Jogging Haiku 58: Holiday Season

Past runs' memories
Tiny snowflakes drifting by,
Alone, not lonely

(15-17km, from Takarazuka to Arima onsen, via Mt. Rokko in 3 hours)

With the day free, my son at the daycare and my wife at work, I decided to burn some holiday calories and go trail running. It was my first long outing since the Sanjurokumine race, and I certainly felt it! I was all gun-ho at first, but it is a long way up from Takarazuka to the top of Mt. Rokko, a climb just under 900 meters (the summit is 931m).

Being a cold weekday, the trail wasn't too crowded, and as far as I could tell, I was the only runner, since no one passed me, although I did pass a few people. Not too long after entering the actual trail, I found a recently opened pack of gum and I figured it belonged to the first group I would encounter, and I was right: you should have seen the surprised face of the owner when I asked if it was theirs!

As mentioned before, it was pretty cold, and dressed like the Sanjurokumine race ended up being the right strategy, even if a non-sleeve fleece under might have been appreciated at times. I had new thermo socks I got from the home center, and they proved warmer than the socks I wore for the race. Not perfect, but better. I was also carrying a backpack with hydration bladder, rice balls (thanks, Momo), extra clothes (I forgot my shirt!), wallet and cell phone.

As the haiku indicates, during the run I was reminded of many past runs I've done there: training for the Oxfam Trailwalker - including the time I threw a snowball at Yuriko, it split mid-air to hit both her and my other assailant Akemi -; me completing the whole Rokko trail from Suma to Takarazuka; a run I did with my wife along with a group from the Run-Walk store in Morinomiya; and so on. With these great memories, even if I was alone, I certainly didn't feel it!

There were some flurries at times, and as I got higher, there was ice and snow on the ground. I wish I would have taken a picture of the crystalised formations on the side of the trail at times, they looked like quartz pillars guarding the way to the top. They were amazing. I did take some quick snaps with my phone, here's the best one I feel.

But before that, I wish you all a great end to 2012, and an even better start for 2013. I hope you will have a fantastic time next year, whether you run, jog, walk, crawl or drive!

4:11:50 (Personal Best!)

Black hearses on trail
White snowflakes gently falling,
Million shades of grey.

(Sanjurokumine Mtn Race, 30km, 4:11:50)

Wow, my personal best! I certainly didn't expect that one. At the last station I asked a volunteer what time it was, and she said 13:27. She then asked me it was a good time, and I said "I don't know"! And it took some time for me to do the math and realize my time wasn't going to be bad. But when I got my certificate with official time, and I was a little shocked, and happy of course. Oh, and by the way, the shades of grey mentioned in the haiku have nothing to do with the novel that only alludes to 50 (although it is a sort of reference); here grey stands for feelings (of pain?) between elation and agony. I felt much more than 50 shades on the trail!

I ran my race, and things went better than I'd thought. The main factor, the weather, wasn't too much of an issue, although I'll come back to it in more detail later on. For now, let me just say that it was cold! No rain and the alluded snowflakes were quite few, but there were a few times when I was pretty cold, and I'm glad I wore my jacket and not my fleece; the hood proved to be useful a few times, especially after stopping at the aid stations. Here's a highlight and lowlight report, mostly for myself to possibly improve my time next year.

Let's start with the highlights. My good time was caused by three things. First, I didn't stop at the aid stations for too long, especially the first one. I improved my time by 8 minutes, and perhaps I won half of that time at the aid stations. Was it a good strategy (recovery vs time)? Well, with today's cold weather, I think it was definitely the right thing to do. After the stations I always felt cold, and my legs froze rather rapidly, making the restart difficult.

The second reason is Run Less, Run Faster. The interval training really helped in the uphills, giving me a bit more oompf, even in the last kilometers when I was quite tired. The cross training, which made me an all-around better athlete (cough, cough) came in useful as mountain running involves different muscles going up, flat and down.

Third is I ate and drank more at the aid stations. If I hadn't, those last hard kilometers would have been much harder I think. Maybe carry a bit more food next time (those gels perhaps?), I only had a bit of water and one SoyJoy bar in the pockets of my jacket (something which worked fine as an alternative to wearing a light backpack).

