the last edition of Tokyo women's

To be honest, I was hoping to make my PB in the final edition of the Tokyo Women's since I've never finished this race. In my opinion, this is harder than Boston Marathon for me even though the course is almost flat, and also there are many Namban supporters.

Unfortunately I caught a cold a few of days before...no choice but to take medications, but I felt OK when woke up on the race day. I set my target time as under 3:15:00. My strategy was to run easy for first 10km, keep on running a bit faster, and just go ahead. I started in the second wave, so I had enough time to go to the toilet, which was an advantage. :-)

After the gun, the leaders started slowly, it took 4m50s in the track for the first km mark. I dressed with arm warmers, gloves, but I didn't need them because I sweat a lot after a few km, so decided to throw the arm warmers to Namban cheering group in Shinagawa (thanks to Luke for catching them!!). Then I thought it's going to be a tough race.

At Suidobashi, I could hear Shibasan's voice yelling loudly, but I was so glad to hear his voice!!! Thanks to Shiba-san. After Shiba-san, Yumiko-san was standing at the station, Satohiiiiiii----!!!! Arigatou Yumiko-san too.

From my past-experience, I tried to stay easy, not rush, just stay cool with my pace. Enjoyed running at Shinagawa with high five with some TTOG. I got many encouragements there from Namban cheering group, thanks a lot! Saw the leaders passing the other way after Shinagawa. I thought Shibui was going well. I tried not to do any ineffective things during the race, but sometimes I could run at someone else's pace.

Running at 4:40/km pace was not so hard until 25 km, and then suddenly my ankles felt light pain. The pain was getting harder step by step, ankles to knees were not moving so well, just repeated the same moving from there to the finish. When I was getting slowly, Peter called me, "Satohi how are you doing?" I answered, yeah.. so so... because I was worrying about the bad situation happening again...three times in a row...I met Nambanners in Shinagawa again, they put me out to ahead, but I was so slow. It makes me feel so terrible when I can't run at my pace. I guess looked so tired even though I could give a smile.

At Hibiya Park, my co-worker Taka-aki was cheering me on with his wife, so glad to see them!!! Thanks for coming on Sunday!!! So, I got motivation again to get to the destination, but I didn't running just jogging perhaps walking faster. A woman called me by my name at 35km marks, "Satohi-saaaan", but so sorry I didn't know who she was? On the sidewalk, many people cheered me by my name, Numasawa-san or Satohi-san, otherwise Namban-Rengooooo!!! I was blessed by everyone's support... thank you for your support, I couldn't finish without your help.

In front of Yotsuya hill, I passed Yoshiko-san, but she passed me in front of the stadium, she is so strong. The hill was hard for me even though it's easier than the Heartbreak-hill in Boston, I wonder why? I was worried about passing time at 40km mark since I got cut off there last time. I really wanted to pass it. Suddenly a judge might require me to stop...but it was okay this time, so could jog after 40km gate too. The stadium was getting close a little by little, and entered inside when suddenly Yoshiko-san passed me and she said, "Beat me!" I had no energy to run at faster than 5 minute pace, however I tried to follow her and we passed over 10 girls in the stadium. It was amazing!

I will run again in Tokyo 2009, see you there!

Distance Time Total Time Pace
5 km 22:59 22:59 4:36
10 km 23:22 46:21 4:41
15 km 23:05 1:09:26 4:37
20 km 23:08 1:32:34 4:38
25 km 23:33 1:56:07 4:43
30 km 24:27 2:20:34 4:54
35 km 27:08 2:47:42 5:26
40 km 28:00 3:15:42 5:36
Finish 11:46 3:27:28 5 :21

summer greeting

It's hard to get motivation for running because of hot summer in Tokyo, but I started to run for a fall marathon on November, actually it's 102 days to go for it.


I have been taking yoga class in my neighborhood since January, it's very nice as stretching (I'm in the middle, in front of instructor on picture) and core strength. Due to my efforts(?) my legs are more flexible, also all my body feels better. I took a workshop the other day, the point was shoulders. We learned how shoulders move, made some simple basic poses, but it was really nice class.






I have been running in trail running courses as well as I could do since June! my running is getting better even though I look very heavy on a cross country course where an Olympic gold medalist Noguchi Mizuki trains in camp. I was hoping to run there but it was very very hard run, I was satisfied with only 3loops...distance is 12km plus jogged as a cool down for 2km.






