kamakura trail running for 25km

Two years ago, I went to Kamakura for Trail Run with Namban Rengo's friends.
Kamakura is one of popular sightseeing places in Japan.

On Sunday, I visited Kamakura again for running, many places were so clowded with lots of visitors when we were there.
We started from the station through many shrines, temples, and passed many up and down-hills. We took a trekking course in the hills, and passed straight beach-side.




Last time, I cut-off at around 20km since I got tummy cramps, so I just stopped.
This time, my condition was pretty good more than I expected, so I had no any reasons to quite it. Automatically, could enjoy run the entire course today. The scenery from the top of the hill was very fantastic!!!
(This way toward Mt. Fuji)






My legs were light today, probably the sports massage what I had yesterday worked well, that's why I couldn't stop running, couldn't slow-down. I just tried to follow leaders; Jay, Greg, Adam and Mika. Meg who is the youngest pretty girl also ran very fast, her running was amazing. Mary looked like so tired, but she made the whole course. That's great nobody cut-off this time, finished for about 25km! Time was 2:47:00!






They are today's all my companios, we had a great time from start to finish, afterwards, we had a tasty beer and burgers at the Hawaiian Burger's shop.

I realized that I left my HR wearlink belt in the locker after closing the door. So there is no my HR datas, sorry coach.

Here is the link to view my running log.

my season's results

How was my 2007's result???
I'd like to say, yeah it was pretty good at all, but I'm not satisfied, I was hoping to get good result as I trained hard. I did't race a lot, but I train hard as well as I could.

On January, I headed for Makuhari Chiba for the Chiba Marine Half, it was nice cool day. My condition was pretty good, I enjoyed racing by 13km point. We were supposed to go straight more, but suddenly runners who leaded me turned left into the park! I was wondering... WHY? Yes, cones put to make a wrong short course... It was like a nightmare for me... In total, my result was accepted as 10k result... even though I registered a half marathon.

One week after, I made a PB of a half marathon result in Shinjuku City Half Marathon, I was really happy to make my PR!!! Then over 30 Nambanners participated, Mary, Adam Y, and some more raced together. My result was 1:31: 21, and net time was 1:31:10! Yes, I was satisfied with this result.



In Arakawa Marathon, I got strong against wind from turning point after 22km mark. I ran very very hard, I really wanted to quite running due to the strong wind, but never stopped. Finally I got PB result even though I wasn't satisfied with finishing time, it was 3:25:10. and net time was 3:25:02. Steve celebrated me by local-tasty beer!

In Boston Marathon, I enjoyed a lot. Yes, it was very hard because of many steep up-hills and down-hills, however, it was first time I really enjoyed a lot sincerely for a marathon. Time was not so bad because I was in a rest room for a couple of minutes. Time was 3:26:27. Yes that's ok. I stayed at Aya's mother-in-a-law's cute house, it's sweet memory.
The Boston city also is really fantastic, I visited Samuel Adams Brewely, love beer very much.






In the early summer, I went back to my home town for Sendai city half marathon with Rie-don.
I got abdominal pains at around 18km, could't run, just stopped and walked, audiences cheered me on from sidewalk, I was really glad to hear from them, so as soon as, restarted running and finished in 1:33:57... not satisfied... The course wasn't so steep, it was gentle steep course, yes it wasn't easy for me.








On November, ran in Tokyo Women's Inter'l Marathon.
I was training a lot for this, but I couldn't finish it for all distance, got cut-off at 40km.
I was thinking just finishing would be okay after 35km point, but they didn't let me pass the gate at 40km. It was so shame for me, maybe I have bad luck with Tokyo Women, I will see next time, I would like to improved more and hope my efforts pay me off in the future.






Here are my 2007's efforts:
5k 20:34 Oct 31 Oda Field (SB)
10k 42:49 May 13 Sendai Inter'l Half 10k point as a half marathon pace (SB)
Half Marathon 1:31:21 Jan 31 Shinjuiku City Half Marathon in Tokyo (PB)
Marathon 3:25:10 Mar 16 Arakawa Marathon in Tokyo (PB)

for a spring marathon

I started training for spring races. Last season, ran very hard until May, my last one was 17th Sendai Half Marathon, ran with Noguchi Muzuki who is the fastest woman in the world(?). My season was started from Tokyo Women, Chiba Marine Half, Shinjuku City Half, Arakawa, Boston and Sendai.
Boston's result was better than this year's Tokyo Women's even I was in a rest room for a few of minutes in sidewalk around 38km point mark. ;-) It's funny...