Finally, I think minimal running also helped with those uphills, since my calves have gotten stronger. I didn't get any sort of cramps like last year, and even the last uphill wasn't that difficult on my calves. They were ready to go, it was my overall stamina that failed me there. I didn't encounter too many troubles with the minimal protection, at least against socks. When I did hit rocks or twigs, the immediate feedback had my feet get out of seriously injury quickly enough. A few times I stepped hard on pebbles  and stuff, but I didn't slide where others did.

Now with the lowlights. I think the main factor for me not going even faster is that I hadn't done enough long runs in my preparation. My legs were relatively fresh, but I just didn't have the energy to go faster from the second half - last third. If I want to go under the 4-hour mark, that is certainly something I'll need to work on. In my training, I missed too many long and tempo runs, and I felt it during the course. Loin muscle cramps prevented me the most from running uphill more.

Second, while the Five Fingers behaved basically as expected, I ran into (excuse the pun) two problems. First, with the lack of long training, my feet were killing me in the end. Just a few hours later I feel fine, but in the end it was really difficult. I need more training there, something I actually had anticipated, but not in this manner (I thought my ankles would hurt, which they didn't). Second, at times, which didn't help with the pain and running, my feet were frozen! I think my socks were mostly cotton, which is about the worse fabric against the cold. I'll need to find better socks next year. Also, I talked with a Frenchman who ran with NB Minimal shoes, and the added padding on the soles is something to look into.

Finally, I lose a lot of time in the descents, especially the technical parts. Shoes don't really matter here, as I was slow going down with trail runners and street runners, and again I think that practice would help me.

Well, overall, this was in a way the perfect race: I ran my personal best time, while at the same time learning some valuable lessons. What more could I ask for. So, next year, can I go sub-4? I'll certainly try to!

Last Training

This morning I completed my training for next Sunday's Sanjurokumine race. Similarly to last year, I go in the race with no expectations for three reasons.

First and foremost, and completely my fault, I don't feel I have trained enough. I missed many training runs due to different factors (illness, work, etc.), but mostly due to my own laziness. But where I lacked in quantity, I think I made up with quality. The Run Less, Run Faster program is quite excellent, and even after missing many runs, sometimes whole weeks at a time, I still felt good when I ran my last real long run two weeks ago. Part of it is the separate types of runs (long, tempo, intervals, the last one becoming an unsuspected favorite), but also the cross-training. I routinely ride my bicycle, and the trips to the pool proved a welcome and enjoyable change. So, overall, I haven't trained enough, but quality training might save me... from complete embarrassment.

The second reason is the weather, something I have no control over. Last year's conditions were ideal: sunny and cool enough not to dehydrate. This year however, the current forecast calls for some rain and possible snow, with maximum temperatures of 5. So it will be a cold one, and I'm not sure how I'll dress for it. Especially if it rains, a shell will be essential to stay warm, but I'm afraid to sweat too much under it. If I put clothes that are too warm under, I'll sweat like a pig, but if I underdress, I might freeze. It's going to be a tough to balance. For now, I'm thinking about wearing warmish tights, warmish compression shirt and outside shell. I've run in that gear at night last Monday and I didn't feel too hot or cold, although it wasn't raining. An option would be to bring a sleeveless fleece, and I guess I'll have to make the choice 20-30min before the start.

The final factor are my Vibram FiveFingers. I really like them, and I've been running with them for a number of months now, both on and off trail. On soft trails, they're amazing, and they perform similarly on technical parts as with regular running shoes, but they're not so great on gravel roads, and there are a few of them on the course. Also, I haven't run 30km on trail with them yet, so I'm not sure what to expect. Also, although I've adopted a barefoot-style of running, it still isn't as comfortable as running with regular shoes. I expect my calves and ankles to suffer quite a bit by the end of the course, and certainly the following days. But I really enjoy the feeling and will use the race to improve my technique.

So with all these factors weighing in, the best I can hope for is to finish in relative good condition. Equalling my second best time of 4:30 would be great, but I can't expect that it will be a walk in the park to do so. In any case, I hope to enjoy the race again this year, with encouragement from Yona Yona waiting for me at the finish line!

The Champagne is for another occasion, and yes, I'll share the beer... perhaps!