I went to Kamakura as beginning, Mt. Fuji running up, Ome, Mitake, Mt. Tanzawa etc...
10 people joined in Mitake for hike and run on the first Sunday of August, I showed a cool trail running course for 12km, it's like a adventure race course because of cliff, and variety different, actually I like this course. We found a beetle which was hanging on a tree. I only took a picture, and let him go.




Next race is a trail race "OSJ Ohtaki cross marathon" on September 15th in Ohtaki village in Nagano, it should be a hard one, but I really hoping to run in a trail race, so I can't wait for it.

women's olympic trial race for 5,000

I was hoping to watch it, I should had to go out to the stadium to cheer them on.

kita-tanzawa mountain running

I went for trail run with 12people to Kita-tanzawa, it's located behind of Oyama, and Tanzawa. I was so excited since have never been there before!!!

That morning, got up at 6:05am just 30minutes before going out and hurried to made a rice ball, packing some snacks also water, then room was dark, I couldn't see clearly how was dirty the water pack molded. I was ready to get be feeble with constant diarrheathe...

The course was super steep like a following picture as I have never taken before. We couldn't run on hills, just climbed like a monkey with both hands and both legs.

It took over 6hours to finish for 26km but my mileage was 28km because I missed the sign to turn left and take down-hills, I was lost before 5km to finish. Some people were supposed to follow me but nobody was coming so I thought something bad happened perhaps I could be lost.

I felt so scared after realized I was lost, yes I was alone on the course. Some time I screamed name of Shoji-san and Kuri-chan but I couldn't hear anything from them. I was wonderling perhaps a bear could be close? Just tried to hurry to come down from top of mountain. On such an occasion, legs were tired either my phone didn't work, I should had to be back to the point where I missed it but no energy to do that since it was almost empty. Shoji-san saved my life(?), he made a phone call to me and picked me up, yes I knew it.


Finally, my trail shoes got a big hole each, I throw the trash them at my station. I thought I wouldn't use enough them when I bought, but I actually was happy to comsume completely. I need to buy new pair of shoes, maybe buy a pair of Montrail again.




There is a mountail race in the same course on July 6th, most of my today's companions will race in it, and I also considered to register for it but I didn't because mileage is too long and course is too steep, I thought I made a safe choice. I was very satisfied.

iyengar yoga

I usually go to yoga studio in my neighborhood, and took a workshop class for beginners by Paul Cabanis and Marla Apt on Saturday, they have been teaching Iyenger yoga for 17 years in the States and go to India for study, now they are visiting in Japan from CA.

In their class, I mainly studied how to stand, it was not only difficult but also interesting. Standing sounds simple and easy but it's not easy. I needed to do many things when I make a pose once, for example standing called "asana" in yoga, you can see how to do this. First of all, stand erect. Arms stretch below, arches of feet are up and use balls of feet, need to do something more and deep breath by ujai breath. It's a very busy more than I thought.


I started to learn it for running once a week perhaps more if I have time since January, I believe that it makes body core strong, my all body is not soft. It would be caused flexibility all muscles for run by making poses. I hope it makes me run faster more.

tamako results

Take a look this, here are our all results from Tamako-Ekiden, it was a really really cold rainny day!
Thank you for coming to run with us, hope we have a good race again next time!!!
No pictures, no prizes but we got a cool nail clipper for lovely nails.

PS: If there is something wrong with your places, please let me know.

Namban W	Name	Mika T	Satohi	Chika	Rie	Finishing Time
	Time	26:48	24:29	27:59	24:34	1:43:50
	Place	6th	2nd	6th	3rd	4th
Namban A	Name	Gerard R	Fabrizio	Christian	Edward	Finishing Time
	Time	20:45	21:30	20:37	21:20	1:24:12
	Place	16th	20th	6th	11th	10th
Namban B	Name	Paddy	Jay	Steve	Bob	Finishing Time
	Time	22:03	21:17	23:38	25:41:00	1:32:39
	Place	38th	18th	33rd	50th	32nd
Namban C	Name	?	?	?	Chad	Finishing Time
Adam Y Keren	Time	24:58	24:03	23:25	22:48	1:35:14
Yuji	Place	58th	40th	31st	24th	37th
Namban E	Name	Jun(?)	Shoji(?)	Taizo(?)	Kiyonari(?)	Finishing Time
	Time	23:27	26:06	22:40	26:00	1:38:13
	Place	48th	57th	23rd	52nd	41st
Namban D	Name	Motozo(?)	Thomas(?)	Shiba(?)	Gerard(?)	Finishing Time
	Time	24:55	24:48	25:24	24:42	1:39:49
	Place	57th	46th	49th	42nd	45th
Namban F	Name	Yoshiko	Kazuo	Christiane	Daniel S	Finishing Time
	Time	26:21	28:53	30:48	35:29	2:01:31
	Place	77th	81st	94th	98th	96th