I was worrying about my motivation after Tokyo Women because of my bad luck and bad result even I trained well and took care enough for it. Since I recovered well in Kyusyu by natural spa, I could start to think about spring races, though...

On January 20, go to Makuhari, for the Chiba Marine half marathon.

On February 3, run with Namban People in Kanagawa Marathon. (a half marathon)

On April 20, I have decided to run in Nagano Marathon. !Woo Hoo!

However, I worry about registration because it's the most popular marathon in Japan according to RUNNET. Did you know that? it's more popular than Tokyo Marathon... So, I have no time to waste what I do to the next. Just run to make a PB hopefully.

Ran hard last night in the track with Namban People. Since it was a long time no run for intervals, so I couldn't run well as much I wanted. According to my watch I made some good splits almost evenly 4minutes pace per 1km even though these weren't even. Here is the link to my Running Log.

post-marathon trip for kyushu, fukuoka, oita and kumamoto

The day first:
I flied to Kyushu for vacation as a post-marathon trip.
I have been running from hot summer, yes it's just my prise.
My purposes were relaxing and no running, but I needed to hurry and run in the Haneda airport to get in the airplane due to the big space. It was first time to visit to Kyusyu.

We stayed in Kurokawa Spa in Kumamoto-Prefecture in the day first. They have a unique system to take three spas whichever you like, and the system is like this, buy a coupon that valid to take any places for three times and show it before entering, fee is 1,200yen. There are over 20 ryokans in the area, already sold it over 2,000,000 passes. My friend Kanako and I enjoyed the bath which we stayed the Ryokan has very comfortable and also visited two more places for the others, we loved this system. Took the bath and happy faces and took the other then happier faces.









Right picture: took a bath for legs.
Left picture: typical memorial photo tool.















The day second:
We woke up early, and took a Spa in the Ryokan before breakfast and we headed for another Ryokan to take a spa after checkout. We showed a coupon(above left pic), and had a natural hot spring(above middle pic).
I was driving a car from Fukuoka airport after landing, and headed to Mt. Aso for sightseeing. (above right pic). Mt. Aso is the largest active volcano in Japan. On the day, we got stop to climb to the top of mountain due to the gas activity.

Went back to Kurokawa Spa to take the another Spa again...
And finally got to the Beppu-kannawa-Onsen, as soon as check-in, ran into the bath. In total, we had five spas a day, it's PB!!!





Right: In the Ryokan in Beppu with steamed huge shrinps and other seafood by spa
Left: Death Valley in Kurokawa Spa


















The day third:
Slept well because of good spas, I didn't feel any tiredness even though driving for a long time.
I didn't check well about Beppu-Onsen, according to the guidebook, Beppu is the feast and it has the most plenty Onsen in Japan.
We visited some places to see the source of Spa and took the Sand Spa in the beach.
After this, we moved to Yufuin-Onsen to take another spa in front of Mt.Yufu.
I think I'm ready to think about the Spring Marathon.






Left: I was in the Sand Spa on the beach
Right: Yufuin-Beer

reviewed my 2nd tokyo women's,

My aims were finishing in 3:15 and never give up.
I have some reasones; my funky cool running friend Mary wasn't able to join it due to limited number and a friend passionate for running Grainne isn't able to race Ohtawara because of injury. Last year I quite at 29km point because of cold rainy weather, rain hit me hard and took my motivation. I think I was scared to finish in bad result. I wanted to thank to Steve very much to coach and give me good advice and train my running by my result.

My result was DNF.
I was hoping to report my best result of Tokyo women's. It was first time got cut-off the point instead, I was going to finish the whole course even though it was like jogging pace. I could see people at 40km point, they were getting off the step mark to let nobody steps on the 40km mark. I screamed let me go in my mind, and try to go threw, but I was required to quite then, so I had no choice either no option. Someone was running on the sidewalk toward the stadium, but I had no energy more. DNF sounds so pity for me, no thanks more, I hate that.

