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,

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.