Tokyo Marathon

What a great week, I feel like my training has really started. Some late night runs this week and the long run today. I have the running schedule up at work. I colour in each day. Blue for rest and red for training. So far so good, reds and blues in all the right places.

The problem with where I live in Tokyo is that it is pretty built up. I have a choice of either running through little tiny side streets or by the side of busy roads. The former is a trap for becoming lost, the latter is a risk of lung cancer. 

The 10km was todays run and I manage to do it. I found a compromise route for the run. Part was run along a main road but the rest was run along side roads and the Meguro river. It has a comfortable amount of hill climbs and a pedestrian bridge to boot. The pedestrian bridge brings back fond memories of crippiling cramp during the Unofficial Tokyo marathon of 2004.  At around 27km point all us runners had to cross a road using a pedestrian bridge. It was halfway up that cramp hit me. One thing I learnt is you should always listen to your body. This was basically my pins telling me to slow down. I ended up walking the rest of the way bar the last 500 metres past the finishing line.

So what is this cross trainig all about. I plan to cycle to the gymn and hit the machines tomorrow.

To date – no alcohol since the 1st October 2006. No bread since 26th October 2005. – Sorry for adding this but I am a strong believer that your diet is an essential part of training.

Today was suppose to be the day I start my training. The aim was to run 5km as part of week 2, Tuesday of the novice running planner.

It is now 8pm, I have 3 hours to decide to start running or not. It is raining, It is cold and it is windy !! and now it is dark. Plus the wife is advising against it. What to do ? 

Reading about Pauls lunatic watch reminded me of a super watch I had. It could tell the time in 5 different time zones, it was bomb proof, bullet proof and even radiation proof. It could stand a pressure of 10 atmospheres and could be read in the dark.

The problem was….I lost it !!

I had my running plan for the weekend based on Hal Higdons novice schedule. Then BANG I caught a cold on Friday and was forced to rest all weekend. Drat !! Tomorrow is a 5 km run so hopefully will be fit enough to run it. Thus will start my official training.

 On Sunday, early, a group of us plan to cycle the marathon course. It would be cool if we could put together a time lapse of the course. How long would it take to cycle 42km ?? hopefully less than 6 hours.

One of the things I have noticed about strenuous exercise is that the pain usually happens the second day after. You exercise on Monday but the pain and stiffness will hit you on Wednesday. Yesterday I cycled to work and back. On the way back I stopped by Tamachi station to play a couple of hours footsal. Great fun. Could feel my heart was on the verge of exploding and cramp hit my poor legs.

The big problem is, it really hurts today. Does this mean that I can expect agony tomorrow ?

 In anticipation I have designated today as a day of rest. Hope this saves me from some of tomorrows pain

you may have to run 42.165 km !!!

YES !!! Oh brother. The running god has smiled on me and the JTB marathon has sent me an invite to the TOkyo marahon…….damn I had better start training !!!

I was shocked to learn that everyone around me had received an invite and not me. It took me back to school and being the last to be chosen for the football side. Or not being invited to Penny Lanes 7th birthday party.

I checked my work email account. My private email account. My secret private email account. …. I forgot about my hotmail account. Lets face it hotmail is crap and no one would ever use it for some important or serious…..BUT there it was , my invite. I feel like Charlie Bucket after he scoffs that Willy Wonker chocolate bar and finds the last of the golden ticket.

I suppose I had better start training

When will they invent a pill that you can take that makes you instantly ready for strenuous exercise…..I mean one thats legal and doesnt shrink your tackle!!

Cycled to work and back. So at least my training has started in a small way.

Queen hit it right on the nail when they sang about cycling and fat bottomed girls. Bike riding has to be one of the greatest exercises in the world. The wind in your hair, the exciting that exists in dodging obasans on the pavement and the full feeling when you take a lung full of car fumes.
Did you know it is one of the most efficient forms of transport there is ?

Up until know my body clock has been all over the place due to the jet lag. The only exercise I have done is lifting heavy food to my mouth and asking the big cheese a question. Today I cycle from Meguro Yubinkyoku to Tokyo International forum AND BACK !!! Not sure how far it is but it must be at least 50 km right ??

Can you count changing your diet as part of a training regime ? Since attending the formal dinner of the Great biritsh cheese festival I feel somewhat of a foodie. I am now prone to trying to avoid eating crap. Only the other day I refused tomato sauce on my big mac !! The dinner presented the very best in english cuisine. You may scoff and joke about fish and chips but it was probably the nicest food I have every had. Good startes, good main course and loads of fantastic cheese.

Tomorrow I plan to cycle to work and go to footsal after work. Footsal, if you know, is the poncey name for five-a-side. Great exercise and beats boring straight running. Anyone care to join me ??