For those of me who are keen and curious to learn about long-term ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle focused on balance and learn about the traditional Chinese practice of Qi Gong, a cross between deep-breathing, meditation and stretching, I’m delighted to spread the word about a FREE health talk presented by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner and educator, Alex Tan of Straight Bamboo TCM Clinic aka The Hutong’s TCM Guru and my Health Hero.

The first time I met Alex Tan was about a year ago when I showed up for his free health talk and since then, it’s had a powerful impact on my lifestyle. I’ve changed my eating and sleeping habits for the better and changed the way I think about one’s overall state of health and well-being.

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