Jogging Haiku 57: I'm not a Tetchan

Numbers hard to track
Two bullet trains wheezing by,
Continue smiling

(3km easy, 5km short tempo pace, 2km easy)

I continue with the Run Less, Run Faster program pretty assiduously. I've missed a run or two here and there, but I do all cross-training (and often more due to my bicycle commutes) and the stretching exercises are proving really beneficial: since starting them, my morning feet pains (plantar fasciitis perhaps) have disappeared, at least when I've done the stretches the day before, which is almost every day.

Interval runs, except for the 1600m repeats, are proving easier than expected. I often run them faster than prescribed; I guess capoeira helps me with these short intense exercises. This morning's tempo run was relatively easy, and I was glad to run basically at exactly the recommended pace for me; actually I pushed harder for the last kilometer. The long runs are a little difficult, as running 16, 20k at a time is still challenging, but then they are needed. When I have the chance, I do my long runs on trail, so then I focus on the time and effort more than on the distance. I've one on trail so far, my first true trail run with my five fingers shoes, and they were awesome! Running 'barefoot' on soil and rocks is fantastic. Of course some surfaces a little more challenging (especially when they are filled with smallish rocks, about 2-4cm big), but most of the time it feels so great. Now I really understand the purpose of these shoes!

But all training aside, I need also to focus on enjoying my runs, and that's what today's haiku is about. Usually I enjoy jogging for jogging, looking at the people and sights. With the training program and prescribed paces over specific distances, however, I sometimes forget to stop and smell the flowers. My son loves trains and every time I see some, especially bullet trains, I'm reminded of him, and this makes me smile. I need to remember this feeling on all runs.

Jogging Haiku 56: Training Season

Looking at my watch
More than the autumn half moon,
Running with purpose.

(13km first 2k at about 7min/km, then rest at about 6min/7)

Let me start things off by congratulating my old neighbor and member of the Guilbault Gang, Marie-Soleil Bélanger, who finished the Montreal Half Marathon in a personal best time of 2:05. She had a disappointing finish last year on her first attempt, but she came back stronger this year. Félicitations, ma chère!

I recently bought the digital version of Run Less, Run Faster in the hopes of one day, maybe not this year, finish the Kyoto Higashiyama Mountain Race in less than four hours. I say not this year because I'm a little late getting on the program (something the authors would disapprove of) and I'm still hurting in the feet and legs and I'm not sure if I'll be able to follow the program (again, something they'd disapprove). We'll see what happens.

Yesterday I ran my first 'long run' at 13km. It's a little funny that it's considered a long run since it is the course I often run when coming back from work. It was a little different this time as along with the distance, a pace was required for the run. I never check my pace and I'm glad to say that I think I followed it pretty accurately, having checked the map beforehand to identify one-kilometer stretches for comparison along the way.

For me, this type of training is all so new, with the three key runs: intervals (hardest for me as I don't usually run fast, unless it's to catch a train!), tempo runs (warm up, somewhat fast running, cooling) and long runs. Also, what separates this running program from others is fewer runs and more cross training. Bicycle cross training is easy for me as I commute almost everyday by bicycle. I'll try to put in some swimming as well, something I've meant to do for a long time.

In a way, all this training goes a little against my philosophy of running for the fun of it. But being a little competitive with oneself can be fun too, although I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner. I remember telling an amateur (in the good sense) friend who failed to run a full marathon in under 3 hours that the length of seconds was arbritary (since created by humans) so she shouldn't worry about never having done it, and here I am wanting to finish a nondescript (well, it is beautiful, but not famous or record-setting in any way) race in less than 4! I fully assume my idiosyncratic self!

Jogging Haiku 55: Mysterious Ways

A misty niqab
Shrouds a summer crescent moon,
Cool breeze unravels.

(About 12k, 10k jog, 2k walk)

Due in part to sickness, summer heat, and an (un)healthy doses of laziness, tonight was my first run in about a month. I took my regular back-from-work course with some slight modifications. At first, the pace was slow, partly because I was out of shape, but also because the day had been hot. The original plan was to run this morning, but since I had to bring my son to the hospital before going to the day-care center, I changed my plans.

But by the time I got to the riverside, I was feeling better, and once up on the dike after ducking below a bridge, I ran the next 5-6 or so at a good pace. But afterwards, my recent lack of sustained stamina exercise got the better of me, and I had to walk the last 2k or so.

