MyNichi

The plan from the outset was to run this as a Tokyo race-pace tune up. So I wanted to finish sub 1:30. Came in in 1:29:04. Reasonably happy with how I felt. Much better than in the Namban Half I ran a few weeks before Ohtawara last Nov. I had also ran 21k the afternoon before so my legs should have had a bit of accumulated fatigue for the race. I need two very solid BIG weeks now and see where that gets me.

I ignore almost all the bad english I see in Japan these days, but this is just too good/bad. From a shop in Osaka.

Original article here.

Boom boom!

Proper report of the Ireland visit and photos (lots) to follow.

No better feeling than heading home, before heading home. Last day at the office, magazine gone to the printers, just. As I was walking back to the apartment my iPod served up Home by Depeche Mode. Just before you go on a trip is always the most exciting. Can’t wait. The only good part of not going home frequently is that the trips wouldn’t feel as special. I can still vividly remember the night before my first trip home after moving here six years ago. Feels like that tonight.

After years of debating which “proper” camera I should buy, yesterday I finally ordered the brand new Panasonic Lumix GX1. I suppose purists will say anything that’s not a DSRL isn’t a proper camera, but I think for me it’s close to perfect. The version I got is the Double Lens kit option (I think only an option in Japan). It comes with the 14mm 2.5 pancake prime and the 14-42 3.5 zoom. It cost about ¥80,000 (Euro 750) and was delivered yesterday afternoon. Hopefully I’ll use it a lot over the next few years, plenty of interesting lens options that I hope to try too.

Managed to upload my old blog. I made it in that great Apple package iWeb, remember that?

Anyway it’s now here.

Full marathon No.12 coming on Wed. No idea what to expect. Can’t blame tired legs that’s for sure. Best case 2:59:59, worst case 3:15. Forecast looks good. Will be doing it as a day trip so a very early (4am) start. Race starts at 10am. My 5th time at Ohtawara. 

A great example of a data driven website for Bloomberg. You can read a bit more about it here.

The global economic squeeze has meant that I’ve been making race entry decisions based on how easy, and more importantly, cheap it is to get to them. A while ago when considering the Suwako Half I was assured it was a day tripper. I signed up.

On closer inspection it seemed whilst a day trip was technically possible, staying the night before was the right way to do it. Still, I had the alarm clock primed and was psychologically prepared for the 4am start on race day when I received an urgent email from Namban Phil. A late cancellation meant there was a Super Azusa ticket and a room for me in a friend of a friends house.

The friend was a lovely Australian guy called Kim and his place was a spectacular wooden house, high in the hills overlooking the lake. It was 5-star treatment from arrival till leaving the following day. There was fine wine, craft beer, home-made bread and a pie made from zucchinis grown by the owners. I could get used to this …

Oh, yes yes, the race yes there was a race too.

A Half around the beautiful lake Suwa. Essentially flat, good surface. The weather was a little warm to begin with but cooled about halfway in for me. Others complained it was humid, something I’m normally pretty sensitive to, but the elite Watarase hot and humid half a month earlier must have conditioned me for it.

I wanted to run sub-1:25 at least. So did Cory (aka Beckham, according to a fan on the course), we jostled for position, till about 12k. I think we started a little fast, but then settled into 3:55/k pace till around 12k. Then I struggled a bit through the next 6-7k. He pulled out a lead that he held till the end. I was able to push a bit on the run home and with a sprint finish against an unknown adversary (who I beat!!!). I clocked 1:23:57.

A good satisfying run. Leg strength felt fine, don’t think I’ve done any damage. Thankfully my bastard calfs behaved themselves. Exactly four weeks till Ohtawara. Runners World race predictor suggests a 2:58 is possible for a Full, which I’d be very happy with given the last few disappointments.

In summary, a lovely trip, a fine race and a good effort from your man.

Here are the splits.