Jogging 40: Last Long Training

Hazy orange glow
Chased away by drab grey clouds,
Race against the rain.

(20-25k with steep hills)

Friday morning I went for my last long training before the Kyoto Mountain race. Except for a few drops, the rain didn't start until evening, so I guess I won the race! Wanting to cover a good distance I decided to go from Suma to Shin Kobe on the all-Rokko mountain trail. It didn't get any easier, especially since I was pushing harder than last time, the distance being shorter. It was good training for climbs and descent, but since the Kyoto race is 'easier' to run on, perhaps I should have chosen something closer to the race. Oh well, I'm sure doing something tougher will be useful in the end.

Maybe because of my stronger pace, some of the hills seemed tougher, especially in the beginning. Mt. Kikusui and the climb to Futatabi weren't that hard, even if I had to stop once or twice to catch my breath. Actually, it was the first few hills that seemed tougher, even if I passed a number of hikers of all adult ages. From Futatabi to Shin Kobe, I met a number of students on school outings and groups of disabled people enjoying the beautiful scenery.

By the end of my course, I was starting to have a headache and it stayed with me pretty much all day, followed b a bit of fever. I think it was from dehydration since I drank a lot during throughout the day after and barely went to the washroom. I'll have to be careful the next times.

And when I got back, my registration had come it. I have bib number 2238. Having it completed it in around 4 hours and not having much muscle pain 24 hours later (but stairs are no fun and I live in a 3-story house...), I feel confident I can finish the Kyoto race in 4:30, my objective this year. It'd be nice if I could finish it even faster but I'm not going to make any projections here.

Jogging Haiku 39: Charity

Jog for charity
With my favorite cause of all,
Let's go Kazuma!

(16km, with the baby car)

Today I ran with my son for the Japanese International Food for the Hungry charity group. I had for them a few years back, when they had a different name. Sponsors (and you are not too late...) had the option to give me a fix amount or to donate for every lap around the outer moat of Osaka Castle (3.5km). As everyone gave me a fixed amount and I didn't feel like doing laps around the same course, I decided to jog from my place to the castle and do a symbolic lap around the designated course. To the starting point, the path I took was about 12.5km.

As I crossed the Juso bridge, Kazumax got pretty excited and he remained so until I got to a bakery nearby. After buying some bread there I stopped by my friend Fif's place, he who had given Kaz a present a few weeks after his birth. After a few minutes, off we were towards the Oh river. We went along it until near Osaka castle, passing a number of walkers who had joined some sort of event. After crossing a pedestrian bridge, we were in the castle's park, and a few minutes before getting to the starting point, Kaz got a little fussy. Thanks to a Passe-Partout song he remained calm until we got there. Of course, once there, got excited with everyone talking to him. After talking with a few people, off we were for our lap. Quickly he got fussy again, but luckily the balloon the group had given us kept him entertained. Here are the pictures from the day.