Some defeats don't feel like such, and this was true of tonight's. Since I haven't run in a month, I feel that doing a solid 10k in tonight muggy environment is nothing to be shy of, even if I couldn't (wouldn't?) run the last 2. My goal is to finish the December Sanjurokumine race in under 4 hours, and as a first training, there is nothing to be ashamed of. As with climbing high peaks, the first step is as important as the last one.

Jogging Haiku 54: Summer Time Rolls

Cicadas and ducks
A summer cacophony,
Mi-mi-mi quack-quack.

(13km, with jogging stroller)

I went for a morning jog this morning with Kazuma. I wanted to test the distance of a trail I found for the KFMH3. If there are any hashers reading me, don't worry, the start won't be at my place, so the run will be much shorter! I wasn't planning on doing the whole course I did yesterday with my son by bicycle, but as my condition was good, I just kept on going. Actually, I could have gone on for a few more clicks easily, I think.

I wonder why I felt so good. I haven't run much recently, and with the rain, I haven't ridden my bicycle that much either. On top of that, I didn't eat anything before going, only drinking a few 100s ml of water. It certainly did feel good to be running again, though. And I think I found a pretty interested trail too. I'm thinking September might be a good time to exploit it.

Keep on jogging!

KFMH3 Run: Ikoma

Today I took my son out for a run with the KFMH3. The run was from Ikoma, and since I had the baby car, I elected to take the cable car up the mountain. I was joined by no name KT, who was joining her first hash run. I was glad she decided to shortcut with me since some of the downhill sections in trail would have been a bit harder to navigate without her. Actually, I should have invited Silver Grey to come with us too, as he got lost on trail, but with the help of some friendly drivers, he could hitchhike back home (and this gives me the occasion to meet him again tomorrow).

The trail was very nice and I was glad I had old faithful with me. At the top of the hill there was an amusement park and we didn't linger too long. Then we hit the trail and things were a little sketchy at times, but not as bad as you'd imagine. I was glad we didn't have to go up. After deviating a bit off course to avoid an incline, we got to a small village near the top, where the residents were very friendly. I dropped some coins in a box and scored some beans and homemade miso: I can't wait to try them! From then, the trail was all downhill and on road, and it was quite steep at times; I think my arms will come to haunt me tomorrow!

We eventually got back to civilization and after a few minutes of checking, we got on trail to the finish. It was a great day, and I hope you'll enjoy the snaps below!

Jogging Haiku 53: Royal With Cheese

Not always healthy
The destination looked good,
Gigantic burger.

(9.3km at an regular pace)

After some morning work, and with the family busy with other things, I decided to run a part of the distance back. My destination was Awajishima Burger joint near Nishinomiya station. The place was recommended by an acquaintance, and although very delicious, I don't know if it qualifies as the best burger in Japan; Any's Burger near Tanimachi 6-chome is pretty darn good, too!

The most unhealthy parts of the meal were probably the side dishes I ordered, the great onion rings and fine Longboard Lager, as the burger was filled with delicious veggies. Well, OK, the homemade bacon and cheese probably added some calories as well, but who cares. I don't run just to be healthy, although it is part of the equation: I run because I like it. I would have had that burger anyways.

Intervals

I recently heard and read that short and intense exercise may be better to burn fat than stamina workout. I guess it shouldn't be too surprising considering that's what body builders have been doing for years. With that in mind - and a beer gut around my waist - on my jog back from work, I did intervals, speeding for approximately 30 seconds and then jogging more slowly for 50. It was not as hard as I thought, although I think I could have pushed harder on the sprints. The total run was about 6km, and it wasn't even a little difficult to finish.

By the way, I'm really digging my Five Fingers. They're basically the only shoes I wear these days. I was tempted to wear them at my son's day care center entrance ceremony (welcome to Japan, the land of the omnipresent protocol), but family peace is more important. I even wear them at work, and although it raises a few eyebrows, it seems to be easily excused since I'm a 'strange' gaijin anyways. I do wish the Bormio model will eventually be introduced to the Japanese market. In the mean time, my Komodo Sports get (usually) good attention everywhere, whether it's at a photo shoot at a skate rink or during a hanami (cherry blossom viewing party, another good excuse to enjoy beer in Japan, the land of the rising suds). Now if only their Japanese representatives would get back to me about a demo for my capoeira group...