the 10th nagano olympic commem. marathon

Official Finishing Time: 3:19:58 (PR 5:12 faster than previous).

I am not able to be happy with my finishing time from the Nagano result since I had been training so hard from last December. I thought I was ready to break the wall “3:15:00” this time, but unfortunately, I couldn’t finish as I hoped, it was so shame.

The race was pretty hard, as an example the course was not so easy as a PB route. A couple of time, crossed bridges, train rails then took uphill and downhill. After returning points and beside river, against wind was just waiting to knock out my energy, it was not friendly.

Even though I’m not happy with this result, I enjoyed observing scenery and people from the beginning to the 10k point, lots of people cheered us on from sidewalk enthusiastically, I did high touch with lots of children in sidewalk, they gave me power and joy, it was really fun.

After 10km point, I tried to follow my strategy; I was supposed to pace up a few second faster, I was observing my body feeling then already sweat from 4km point on the other hand, tummy was a bit uncomfortable that’s why I didn’t have water after 5km point until 15km mark. I was looking for my marathon pace after 10km, tried to make running splitsevenly, but when my watch said “5:05” for 1km, then surprised! no choice no to pace up a bit faster then watch said ”4:05”! I just tried to run a bit faster, but ran at that too fast pace for 1km many times, I could continue this action from 10km to 32km even I was running in the marathon. During suffering to find out even splits, I exhausted. That's why I couldn’t manage my marathon in Nagano, I believe.

What kind of training could be work more?
Long slow running?
Endurance running?
Track speed session?
Social community on Wednesday night?

I was hoping to report as a satisfaction but really shame my efforts didn’t pay me off again as I set my goal.
Should I change my category not to marathon shorter distance race?
Anyway, hope to performe the best in a marathon next time, still can't give up my goal.

Thank you for all your supports.

carbo-loading with krispy kreme dona dona

I'm on a carbo-loading for the marathon, it's only a few of days to go for it!
I could leave early from office today, and was going to head into my place directly. After getting off at Shinjuku, a thing came into my head that checking the krispy kreme donught shop. It's a very popular shop in Tokyo, usually there is a loooong line, I gave up to it for many many time, normally the sigh said it's over 1 hour to get a dona!

It's a rainyday today, I surprised when I saw the sigh, they said it's only 15minutes to get it! Mary said it's new record. I had no choice, just waited for a while with a dona. They served a fresh one during waiting for the turn. I thought I could be satisfied with it, but... I couldn't come back without perchase. My good feeling was screaming, you have to buy one! But my another feeling was screaming you don't need to buy anything. I just couldn't leave from the short line, because it was a short line, though...

Taste was sweet... more than I thought... I prefer to eat a sugar dona at Starbucks to be honest.
Anyway, I'm satisfied with good dinner plus sweet dona, enjoyed a carbo-loading dinner.

Last month, I atteded a meeting to listen to pro-athletes experience directly, it was a good opportunity. One of famous twins runners Ohminami were in the venue. They look like same, no different! They said, their daddy confuses who is she? and who is she?
I barely was managed my hard training when I went for it, and asked them how do you manage your fatigue and keep train? What's your secret? Their answers were just normal, takes a bath and sleeps well. Another girl said, having massage is her secret to recover from running.
It was normal answer... I expected something more interesting, something more different answer because they are professional, but also they are human like me, that's why.

lfd for 25km at marathon pace

I did today's duty; a race pace running for 25km around the palace with some Nambanners.
Because of their helps, I could complete a whole distance, but I'm not satisfied with splits.
After half loop run, pace up to 4:30/km for 25km, but pace was a bit slower than I expected.

Hereis the link to view my running log: Intervals (Palace)

It's 42days to go to my next marathon, what should I do the next.
I followed my watch to make splits, I should had to realize the time with my body feeling.
I think shouldn't had to depend on it.

relaxing saturday...

