Tokyo Marathon

Registration for the New York Marathon on 4th November 2007 is now open at http://www.nycmarathon.org/home/index.php.  The Tokyo Marathon being a distant memory and the pain abated I have just signed up for the lottery.

So I trained all year in 32C no rain only to rock up in Shinjuku raining at 7:30am 5C. Standing around was a bit of a bore and I didn’t find any faces I recognised. Once the start occured, being in K section it was about 20 minutes before I crossed the line. This had me worried as the time limit of 7 hours is from the start so I had already been reduced to 6:40… The going was slow and tough. Not having wet weather gear or trained in the cld showed and the whole time I questioned why I was doing this. The only thing I could think of was that I was doing it so that I did not have to start this again. Agghh.. But by 20km near Shinagawa I had enough, only to be passed (coming the other direction) by Stephen Owen yelling “CHRISTOPH, HOWS IT GOING”. Of course I lied and said great, resolved to press on a little bit more.. Well then getting close to Akasaka I was again passed by Stephen yelling “CHRISTOPH, WANT A PILL?”. Blindly I took the pills which Stephen said were pain killers (I have my doubts!!) , was coinvieintly located near a water station and plodded on. In no time at all 30km of effort was completed and a Japanese Mechanical Engineer, working for the Yokohama City who had run 4 marathons previously came up fro a chat… He eventually accelerated (more on him later). By now it was down hill, only 10km to go, heck an hours worth of running – now if only I could run. A bit of me that had never protested to my training previously was killing me and I waddled on to 1km to the end when the Japanese Mechanical Engineer approached from behind… He didn’t kn ow how I had been faster than him (ha)… Anyway we took off our sodden gear so that, as proper Japanese we would look proper crossing the line then crossed in unison in about 6:30 on the clock with hands raised (as if out for a stroll) – by my rekkoning that makes my time somewhere between 6:10 and 6:30. I did look around alittle for everyone else but no one was around.

Hmm, now should I train for an ultra?

Firstly, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Secondly, having received lots of chocolate I need to know if eating everything in one sitting or eating one piece a day is best to minimise the calorie intake.  (I know that absences would be best, but…).  At this stage I think binging probably is better.

Ohh, and then to the running.  Christmas Eve, it has been pouring down in Singapore and there was flooding on Thompson Rd near the Mac Ritchie Reserve that I run at so I thought I would swing past.  Unfortunately the flooding had dissipated and all I knocked up was a long winded 24km run. 

On Christmas day, having received (and eaten) most of my chocolate I had to go and pick up my parents (whom are here for about 3 weeks) from the airport.  On the way I stopped at the gym and clicked up 5km (1% slope) and pumped weights.

Boxing day, my gym trainer didn’t turn up to our 6:30am session at the gym.  Which is a blessing as he is a bit of a Nazi.  So I did another run on the treadmill of 12km (1% slope).

Today my gym trainer did turn up (shame) so we (that is me) pumped weights for an hour.

Help?

 Stephen Owen pointed out that it is cold in Tokyo and that I should consider getting some cold weather gear…  Anyone have any suggestions on what you need, in particular:

• gloves?
• long running pants (do they need to be water proof)?
• long T-shirt?
• water proof jacket?

Hmm, I wonder where you can get them in Singapore anyway (maybe mail order from the US)!

Not sure how to fit everything into 24 hours these days.  You would think with Christmas coming things would get quieter but that does not appear to be the case.

A few weeks ago, on 4^th December to be precise I was up at 4am to get to the starting line of the Singapore Half Marathon.   I ran a disgusting 2 hours 40 minutes and had a bad calf cramp which meant that I walked the last 4 kilometer.  Since then I have been hitting the gym fairly hard to try and loose some of the excess weight I carry.  This involves getting up at 5:30am each morning and going to the gym.

I received a note from Brian Keane (now of Meryl Lynch, formerly of Deutsche Bank) who completed the full New York Marathon in a respectable 3 hours 53 minute – shit what a goal to live up too.

I did a tour of the Indian Institutes of Technology in Delhi and Kolkata last week.  Actually if anyone ever tells you to go to the IIT in Kolkata tell them to go jump as there isn’t one.  The IIT is in Kharapur which is a horrible 3 hour drive from Kolkata.  Anyway was able to do three 10 kilometer training runs whilst in India and not get the Mumbai belly bug. BTW – refectory food has definitely not improved since I was last at a University.

Hmm, week 17 on the countdown and again not a decent week:

By my reckoning this means that I did about 5km more than I needed too, but not in the right units. Oh well.

My experimentation with Bombay Sapphire continued this week, however I adjourned to a cheaper location (Mumbai) to imbibe. Unfortunately I think that I passed the point where it is a performance enhancer. Mumbai turns out to be about as good for running as my condominium in Singapore. Once you get on that treadmill and turn on the IPOD it really doesn’t matter where you are.

On Saturday I arrived back in Singapore fairly early and although I kept telling myself that I should go for a run somehow I never got out. So Sunday morning I headed off to the Mac Richie Reservoir again. This is a short run of about 3km to get there and then about a 10km run around the Reservoir. However one of the paths was closed and I decided to see the HSBC treetop walk which made it about a 17km run.

Ohh, now here is a problem which I anticipate costing me a fair bit of money. In the reservoir is a lookout tower with a circular stair case. Being one whom appreciates the view and thought it would be good exercise I rapidly climbed the 4 or 5 levels. Just as I was reaching the top my Polar Footpod caught the underside of the step and tore off, sailing down the stairs to the bottom. It took me an additional trip up and down the tower to find all the parts and it seems that the only broken bit is the rubber thingy that clips it on – so tomorrow I have to search for spare parts for Polars. Should be fun.

Hmm better sign off. Next post probably back in HK then Mumbai (sigh)