Jogging Haiku 52: Hisashiburi

Hisashiburi means "long time no see" in Japanese, and it certainly the case with this blog. In the end I did not jog every day in February, and I did skip a number of days at the end when my son was admitted at the hospital for dehydration caused by the rota virus. He got over it, but is struggling with another bug these days.

On the jogging front, after being incapable of finishing a 20k+ run a couple of weeks ago I decided not join a mountain race that's coming up next month. I think the cookies I ate during the run are what prevented me from finishing, and it was quite demoralizing.

On the other hand, I had been wearing my Five Fingers almost daily recently and I've gotten pretty used to them now. My calves and Achilles tendons don't hurt anymore. Last night I jogged about 6km in them at my regular speed, and this morning, although my feet were a little tight, I felt no pain whatsoever. Yeah! I composed a hiaku last night, here it is:

Out barefoot again
Jogging at a normal pace,
Yeah! These are comfy.

Jogging Haiku 51: Excuses Schmexcuses

I have excuses

All mostly irrelevant,

Time to get moving.

Yesterday I didn't jog. OL, so I ran a little to catch a train, but that doesn't count, it was well below a kilometer. So when I went out this morning, I decided to extend my usual 6k course, and it ended up being 7.5k. Actually, I preferred this course so I might do it again in the future.

As I was thinking of my haiku, It also occurred to me that I could have a second jog today to try and compensate for yesterday's laziness. And so, with my 5 fingers, I jogged from work to Kyobashi station, a distance of 3.5km. I stopped at a park to do a littlecapoeira, and the 'shoes' are fantastic for it.

Durind the jog my right ankle (not tendon) felt tight, and after my left Achilles tendon flare up. I guess it's to be expected in the beginning.

They're here

Well, I went ahead and splurged some yen on a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. The durability issue was my main concern in view of the price, but from what I could read online, the soles last a loooong time. Something I didn't know, the coupon I got at the event the other is reusable until April 30th! As i couldn't find the model I wanted cheaper online, that's goog news for you and me if you want some. By the way, ladies, Costco has a female model these days, but hurry up, there aren't so many left...

I got off the train one stop early and jogged the 1.4k back to my place. I didn't have the time to get into my groove, and they didn't feel bad either. Looking forward to experimenting with them some more.

Day 20: Groove Out

My ankle is still flaring up from time to time, and nonetheless I went for a longish one, 13.6k. I focused on putting in practice what I'd learned on Saturday, and after a while, it felt fine and I was in the zone, feeling as if I could go on for hours, especially in the last segment along the Yodo river, between the Midosuji line and Juso.

But as I got down from the dike, I started to lose my concentration. This got accentuated when I saw the time, past 10pm. Mind you, this was normal, but I thought I'd finished work at 8:00, not 9:00. It got me confused, and more than anything else, I lost my groove. It might sound strange, but it's the best way I can explain it. Afterwards, I was able to start jogging again, but my ankle felt weird - although not really hurting - and after getting stopped by a train at a crossing, I wasn't really able to start again.

On the good side, even if I used my legs differently, today Tuesday I have no muscleache, except for my Achilles tendon that feels like it has for about a week now.

Jogging Haiku 50: Close Call

Out barefoot jogging

A patrol car cruises by,

Would've been funny.

I went for a sub-2k barefoot jog tonight. I packed my phone to get a phone number (no, it's not what you think), but forgot my wallet. Luckily I wore a tuque, concealing my gaijin-ness.

Officer: What are you doing?

Me: I'm jogging.

Officer: Where are your shoes?

Me: Haven't you heard of 'hadashi running'?

Officer: Can I see your passport or Alien Registration Card?

Me: Uhh, I forgot it at home. I live near; my wife and baby are asleep, please don't wake them up.

Luckily, they just cruised by and let me (us) be. I felt a lot safer running in the middle of the street than in the park or on the sidewalk; the surface was more even and past rains should have cleared the surfaces better.

Day 18: 'Barefoot' Running

Today I joined a 'barefoot' running clinic held by Vibram Five Fingers and Tokyu Hands. As I might have mentioned before, I was going to buy a pair a few weeks ago when I saw a poster about this clinic. I thought I could wait a few weeks to actually get the chance to try them on first. Sadly, quite a long time was spent resuming 'Born to Run', which is partly the cause for the increased interest in barefoot running (guilty as charged).