I moved enthusiastically from morning, ran as a fartlek for 12km, went to Yoga class for stretching all my muscles. And after training, I went for a movie "EARTH" to Shinjuku. Fortunately, today is a discount price day, it's only 1,000yen. So Rie and I went to a theater for this.

The story is completely simple, cameras followed some animals that looking for water and feeds. They say, polar bears are predicted to become extinct by 2060 due to the global warming. If ice melt, they can't hunt feeds in polar. It was poor scene that a polar bear was dying after hunting, he looked completely consumed energy more to live.

Cameras followed elephants, whales, birds and more. Every moments were so beautiful.
If you haven't watched this movie, please hurry to go to a theater for this, you can really enjoy it, then you can't wait to consider something good for our beautiful planet earth.

tokyo marathon 2008

It was a beautiful and clear sky! on the marathon day!

Thanks to everyone who came to cheer on the cold race day. Hopefully run together next time.
It was a beautiful ideal day for a marathon.

Please click on the pics to view super size.
Left: Peace signs of Christian and Steve from 9 o'clock's direction
Center: There are more 30,000 runners behinde of me!
Right: Christian and Steve could make to jump into the front of line!

Tokyo marathon 2008 was sort of my family union thing; one of my uncles came for it from Tottori prefecture who finished in 4:21?? and he is 73 years old!, and also my cousin ran in 10k, it was second time of 10k race for her. It was nice accident to reunion not for ceremonial functions. She enjoyed a lot to join "post-marathon chinese dinner".

Left: Mary Center: Rie (Yellow singlet)
Right: in front of Nomura Builging

Due to the result of bad luck to run in Tokyo marathon 2008, I registered for Nagano marathon which will be held on April 20th, so now I'm training, not prepared enough for marathon. That's why decided to enjoy a lot and do a mission; warming up until 10k mark, after there pace up to 4:30/km for 20km and jog until finish. Splits were not even as planned, I think I need to train more for my aim.









Left: Luke cheered me on in front of Takashimaya in Nihonbashi, and Rie's husband was cheering me on !!!.
Center: After taking this shot, I bumped into Anna, so happy! (Were you wearing a yellow Jacket and white cap Anna???)
Right: On the Tsukuda-bridge, still needed to run for about 7km more...

I enjoyed a lot in Tokyo with lots of cheering people even though I was unofficial runner, I could get lots of cheering voice my name. Hopefuly run again with lots of you guys and get be on the list next time.

Here are unofficial splits from web

Point	Split	Lap	Time
5km	00:26:28		09:36:28
10km	00:52:40	0:26:12	10:02:40
15km	01:15:09	0:22:29	10:25:09
20km	01:37:52	0:22:43	10:47:52
25km	02:00:48	0:22:56	11:10:48
30km	02:24:38	0:23:50	11:34:38
35km	02:53:10	0:28:32	12:03:10
40km	03:20:12	0:27:02	12:30:12
Finish	03:31:33	0:11:21	12:41:33

nagano marathon 2008

I have been interested in running in Nagano Marathon sometime, but I wasn't sure when I would be registered for it. Except Nagano, there are other options;
Tokyo Marathon on February 17th,
Arakawa Marathon on March 26th,
Kasumigaura on April 20th,
and Nagano Marathon on April 20th Sunday.
According to the magazine for runners, it's the most popular one in Japan, it took only 4 days to be full by 7,000people for first registration. It's famous story that they provide secound registration on February 1st on official web-site, and it would be like a war to get be on the list.

I was so nervous to get be in... I already booked rooms for me and companions to go, but I needed to get be in definitely, otherwise go to Nagano for cheering for people? No, I can't!
It was hard job to get be on the list, I think I had good luck because I regisstered for me and my friend too... They said, it took only 15minutes to be full by 1,000 participates this time, though...
I wonder, why it's still open for only non-Japanese people? I will try to ask organizer at the registration.

According to IAAF, it's on the list as a silver class marathon.
Here is the article.

the wall...

Absolutely I'm satisfied with my race and I recommend you to race in Chiba Marine sometime. Last time, the organizers mistakes did not allow me finish the whole course, but his time I finally could see how they connect from point to point.
I wanted to push me up more after 17Km, but suddenly something bad happened to my tummy, it made me feeling like escape into a private room, so decided to slow down a little bit, no choice...

