Took part in two half marathons in November. What was meant to be my main event of the year, Saitama half, ended up becoming a training run due to illness.
I guess that's that for individual events this year. A year where nothing other than wisdom was won.
Hikarigaoka half marathon
First time I take part in this race. When I signed up I had as a goal to place top 3. Worst case scenario place top 5. Finished 8th in a mediocre time of 1 hour 16 minutes. If I would have at least tied my personal best though I would have finished top 5 as planned.
The race organization is not the best I have seen, yet acceptable. However the course is repetitive, thus boring. There is a lack, or to be more exact, there are no kilometer marks. And it is a bit crowded in places. All in all I'd give this a score of 3/5. A race to do just once (I will probably do it again as a revenge).
I wonder what the prizes are as the price to participate is not cheap - 3500 yen.
As there were no kilometer marks I have no splits.
Saitama half marathon
Came into this race just for a jog. The first (and hopefully only time) time I pay 3500 yen to just jog. The course was not repetitive, but it was not eye opening either. Just a run around Saitama City, where there is really nothing to see.
Might come next year again as there were kilometer marks and the organization I thought was good.
My 5km splits: 20.48 - 19.24 - 20.34 - 19.11 - 3.30
Hoping this to be my marathon pace!
Friday, December 18, 2009
November running: siiiiick
I was really hoping to start my Tokyo Marathon training this month. Unfortunately a cough I was having in October became a bronchitis by the middle of the month forcing me to take off 14 days off ... plus the other days off I took ... Back to ZERO
November
1. Rest
2. Rest
3. 10 km tempo - 35.47: Total 18 km
Splits: 3.39 - 3.36 - 3.36 - 3.38 - 3.36 - 3.38 - 3.38 - 3.38 - 3.35 - 3.10
Average: 3.34
4. Bike commute 22 km
Jog 18 km
5. Bike commute 22 km
Jog 17 km
6. Jog 10 km
7. Rest
8. Hikarigaoka half marathon 1.16.09
Total 29 km
9. Sick
10. Sick
11. Sick
12. Sick
13. Sick
14. Sick
15. Sick
16. Sick
17. Sick
18. Sick
19. Sick
20. Sick
21. Sick
22. Sick
23. Saitama half Marathon - 1.23.28 (training run)
Total 24 km
24. Rest
25. Bike commute 22 km
Jog 18 km
26. Bike commute 22 km
Jog 9 km
27. Jog 17 km
28. Jog 19 km
29. Rest
30. Rest
Total Run: 179 km
Total Bike : 88 km
November
1. Rest
2. Rest
3. 10 km tempo - 35.47: Total 18 km
Splits: 3.39 - 3.36 - 3.36 - 3.38 - 3.36 - 3.38 - 3.38 - 3.38 - 3.35 - 3.10
Average: 3.34
4. Bike commute 22 km
Jog 18 km
5. Bike commute 22 km
Jog 17 km
6. Jog 10 km
7. Rest
8. Hikarigaoka half marathon 1.16.09
Total 29 km
9. Sick
10. Sick
11. Sick
12. Sick
13. Sick
14. Sick
15. Sick
16. Sick
17. Sick
18. Sick
19. Sick
20. Sick
21. Sick
22. Sick
23. Saitama half Marathon - 1.23.28 (training run)
Total 24 km
24. Rest
25. Bike commute 22 km
Jog 18 km
26. Bike commute 22 km
Jog 9 km
27. Jog 17 km
28. Jog 19 km
29. Rest
30. Rest
Total Run: 179 km
Total Bike : 88 km
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Just 10 weeks for Tokyo Marathon
My 2nd attempt in the marathon is only a few weeks away and there is still a lot of work to do. With only 8 weeks left of real training it is almost a fact that once again I will be running the full far from optimal conditions.
My first time …
I ran my first marathon in February 2008 during the 2nd edition of Tokyo Marathon. My initial goal was to run a 4 minute pace race. However, injury and illness forced me to amend my plans. Sprained my ankle mid November taking over 2 weeks to recover and caught the flu in December which knocked me out for another two weeks. Ended up running less than 150 km on both months. Fortunately my friend Brett, a very experienced marathoner, offered to pace me during Tokyo Marathon. The new goal: To break 3 hours. Incredibly I finished with a time of 2.53.
History repeats itself …
2009 has been the worst running year since I began long distance running in 2006. I have spent half the year injured or sick, with mediocre results in all my races. Fortunately things seems to be going smoothly now. I am been very careful about my health and running form as stumbling now would have disastrous consequences for the upcoming event. Very far from the shape I was in last year. But I still have faith for a miracle to happen in these final weeks.
The new goal …
I really do not know what to expect. I am in better shape than I was 8 weeks before the 2008 marathon. And by the time the race day comes I will – assuming no injuries – be in a lot better shape than I was in 2008.
A 4 minute pace race should be relatively easy to achieve. That would give me a PB of 2.48. Four minutes faster than my debut. Quite an accomplishment. A 3.50 pace race would be a challenge, especially considering my current endurance. That would give me a PB of 2.41 : A very good time. In the next 6 weeks, depending on how training goes, the goal pace will be decided. A second too fast and my body will not be able to stand it … a few seconds too slow and I will finish disappointed.
My first time …
I ran my first marathon in February 2008 during the 2nd edition of Tokyo Marathon. My initial goal was to run a 4 minute pace race. However, injury and illness forced me to amend my plans. Sprained my ankle mid November taking over 2 weeks to recover and caught the flu in December which knocked me out for another two weeks. Ended up running less than 150 km on both months. Fortunately my friend Brett, a very experienced marathoner, offered to pace me during Tokyo Marathon. The new goal: To break 3 hours. Incredibly I finished with a time of 2.53.
History repeats itself …
2009 has been the worst running year since I began long distance running in 2006. I have spent half the year injured or sick, with mediocre results in all my races. Fortunately things seems to be going smoothly now. I am been very careful about my health and running form as stumbling now would have disastrous consequences for the upcoming event. Very far from the shape I was in last year. But I still have faith for a miracle to happen in these final weeks.
The new goal …
I really do not know what to expect. I am in better shape than I was 8 weeks before the 2008 marathon. And by the time the race day comes I will – assuming no injuries – be in a lot better shape than I was in 2008.
A 4 minute pace race should be relatively easy to achieve. That would give me a PB of 2.48. Four minutes faster than my debut. Quite an accomplishment. A 3.50 pace race would be a challenge, especially considering my current endurance. That would give me a PB of 2.41 : A very good time. In the next 6 weeks, depending on how training goes, the goal pace will be decided. A second too fast and my body will not be able to stand it … a few seconds too slow and I will finish disappointed.
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