When we finally got up, the instructor proved to be very kind and attentive to the large group of people (25-30) who showed up for the event. We tried several exercises to give us an idea of how to change our style of running to the one prescribed for this type of exercise. All were excellent, building on top of the previous one, and I hope to remember them all when I give barefoot jogging another go. I also tried a little bit of capoeira with the shoes, and they felt much better than any other type of shoe I've had before.

So in other words, even if the event was in some ways one long plug for Five Fingers, they did prove their point: I understand the benefit of this type of jogging, the shoes will be useful when doing capoeira outside, and with the small coupon we received, it will make the deal even sweeter. I just hope the soles are long lasting because this kind of 'shoes' are the cheapest around (it's like a bikini I guess: the smaller, the more expensive)!

Day 17: Out with Kaz

On this brisk Friday morning, I bundled up my kid, put him in the baby carrier, and off we were for a jog that ended up being 6.8km. Along the way I met this friendly lady who was surprised to see the jogging stroller, Kaz played in a park, and I tried as much as I can to stick to unpaved paths, even if it made progress a little harder. While at first Kaz was pretty quiet, our meeting with the jogging lady seemed to have woke him up, and he was pretty 'chatty' thereafter. And even with the previous' days adventures, I still had enough power in the legs for capoeira in the evening! I'm a little surprised I must admit.

Jogging Haiku 49: En français

D'un pas plutôt vif
Je me lance sur le chemin,
Jeudi occupé.

(11km, at a relatively intense pace)

For some reason today the haiku came to me in French. It basically goes like: With a rather brisk pace / I'm off on route / Busy Thursday. And busy it was. After my morning jog I wanted to spend some time with Kaz. But as fate was to have it, he hadn't returned from the clinic where he got vaccinated when I got back. I even had time to shower and eat lunch, and still no sign. Reluctantly I left home on my bicycle to go to my friend's home in Hanaten where I'd forgotten a toy before heading to my afternoon work. After work, I went down to Honmachi to meet my friend at his bar to discuss a little Mexican evening we're planning next week Saturday: I'll be cooking tacos and chili for the evening. So in three legs, I rode an additional 38k. So yeah, it was a busy Thursday!

Day 15: You Don't Stop Running Because You Get Old...

... You get old because you stop running.

This is a quote from Born to Run, which I reviewed last month. I don't think I agree with it completely, but a fun run is certainly a way of staying young. Although for many the words 'fun' and 'run' couldn't possibly go together (and I used to belong to that group, and still do on some days!), once you start jogging regularly the effort isn't that bad and you can actually enjoy yourself.

I did just that this morning on a 6.9k jog along the Kanzaki river by jogging up and down the river dikes like a snowboarder in a halfpipe, treading on narrow brick ledge, sprinting up slopes, jumping over cement and from stairs, and so on. For a good part a group of joggers were following me, and although most probably thought I was crazy, I bet one or two thought: that looks like fun! On top of being fun, it also strengthens peripheral muscles which are used while trailrunning, so for me it doubles as training! Great!

Halfway through the month, I'm up to over 83km. I somewhat slowed down this week, partly because I didn't have a super long jog this week, also because my legs (especially around the ankles) are feeling a little weak. This challenge is a marathon, not a sprint, so I prefer finishing it and enjoying it, rather than overdoing it and not completing it. On I go!

Day 14: Happy Valentine's Day

I was planning to jog back and from Costco this morning, but the rain changed my plans. Rain won't stop me from jogging, but it does stop my son from going to the park. So instead we brought him to one of his favorite playground, Costco. He had a blast pushing the cart and walking around, some good healthy exercise combined with free fruit tastings!

So instead, I opted to leave a little early, get off one station early, and jog the remaining 2.7k to work. It was funny to do so with an umbrella, but it kept me relatively dry, ready for my first class in 20 minutes. Holy cow, some students have already arrived! Well, see you next time!

Jogging Haiku 48: Red Lights, Grey Morning

A few ohayos
But mostly deserted paths,
Grey Monday morning.

