It's so HOT I am literally burning myself out

Summer is here and with it a disgusting humid environment and temperatures reaching over 35 degrees celcius on very hot days. Running in the summer is asking for it, funny though, many runners (me included) use these hot months as build up period, meaning hard long runs and lots of sweat.

In the last 5 weeks somehow I have managed to loose 4 kilos. I weight myself the other week while trying to figure out my wetsuit size and to my surprise I was at 54.5 kg. SHOCKING!

I am very picky about my weight as I know I have to be light to run, but at the same time want to stay near 60 kg so I try to eat a lot whenever I can. Yesterday after a swim I weight myself again to see if there was any improvement ... !!!! 53.8 kg. I am disappearing.

Hopefully it's just summer thing ...

One good thing is ... the hotter it gets the less clothing athletes wear ;-)

On another note ...
I finally applied and paid for my triathlon. It's such an expensive sport. To give you an idea here is what prices normally are for gear:
Bike: USD 700 - 7000
Wetsuit: USD 200 - 800
Tri-suit: USD 100 - 300
Bike gear: USD 200 - 500 (shoes, helmet, etc)
And of course you need your running wear, gels, drinks etc.
As for me, for now I will borrow a bike, perhaps when I take this sport seriously I will buy my own. Wetsuit I am buying online. A De Soto Wetsuit. Apparently on the high end of competitiveness. Bike gear I will not wear. I trust my running and swim so I will just struggle and survive on the bike leg.
Oh man can't wait! Can't wait for the punishment and pain! 1500 meter swim - 40 km bike - 10 km run. I know it will hurt as I just began preparing 6 weeks before rather than 6 months before ... but I know ... I think ... I will do a good job.
...hopefully my application wasn't rejected....

June running: Just jogging

Summer is here and races are over. Nothing really to prepare for ... it's a time to build up, crosstrain and enjoy playing other sports.
Highlight of the month: Football!

June

1.- Soccer (5km)
2.- Jog 20 km
3.- Jog 15 km @ 4.10/km
4.- 4 x 1000 - 3 min 400 meter recovery jog: Total 15 km
3.20 - 3.23 - 3.15 - 3.04
24 km cycling
5.- Rest
6.- Jog 17 km
7.- Jog 18 km
8.- Jog 15 km
9.- Jog 17 km
10.- Rest
11.- Jog 15 km
12.- Jog 18 km @ 4.02/km
13.- Rest
14.- Soccer tournament (about 17km)
15.- Soccer tournament (about 11km)
16.- Rest
17.- 6 km Tempo – 3.40 pace: Total 14 km
Splits: 3.43 - 3.44 - 3.43 - 3.43 - 3.48 - 3.27
18.- Jog 12 km
19.- Jog 15 km
20.- Rest
21.- Rest
22.- Jog 26 km
23.- Jog 14 km
24.- 15 km Tempo - 3.38 pace: Total 23 km
Splits: 3.37 - 3.38 - 3.37 - 3.39 - 3.36 - 3.36 - 3.38 - 3.38 -3.39 - 3.37 - 3.39 - 3.39 - 3.38 - 3.34 - 3.38
25.- Jog 15 km
26.- Rest
27.- Jog 17 km
28.- 6 x 1000 - 1 min 200 meter recovery jog: Total 15 km
3.17 - 3.16 - 3.14 - 3.13 - 3.09 - 3.09
29.- Easy circuit training
30.- Jog 17 km

Total run: 351 km
Total bike: 24 km

To try a tri or not to try ...

I really want to do a triathlon. Why? Because triathletes look cool.
I think, or well, I should be able to become a pretty competitive triathlete with some training and races under my belt. I am a relatively strong runner and my swim is above average than most triathletes. The cycling section would be the main problem, however I am sure I can handle it.
Unfortunately > no time to practice 3 sports > but still I want to do a triathlon.
There is one going in in exactly 7 weeks and I have 3 more weeks before the registration closes.
How things look so far: Pretty much no swimming in the last 10 months. Definitely no cycling in the last 306 months. Lots of running though if that counts for anything.
7 weeks though ... if I can get 2 swims per week I am sure I can go under 30 minutes in the 1500 meter open water swim easily.
7 weeks .... with a bit of commute cycling I can probably manage to get under 80 minutes for the 40 km leg.
Transitions would be the enemy to beat. Not used to this multi-sport deal and my legs might not be able to take the changes.
To try a tri or not to try.