As everyone has, I have a barrier that I want to pass; it's finishing under 1:30:00 in a half marathon.
I got close, but couldn't break it! The best thing was I had positive thinking during the race, even my legs were so tired just tried to keep the pace up more and more. I raced well and learned a lot. I wanted to push more after 17 km, but suddenly a bad feeling in my lower tummy forced me to slow down a little bit, no choice or else bad accident :-(

Let's see my logs...
05k 21m24s avg HR 164/81%
10k 42m32s avg HR 173/85%
15k 1h03m46s avg HR 176/87%
20k 1h25m27s avg HR 176/87%
Finish 1h30m30s avg HR 178/87%
Official finishing time was 1h30m33s PB! (48sec faster than previous pb)

I was going to run with a LST plus a singlet, but took off after 2k, so I just wore a singlet even it was a winter race. As a result, it was a good choice at the beginning because I sweat a lot after that even though I didn't need lots of water due to the dry climate. I could relax and enjoy because could go out with very good running maties and saw and said HELLO some of Rie's friends who train as members of team Koide Kantoku, we met in Sendai half marathon, they are very friendly too.

It was a good start as a second race in 2008, looking forward to running with lots of you in Kanagawa marathon.

yoga weekend

saturday;
I was waiting for Saturday was coming!
Because I booked a Hata Yoga class for beginners in my neighborhood.

Why I'm interested in Yoga?
I normally don't like to do the current hot things; for example... having Yoga class in yoga apparels, using i-pod, acting like a groupie is not my hobby. Even Mujirushi-Ryouhin also sells Yoga stuffs as Muji Yoga...

I went to Hong Kong to visit my friends from the end of year, friend's husband looked a bit different, figure but very healthy. My friend said the reason is doing Yoga!
We did Yoga once at their apartment, them I knew Yoga is very difficult thing and very effective for core strength also having balance, I couldn't stand by a feet them...










I knew there is a nice studio in my neighborhood, so as soon as return from HKG, I booked a class. I take beginner's class. As a first time, I took a head instructor's class for beginners, the studio was crowded with yoga lover, she taught basic lesson specific how to stand how to lie how to get up too. So I have muscle ache... Hope it will work for my marathon.

sunday;
I went to Tama-river for 30k pace running, it was a strong windy day, though...
I worried about running... I thought perhaps I couldn't complete 30k... but just tried to keep following fast guys. My all companions are very fast, so I felt it was the same situation like just joined Namban Rengo when I just became a member, yes I used to be the slowest runner four years ago in the group. Here is my running log.

monday;
I went out for recovery run as soon as wake up in the morning for 13km.
Today is a national holiday, I wanted to pass a day very easy and slow...
I had a yoga class in the afternoon, today's instructor was japanese woman, the class was good, she gave us lots of poses more than Saturday, and learned basic well. So I liked this studio. I'm getting keen on it.

new year's 10k race as a beginning

Happy New Year 2008!!!

I would like to report my first 10k race in this year, it was good going as a beginning, though.
BTW, have you ever raced with Nike FREE before?
I had a fabulous experience with them today, but it was an accident, just forgot to bring my favorite Tarther Japan. Shoes were on the washing machine during my 10k race. Nike FREE was very comfortable for running like walking around there, but I barely smashed my previous record, it was only 39 secound faster than it in 2006. It means that it doesn't matter of shoes? I think I just had good luck today, the reasons were training from hot summer, hill running in HKG and also some speed sessions with you guys.

Actually, according to my watch, I finished in 41:58! However, I don't complain about the result because all of Namban ladies started from the first line, though. Because of the some up and down hill sections, my heart rate was so high looked like a 5k time trial. Let's see how was my log...

Splits and HR records:
4km Time: 16:29 - Avg HR: 174(86%) - Max HR: 183(90%)
7km Time: 29:17 (12:48) - Avg HR: 178(88%) - Max HR: 183(90%)
10km Time: 42:00 (12:43) - Avg HR: 178 (88%) - Max HR: 181(89%)

I wasn't running so hard at the beginning, but due to hilly sections, my heart rate was so high as above. That's why I saved my energy not to run too fast, just tried to wait that leading runners could come down slowly.
I fortunally could catch a couple of girls and just kept running, yes, ran hard with my Nike FREE and came in 6th in 42 minutes, well done me! However, HR says, I could run more harder at the last 3km, it's my homework for next time.

Cheers,