Why I was DNF?
I think I wasn't recoveried well from my cold.
I cought a cold in my office 10 days before the race day, sore throat, runny nose, cough, and headache, no fever, but feeling terrible. I skipped train a couple of time not to get to be worse. I took rest some time when I felt pain in inside of shin. What should I had to do more? Running more hard? Running more fast? Strength train more? Otherwise losing weigt more?
Yes, I shouldn't had to cought a cold!!!, OH MAN!!!

How was the race?
It was okay, at the beginning, just took care about speed, not to run too fast.
After 18km point, it felt hard to keep running at expecting running pace at 4:37/km.

I couldn't take a breath easily, I felt it was like 10k race.

Then I checked my heart rate, it was 185, my maximam HR is 205, so it was over 93%.

So I slowed down to take a breath easy, I thought it could be more easier after half-way point, since the wind was blowing against runners but didn't change so much.

Here are official splits; (except split at 40km)
23:09 5km
46:18 10km (23:09)
1:09:27 15km (23:09)
1:33:13 20km (23:46)
1:38:42 Half point
1:58:55 25km (25:42)
2:25:50 30km (26:55)
2:54:26 35km (28:36)
3:24:45 40km (30:19) by my watch

I wanted to run more faster and easier like a fun race.
Somehow, sometime maybe next time, I try to run as a fun marathon, also run hard.

What's my next?
I need to be recovered well and think possitive.
I have registered Chiba Marine Half Marathon already, so train to finish under my expecting time.

I thank to all people who cheered me on, I really got energy from you in sidewalk.
I know Steve, you ran with me in Shinagawa!
Yes Gary you acompanied me to up hill in Yotsuya, Mami, Chika, Yumiko and more people.
See you in the track soon.

35days to go

It was a nice weather for a long running, I was supposed to run for over 30k at my marathon pace around the Imperial Palace. One old man closed up and asked me "How many kilometer is around?" Then I answered him "It's about 5km." Before becomig a runner, I had no idea it's 5km, and no interesting at all, but now I could have memories of mileage for running places in Tokyo.

Actually my condition is pretty good so far, I only worry about my left ankle which I twisted in mountain running in Karuizawa in this summer that's why I have acupuncture treatment sometimes. Due to my tainer's recommendation, I bought leg supporters that help to move from curf muscle to ankle. I tried to use them today, but I got sore legs, I think it could be worse if I didn't use them.

My mileage is still building up for around 110km as this weekly mileage, I would love to run a bit more, but saved my energy not to get huge distance and any injury.

I ran with Mary and my coach Steve, suddenly Christian came up behind of me around Takebashi, he was running very fast pace. Does he run for Ohtawara??? for a marathon??? Anyway, his condition also looks pretty good, Mary kept running just a little bit of slower than me, she is a poweful funky lady, but Steve got leg pain on curf so shame.

Today, there was a running event around the Palace, so it was crowded with lots of runners.
I was going to make even splits for 25km, first lap was the harder than 2nd lap, because my body still was not able to run at race pace, but just ran harder as much I could. I tried to count the flowers signs each 100m, just took 27 to 28 sec evenly, it was perfect as planned.
I took inside course of sakurada-mon and outside of Sakurada-mon altermately.
Had some water and gels twice as planned, I felt like running more after 25k, perhaps I might be able to make my PR in Tokyo International Women's Marathon.

learn running by ears

Since a kind offering of Masako-chan, I could attend a running seminar by Kiyoko Shimahara who finished in 6th place in the World championship women's marathon in Osaka and the others.


right pic; me, Mara and Kuri-chan from left


I couldn't wait about it for a long time, how much good secret for running can hear then!
Today's main purpose is discussing strength training can help more and can improve running efforts.
For example, it happens to get injury as the muscles weaken, so runners should train a few of time a week to make strong of them. It's working if train and stand on only one leg. And also need to take care about body trunk etc... I realized I definitely do it a few of time a week for my aim... it might be late for the TIWM.

Afterwards, I surprisingly could talk Mara Yamauchi (She also ran in the World championship marathon and came in 8th palce), she and her husband were invited as special guests for it. She is very lovely and her japanese is very smooth and nice. She is going to run in Osaka women or London as a next race, unfortunatelly won't run in Tokyo women since still recoverying, she talked me like that.