My 1500, 5000 and half marathon progression

*Listed from oldest to recent times (only pbs are listed).

Half Marathon

2005 Nov. 20: 1 hr 23 min 06 sec
2006 Jan. 08: 1 hr 21 min 41 sec
2006 Mar. 26: 1 hr 19 min 18 sec
2006 Oct. 29: 1 hr 19 min 14 sec
2006 Nov 19: 1 hr 14 min 39 sec

5000 meters

2006 Mar. 29: 17.33.35
2006 Apr. 26: 17.22.79
2006 Aug. 30: 17.01.53
2006 Sep. 27: 16.41.22
2006 Oct. 04: 16.31.50
2007 May. 31: 16.19.98
2007 Jul. 26: 16.19.53
2007 Sep. 27: 16.10.50
2008 Mar. 27: 15.58.55

1500 meters

2006 Jul. 15: 4.32.90
2006 Sep. 10: 4.32.17
2006 Oct. 15: 4.26.73
2007 Apr. 01: 4.17.63
2007 Jul. 16: 4.13.31
2007 Sep. 02: 4.13.30
2008 Apr. 06: 4.12.98
2008 Apr. 29: 4.10.06

So far so good. My 1500, 5000 and half marathon times are improving at a still good rate, meaning there is still a lot of room for improvement.
Another positive point is that my latest personal bests were done out of shape, weeks after my marathon debut (race that I did out of shape). I am very sure in the fall all the above times will be in the past.
Now the important thing to think about is what to do from there. Going under 70 minutes in the half marathon of 4 minutes in the 1500 requires more than 22 days a month of training. I will have to re-think my running goals and how they could affect my other goals by the end of this year.

Track is in the air ...

With some 40 days left for the start of summer olympics, countries are now in the process of selecting the athletes who will represent them in each discipline.
Although Euro 2008 is taking the spot light in all newspaper headlines, the past weeks and few weeks to come have had and will have exciting meets in various sports.
Yesterday Japan concluded their 4 day track and field national championships/ olympic trials. I'd consider track the unofficial national sport of Japan, and although fierce competition, it was pretty obvious who would win which races, but like any event, there were many surprises. You can find detailed news at www.japanrunningnews.blogspot.com.
I guess of the runners going those who have a realistic chance of winning a medal are Murofushi, Noguchi Mizuki, perhaps one of the male marathoners depending on both their and the competition's performance, and with a PB race Shibui Yoko.
Another country having their track and field olympic trials is the USA. Having as main headline Gay's 9.68 victory on the 100 meters. Due to wind aid the time was not considered as a new world record, but his 9.77 in the semi's made him the fastest man the USA has ever had. Pretty impressive, and with Bolt having ran a 9.72 this year (not confirmed as runner in Beijing) and Powell with a PB of 9.74, the XXIX olympic promise to be be the fastest ever.
In other pre-olympic races Liu Xiang's 110 meter hurdles 4 year world record was broken by Cuban Robles making this an interesting event as well for the Olympics.
40 days left and as the day comes closer Beijing might be witness of new world records, shoulder to shoulder races and many surprises. Hopefully all the bad news surrounding China's recent scandals will not ruin what promises to be a great summer event.

* Personally looking forward to watch many swimming world records broken and perhaps see Michael Phelps win 8 golden medals in a single olympic.

Soccer - Football - Futbol !!!

