AU smart: Gotta love japanese phones

About a month ago I finally got a new phone (I had been using my previous one for over 3 years) after my old one stopped breathing. Did not get a new model as I wanted one made by SANYO and their latest mobile was from the spring lineup. Why SANYO? Because their phones have a really useful dictionary software that allows me to read and copy/paste Japanese characters without having to leave email mode (most dictionaries force you to leave your email and get into the dictionary program to use it).
Anyways, fortunately the phone was new enough to have the AU smart sports software installed. This new software (not so new anymore) with the use of GPS allows walkers, runners and cyclists know the distance they cover and the speed they are going to on any given training session. The software also shows you a map of where you are at any given point during your journey. It also has other features such as calories-burned counter, mp3 player and a website where you can record your daily training.
I've had my phone for a bit over a month already and two days ago finally decided to give the system a try. Pretty useful and accurate. I will definitely be using it whenever I do free runs to know the distance I am covering. And good thing the phone I have is water proof so sweat and rain shouldn't be a problem ... wonder though if it is free of charge hmmm....

The most competitive half marathon in the world: The 21st Ageo City Half Marathon - report

On November 16 I took part in Ageo half marathon. For the past years I have chosen this day in November as my main race event. First, because it represents the first race I ran in Japan - November's 2005 Toda Marathon. Second, because for some reason there are MANY races on this weekend - to mention one: Tokyo Woman's Marathon. Third, because the weather is always perfect: very cool and usually accompanied with light rain.
It was the first time for me to run this event, not my first time to apply though. Last year I got injured a week before the event and spent that weekend in bed.

Unlike most races that I run without any pressure I had two things in mind here:
- My last serious attempt in a half marathon pb was November 2006 therefore I not only needed to pb, but I needed a pb good enough to cover two years of training.
- I might be running Betsudai Marathon in February and to do so I needed a sub 75 minute half marathon before December to qualify.

I needed a pb and what better place to do it than in Ageo, where maybe 500 of the participants have personal bests under 71 minutes.
The start takes place on the track (imagine over 1000 runners all with fast times starting inside a track – the mess it was) where I had to come to full stops several times. The race continued crowded for the 1st 3km, after that, everything went out smoothly. Surprisingly from this point on I kept on passing people, been passed by perhaps 10 runners throughout the entire race. Following are my splits with some comments:
17.23.03 - 5km
The 1st km split was 3.38 (but considering the stops itwas more like a 3.25). Pretty sure the first 5km were done in a 17.15ish effort.
17.16.80 – (34.39.83 – 10km)
Good even pace trying to keep Brett at sight
17.42.31 – (52.22.14 – 15km)
I am a runner that needs the km marks and after the 10km mark they had them every 3km or so which was not very helpful.
17.38.20 – (1.10.00.34 – 20 km)
Same time as my Takashimadaira 20km result. Began pushing at about 18km.
3.39.88 – last 1.1 km
Total net time: 1.13.39
Ran a good last km in about 3.18 and finished on two legs thinking "this wasn't that hard."
All in all great race. About a minute pb and my legs already feel good.

For more information on this great Race: http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/deeper-and-deeper-goes-greatest-half.html

October running: PB month

I think October has been my best training month so far. 422 km ran in 25 trainings, averaging about 17 km per run. I was able to put in 3 tempo runs, a couple of fast semi long runs and speed training. As a result: 3 major personal bests in 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and 20km. The best part was I did not run any of these at 100% - which doesn’t exactly mean I will run faster when I do give it all (so many factors can affect a race result other than how much effort you put in it), but at least it is a fact I can go faster.
Now I have to concentrate in Ageo half marathon.

October

1.- 10 km tempo – 34.34 : Total 18 km
Splits: 3.23 – 3.27 – 3.26 – 3.29 – 3.29 – 3.27 – 3.27 – 3.28 – 3.30 – 3.23
Avg: 3.27
2.- Jog 17 km
3.- 12 x 200 – 70 sec 200 meter recovery jog : Total 12 km
Avg: 33 seconds per 200
4.- Rest
5.- Itabashi track meet 1500 1st place
Total 18 km
6.- Jog 15 km
7.- Jog 17 km
8.- 10 km tempo – 34.38 : Total 18 km
Splits: 3.30 – 3.30 – 3.30 – 3.27 – 3.30 – 3.30 – 3.30 – 3.30 – 3.29 – 3.11
Avg: 3.28
9.- Jog 15 km
10.- Jog 20 km
11.- Rest
12.- Jog 20 km @ 4.06 pace
13.- Jog 15 km @ 4.15 > 3.50 pace
14.- Rest
15.- 6 x 1000 – 1 min 200 meter recovery jog : Total 17 km
3.07 – 3.14 – 3.10 – 3.09 – 3.11 – 3.09
16.- Jog 16 km
17.- Jog 14 km
18.- Jog 10 km
19.- Takashimadaira 20 km : 1.09.58 (read report) PB
Total: 24 km
20.- Jog 15 km
21.- Jog 18 km @ 4.03 pace
22.- Rest
23.- 5 x 1000 – 2 min 350 meter recovery jog (hilly course) : Total 16 km
3.22 – 3.21 – 3.22 – 3.16 – 3.22
24.- Jog 18 km
25.- Rest
26.- Track race 5000 : 15.53.14 (read report) PB
Total 14 km
27.- Jog 19 km
28.- 10 km tempo – 33.58 : Total 18 km PB
Splits: 3.30 – 3.25 – 3.25 – 3.24 – 3.23 – 3.21 – 3.23 – 3.24 – 3.24 – 3.16
29.- Jog 16 km
30.- Rest
31.- Jog 20 km

Total running: 422 km