I talked about Namban Rengo, we always cheer her on, and she said now she doesn't live near from the Oda Field, so can't come for Namban track workouts, and thank you for cheering on and please say hello to all. Yeah... she is so nice and brilliant as Jaynie's talking!

visiting my old friend to kamakura

I was only running recently, I have been running for over 100km as weekly mileage in this week, though. I visited Kamakura to see my old friend lives in Zushi, it's located next to Kamakura.






I went to Kamakura in this summer to stay on the beach on the day for trail running, but I had already run before heading, so just had a relaxing time on the beach then.



This time, I was expecting seeing my friend and girl's talk!
We went to Hase-temple as begin, I didn't like to pay 300yen for enter, but my friend said it's Okay, so I also paid it.
However, it was surprisingly fun to explore many things in Hase-temple. There is a cave, many beautiful flowers, copying Buddhist scriptures, Kan-non-sama, sculptures, and nice scenery of Sagami gulf.







We arrived to see the Daibutsu.
Do you know you can enter inside from back side?
You need to pay for it 20yen...
It's too hot to stay for a long time in the summer.
They say it has hard constitution, definitely doesn't fall down even it has earthquake.







In Kamakura, there is a fancy Starbuck behind of Kinokuniya super market, also it has a nice garden and a pool!!!
(Unfortunately, nobody swims there.)
I enjoyed a fresh baked muffin with a huge cup of coffee.
Smells so nice, and tastes so yummy.








After coffee time, went to another Maine shrine, Tsuruoka-Hachimangu.
There are beautiful architects with unique color. I like visiting shrines because it feels nice, no pray.

ganbare--- ganbare---

I had a little happy occation tonight, a girl who looked like a high school student cheered me on from sidewalk during my neighborhood run. We haven't met before we just passed on the road, but I was a little bit glad to have a cheer girl.

I have beeing having sore sholders since elementary school student, my backpack for school had been so heavy. I'm still have a same trouble after hard running. I went to the massage room in my office, the fee is very cheep but can't expect from the efforts.
I should take a bath everyday, but because of hot temperature, feel like taking only shower still.

I aim for 90k running this week, I'm on building up more and more for my marathon on November.
BTW, ran for about 7k for 40minutes just followed my program.
http://www.runningahead.com/logs/9745d414ffdd4526ad9569a9e794499e/workouts/f1466aead8e84a578fc545653654b474

summer camp in a cool resort karuizawa

36 years old!

Happy birthday to me...

Thanks to my friend for flowers, but looks like a candle or a cake.
But it's not...

the fabby trail running with muscle ache

Because of Shoji-san's kindness, I could go for trail run with Shoji-san, Taeko-san and Ma-san. I knew Shoji-san was supposed to run in Mt. fuji climb race on Friday, and checked his blog to know how was the race. And he posted to announce to us it was DNF.







According to Taeko-san, time restriction is severe, on the road race, runners don't need to make a long line to ahead for the finish, but in that race, the course is pretty narrow, so it can make a long line to climb and pass the gate of time.





Anyway, I asked Shoji-san to go for trail run together, and he said OK! We made a plan to gather at 6AM at Shinjuku, and headed for Minami-Alpus in Yamanashi-prefecture. It took about 3 hours to get to starting point by a car. Today, we started from 1,500m sea level to 2,700m, it was a tough trail climbing for 11km, and time was about 3hours 10minutes.














Because of overcast, there was no nice scenery as we expected, but not humidity, not high temperature, not rain, so it was almost perfect condition. It took about 4hours 27minutes for all course. We mostly climbed outward journey since up-hills are so steep for run, so just walked as well as fast and quickly, it was a discipline. Gradually, it became to hard to take a breath because of high elevation, I didn't have any high-altitude headache, however this time was the most highest experience in my life, maybe. We had some onigiris, mangoes, plums and candy with natural cold water, lunch was so yummy in the mountain. After lunch, we headed to the destination, the top of Mt. Yakushi-dake, the elevation is 2,780m.



After taking some picture and viewing the beautiful scenery, we went to back to the starting point, mostly ran for 11km it took about 2hours 17minutes. Tonight, I had an easy recovery run for 8k for 46minutes. During running, legs were getting better than begin, but still heavy to walk.