Running Times – Fri 10th February, 2012
6:44am. 3C, calm and dry
11.35km – 56:48 – 5:00/km
Legs still feeling heavy. No drop in weight despite being off the drink for 10 days. When I finished I saw a smart dressed businessman looking at the sun and praying.
Ain’t No One F&@ks With LEGO Captain America. Very well done. Not for the squeamish.
Running Times – Wed 8th February, 2012
6:26am. 7C, 5m/sec wind from north
12.05km – 1:03:20 – 5:16/km
Might try and make a habit of bringing my camera out on my training runs. Today felt much harder than I expected. Wind was really quite strong – wouldn’t fancy Tokyo in these conditions.
Bail THIS Out
New, old shinkansen posters
I really like this recent series of posters promoting a new shinkansen to Tohuku. The Japanese headline simply says “We’re going to Tohoku!”. I’m not too sure how to best describe the style, but it could be as a kind of Showa (1926–1989) style constructivism (?). Anyway it makes a nice change from the slick photography normally used. Wouldn’t mind getting my hand on a few when the campaign finishes.
The chosen pair
I’ll wear these for Tokyo (Feb 26). Had a nice run this morning in them, felt great. They are Adizero Tokyo Haile specials. 225gms of orange goodness.
Chiba Marine Half Marathon
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.
A frying start to the new year
Boom boom!
Proper report of the Ireland visit and photos (lots) to follow.
Home
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.
Say hello to my little friend
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.
Old blog online
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.
