Running Log: Week 9

Week 9. Half-way there.

I only ran 4 days this week with lower mileage (killoage?) than last week, and boy did I need the extra rest. I have a half-marathon race coming up in 3 weeks. This week's run should give me an idea of what I will run it in. Hardly any time improvement compared to last year, but I feel a lot better doing it. (No cramps)

Week of Sept. 18 - Sept. 24

9/19: 6.5k, 39:23

9/20: 8k, 49:07

9/21: 6.5k, 38:36
9/24: 21k, 2:22:28

Total: 42k, 4:29:34

Average Pace: 06:25

Running Log: Week 8

This week was hard. My fatigue carried over from last week, most notably on my long run. I gave myself a goal of 2:45:00 and I didn't come close. Around the halfway point I kept asking myself, "Why am I training for a marathon again?" I have obviously gotten more out of shape since last year than I thought. 17 pounds to be exact.

Week of Sept. 11 - Sept. 17

9/12: 6.5k, 40:03

9/13: 11k, 1:11:23

9/14: 6.5k, 37:32
9/16: 11k, 1:11:23
9/17: 24k, 2:56:15

Total: 59k, 6:36:40

Average Pace: 06:43

Running Log: Week 7

This week's long run was my first 21k+ run of the year, and every week until November will be a half marathon or greater. My run on Saturday was a good reminder that I am not in marathon shape yet. The first 11k went well, but my body became exhausted in the second half and I walked quite a bit.

Next week's long run is 24k. Last year during training I ran that in 2:45:58. My goal for this week is to do better.

Week of Sept. 4 - Sept. 10

9/5: 6k, 35:14

9/6: 11k, 1:08:08

9/7: 6.5k, 37:36
9/9: 11k, 1:06:59
9/10: 22.5k, 2:38:30

Total: 57k, 6:06:27

Average Pace: 06:25

Running Log: Week 6

Week of Aug. 28 - Sept. 3

8/29: 5k, 28:42

8/30: 8k, 47:14

8/31: 5k, 28:02
9/02: 9.5k, 58:10
8/03: 14.5k, 1:34:26

Total: 42k, 4:16:34

Average Pace: 06:06

Running Log: Week 5

I missed a couple days of running last week because I spent 5 days in Tokyo. I had planned on running while I was there, but because my days were so busy, I was just too tired to do so. I do regret it a little because the weather was so awesome. Afternoons in the mid-70s...*sigh*

Week of Aug. 21 - Aug. 27

8/25: 5k, 28:31

8/26: 9.5k, 59:31

8/27: 19k, 2:13:39

Total: 33.5k, 3:41:41

Average Pace: 06:37

Running Log: Week 4

My running strategy until now has been to run as far as I can until I get tired, walk a bit, then run again as far as I can. Gradually, the amount of time I walk gets longer and the amount of time I run gets shorter.

Last Saturday I tried a different tactic: run 20 min, walk 2 min, repeat.

Every 20 min I would take a water break, and every 40 min I would take a gel. My long run last week was not stellar, but was pretty good compared to this time last year when I ran 19k in 2:20. For the record, stellar for me would be a pace where I can run a half-marathon in under 2 hours.

Week of Aug. 14 - Aug. 20

8/14: 5k, 27:38

8/16: 9.5k, 58:49

8/17: 5k, 28:30

8/18: 9.5k, 1:01:39
8/20: 17.5k, 1:52:10

Total: 46.5k, 4:48:46

Average Pace: 06:12

Ogimi Matsuri

Due to a typhoon, the Ogimi festival was pushed back a week to last Friday and Saturday. This also happened to coincided with the obon weekend, so the crowd was bigger than usual.

The best day to go is always on the final day. There is a tug-of-war tournament where the winning team gets a goat.

(1st prize)

There are also a variety hari races with teams of adults as well as elementary school teams competing against each other.

But the best part of the evening is the fireworks and the eisa that follows:

(I love being tall)