On June 14th and 15th I took part in the ALL ALT JAPAN SOCCER TOURNAMENT. Although its name, this tournament is not only for ALTs. Many Japanese and local teams registered in the Metropolis and other local leagues take part in it as well.
About 18 teams took part in the male tournament (female tourney available too). Probably some 10 competitive teams, 4 okay teams and 4 "not so okay" teams.
First day teams were divided in groups of 4 and 5 and played a league style competition. Everyone against everyone. The following day the winning teams went to a competitive tournament of lose and done and the losing teams to a less competitive tournament of same style.
It was great fun to get in the field after years of not playing the beautiful game. And even though we lost every single game and ended with a goal difference average of -4 goals I enjoyed the weekend all in all. Yes, there is no excuse for such a shameful result. The truth though is we were honestly playing for the fun of playing.
Well the scores might make one think this tournament is hardcore, but it really isn't. We were just kinda bad. I'd say the best 3 teams were as good as an average university team and the remaining 7 good teams as good as a highschool team. The rest as good as you and your buddies playing football. For sure not semi-pro although there were some really good players here and there.
But like I said, fun! fun! fun! A great escape from all my running training and went through the weekend with just a minor hip injury which is gone now.
Will I participate again next year?
Well most of my team mates are leaving Japan, but some 6 players will be staying and I guess we could recruit a couple of more. So yea, I might go for some more punishment next summer.
Till then I'll just keep running ...

May Running: A bit of frustration

I wanted to break both my 1500 and 5000 personal records before spring ended, but was not able to do so even though I was prepared to. I did run close to my PB times and in some cases with a better pace or in worst condition than when I did my PBs ... still it was a bit frustrating not to run faster.

May

1.- Rest
2.- Rest
3.- Niigata mid prefecture championships
1500 meters: 4.12.7
4.- Niigata mid prefecture championships
5000 meters: 16.21.8 (*32 degrees)
5.- Rest
6.- Inagi ekiden – 9.48
7.- Jog 13 km
8.- Jog 17 km
9.- Jog 15km
10.- Rest
11.- Arakawa Ekiden (~5000): 15.15
12.- Jog 17 km @ 3.59/km
13.- 15 x 200 - 1 min 200 meter recovery jog: Total 16 km
30.2 - 31.7 - 32.3 - 30.3 - 31.7 - 31.7 - 31 - 31.3 - 30.8 - 30.5 - 30.9 - 30.4 -
31.1 - 31.3 - 30.9
14.- Jog 15 km
15.- Jog 15 km
16.- 1200 @ 1500 pace: 3.23.10 – Total 12 km
17.- 6000 Tempo (3.40/km). Total 14 km
18.- Jog 15 km
19.- Jog 14 km
20.- 2 x 800 - 7 min 400 meter recovery jog: Total 10 km
2.12.29 - 2.12.37
21.- Strides - total 10 km
22.- Rest
23.- 5 x 300 - 1 min 100 meter recovery jog: Total 10 km
44.8 - 47.9 - 46.7 - 46.7 - 45.5
24.- Rest
25.- Konosu track
1500 metros: 4.10.31
26.- Jog 13 km
27.- Jog 9 km
28.- Jog 12 km
29.- 5000 time trial (*alone): 15.58.96
30.- Rest
31.- Rest

Total running: 287 km

Two other runs in May

Running alone
Last Thursday I head out to Oda field to take part in the monthly Atomi 5km time trial. It was a rainy, but the weather was too good (really cool) to skip this monthly event. To my surprise though, when I got there the track was pretty much empty. And by that I mean 4 guys doing 50 meter sprints occupying nothing of the field.
"To run or not to run" That is the question.
I am terrible at pacing myself when doing race pace time trials on anything longer than 800 meters and running a bad 5000 would be a waste of energy.
"What to do"
An interval session of 1000 reps at 3.10 pace seemed like a wise choice.
Went out at a perfect pace passing each 200 in 38 seconds. It felt so easy compared to my recent speed workouts where I have to pass each 200 in 32/33 seconds. With 100 meters to go before the first 1000 I decided to change the repetition to 2000 meters.
The pace stayed even and the light rain was pretty refreshing. "Man, should I do a 5000? I'd be disrespecting this cool weather if I don't"
After the first 2000, the interval session had become a 5000 time trial, and what a good decision that was.
Splits were: 3.10.21 - 3.10.69 - 3.12.88 - 3.14.34 - 3.10.84
Time: 15.58.96
The time was good, but better than that was the fact that I cruised all the way. I had no pressure from the competition or spectators. I could have stopped at any time and nobody would have ever known about it. This run was all about keeping the pace and my running form.
Yes, I slowed down at km 3 and and 4. For km 3 I have the excuse the after 2000 meters I was about to stop but then picked it up to change my interval session to a time trial. Still, I was running alone. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come in the fall.

