Competitive running and military service
One day back in 2015, Fifield was feeling bored and none of his nearby friends was free, so he went online and casually signed up for the 12-kilometer “Explore Your Backyard” trail race in the mountains of the Neihu District of Taipei City.
Fifield had no previous experience, and he completed his first race only with difficulty. But he also experienced the joy of running across complex terrain with tree roots, rocks, rivers to cross, and steep mountain paths to climb. Since then, he has dedicated himself to cross-country running. He has gotten especially good at races run in slippery conditions on rainy days. In 2018, he took second place in the 21-kilometer category of the ULTRA Maokong trail race.
In Taiwan, the only thing that frustrates him is having to go to the bank. He had not been to a bank for over ten years back in Australia, but in Taiwan he has to go every month to arrange overseas remittances. “These are good opportunities for improving my Chinese and learning patience,” says Fifield. If he could complete these banking operations online, it would save him a lot of waiting time and trouble.
Now that he is a Taiwanese citizen, because Fifield is not yet 36 years old he must do a year of alternative military service. He has even temporarily given up working to wait to be enlisted. His wife is visibly worried.
However, Fifield says (with perfect retroflex pronunciation): “Taiwan is my base. I’m very happy to have a year in which I can help Taiwan.”
Having become a citizen of Taiwan, Fifield must do a year of military service or alternative service. He says he is happy to have a year in which he can make a contribution to Taiwan.
Fifield trains for trail races by running a 20-kilometer mountain path along a ridge from Dingpu to Nanshijiao in New Taipei City. It takes him three hours.
Since taking up cross-country racing, Fifield has won a number of trophies.
Tom and Joanna enjoy the happiness of their two-person world at their home in Banqiao.