5 days before that
On May 25th I ran my last 1500 of the Spring.
I always have this "problem" called a hangover when I run 1500's. Every time I run a 1500 race I drink the day before. I rarely drink nowadays, but for some strange reason, every time there is a 1500 race I drink on the Saturday before. This time wasn't any different in that sense.
I did though however get a good 9 hours of sleep and due to time confusion arrived 2 hours before the race start.
Had an excellent warm up. Was today a pb day?
The start was messed up ... instead of the usual gun they used this baby gun toy thingy attached to a megaphone so the gun would go and 0.03 seconds later the sound would come out of the megaphone. I started out so low waiting for the sound to reach my ears and ended up going through the first 200 in 34 seconds compared to my usual 32. I was able to gain some places though and bring the pace up passing the 400 mark in 1.05 / 06.
With 1,100 to go I was in a solid 2nd place.
The pace was great, perfect (the split seconds are made up)
1.05.8 - 2.11.9 - 3.19
When I looked at that 3.19 I thought "Oh man I am going to run a 4.06 today, keep it cool, keep it cool" ... but my legs just didn't it that afternoon. I finished with a 4.10.31. A good time, but with a 3.19 at the 1200 mark I should have been a lot faster.

Peru host for the summer olympics???

I'm at work now ... supposedly "working", but I think most have realized that I am surfing the net after I couldn't hold my laughter. What could I have ran into?
Well I was/am reading a news paper online. El Comercio, the oldest and most respectable news paper in Peru and one of the oldest new papers printed in Spanish. Of course everything written in it is 99% of the time true.
It says in big letters:
If Peru does not become host country for the 2016 summer olympics they will bid again for the 2020 summer olympics.
Did you just laugh? I mean someone must have hacked this article because it's ridiculous.
First of all can Lima (Peru's capital) still bid? I thought the applications were due September 2007. Second of all, why are they even applying!? And third, why will they apply to be host of the 2020 and 2024 olympics!?
Apparently the idea came from our very smart, trilingual president. A master of making beautiful speeches and having very bad ideas.
Bidding to be the olympic host is even worst than his famous electric train project.
If you ever visit Lima you will notice that there are bridge like constructions at random places. When I say random I mean random: as in blue sky and bam a bridge without a beginning or end ... aka with no connection to the ground or anything whatsoever. Just there a piece of street suspended by columns and 5 km after another and another and so on.
The usual tourist will probably think there is some kind of construction going on, but the truth is those bridge like constructions have been there for the past 20 or so years.
Why don't they knock them down? Because they are very well constructed and it would cost a lot of money to break them plus the money invested in making them will then become a waste (not that it's not already).
Yup, the president we have now was also elected years ago and he presented an electric train project. Let's make a train that will run throughout the entire city ... so they constructed about 30% of it, he then stole a lot of money and fled to Europe ... then came back and became president again ... and now he wants to be host for the olympics ... in a country that doesn't have a single Stadium.
I mean seriously Peru has no infrastructure. It has two good soccer stadiums. One that is very old and the other very unaccessible. It has one track and field "stadium" that is worst than a high school track in the United States. It has an olympic pool in an ugly area ...
I mean freaking crazy ... freaking Alaska has more chances than Lima.
Money wise: not only will you need investment to build things you would need investment to destroy old buildings, etc. The construction materials would probably be stolen before any stadium gets finished.
Don't get my wrong ... I love Peru and can't wait to get back. I now live in Japan, but I think I would feel so much happier in Peru, best country to live in seriously.
But if Peru becomes host for the summer olympics I will break 2.15 for the marathon and participate. I mean if Peru can host the olympic games I can break 2.15 with no problem.