(9.7k at my regular pace)

I did manage to go out this morning for a longish run, although it took me a good 55 minutes after my alarm before I actually got out of bed (might have fallen back asleep). Rain is predicted later today, which explains why I wanted to go out in the morning. The covered skies meant it wasn't so cold, which is always welcomed in the winter. I took a modified course that I used to go on often when training for the Sasayama marathon and Trailwalker a number of years ago.

All was well and swell until I hit a red light near the end. When I started jogging again my achilles tendon flared up a little, and did so again when I hit another red light. I guess it had time to cool down in those small breaks, and that was enough for the flare up.

Anyways, here's the song that inspired the title of this blog.

Day 12: Jogging - Photo - Capoeira - Jogging

The total distance was 2.8k but as the title implies, it wasn't continuous. I took some recon shots with the DSLR I was carrying in my bag. Basically I wanted reference shots with a telelens to reshoot a scene I had taken Friday night with my phone. I then jogged a 100 meters to a park where I practiced some basic capoeira moves, including my ridiculously ugly chapas. Then, I jogged back home slowly, cooling down in the process. For some it might seem stranger to use jogging for cooling down, but try capoeira and you'll understand.

I plan to go for a longish run tomorrow morning, let see if I can wake up early as planned!

Day 11: Out With Kaz

Kaz and I went for a short 3.4k jog today, from Shinfukae to my friend's home near Hanaten. We mostly jogged along one street, which was a little surprisingly very quiet considering it connects many areas together. Since as many streets in Osaka it has no sidewalks, the situation was more than welcomed. My achilles tendon still ached a little, but much less than yesterday. Kaz was very quiet; I thought he'd take a nap, but he stayed awake the whole time. He "woke up" when we got to my friend's home and we all had a great time.

Day 10: Timelapse

Today before some afternoon work I went on a short 3.1k jog, using King Camera's time lapse feature. It took a picture every second, and the movie has a frame rate of 12fps. I hope you don't get sick! I'll keep trying to set it horizontally, but Youtube keeps reverting it to its original framing...

Day 9: Achilles

At 7.9k, I kinda overdid it today. The cardio was fine, but my left Achilles tendon flared up a little. Is due to the minimal running or the daily runs? I don't have a sure answer, but i feel it's from the minimal running, which my body is even less prepared for. Even in the shower and bath after I could feel it. But the longer-than-advisable distance allowed me to go on a pleasant course, which to me is very important. Can't have your chocolate & praline cake and eat it too, right?

The picture was shot and edited with king camera, a neat iphone app for the photo-fun-graphers amongst us. The rabbit was busy pounding the mochi (look it up if you don't get it).

Day 8: Shorty

After yesterday's long run, I opted for a small 2.2k jog after meeting a friend about a new project I mentioned before. He was full of useful advice, thanks very much, Nick. The distance was short, and I did it again in my crocs. This time I felt my Achilles tendon a bit, but nothing painful and it was gone after less than a kilometer. I don't know if it was from the minimal running or from the long outing the day before, which otherwise left no consequences.

Jogging Haiku 47: On On On

On familiar roads
On two feet instead of wheels,
On home I go back.

(20.5km, the first 2/3 at a conservative pace, the last at my fastish pace, which isn't saying much)

For day 7 of my challenge, I decided to jog from my work in east Osaka back to my place, a distance of 20.5km (I thought it was a little longer, but I took slightly different roads than when I measured it before, which must account for the difference). For me, that's a long distance, as my usual longish runs don't exceed 12k. Because of that, I started out at a conservative pace, wanting to enjoy it, and especially to finish it! The part I had only ridden on my bicycle so far was rather pleasant, although there was some congestion near one train station. And perhaps more quickly than I had imagined, I got to the Shirokita canal, signalling that I'd be soon at the halfway mark. My confidence remained strong, even after one misstep on a downhill that gave my leg and lower back an unexpected shock, with no consequences so far luckily.

When I did get to the halfway mark around another workplace, I knew I could go the distance, and it felt nice. About 4km later, I effortlessly and instinctively picked the pace, which didn't prove hard at all to do, surprisingly. I took a road I hadn't taken in some time and it was nice to be back on a course I've often used. And sooner than later I was at the overpass near my place, and then got to the convenient store near my place, which signalled the end of my course (wanted to buy tofu, which went down really well alone seasoned with olive oil, apple vinegar and black pepper, as well as in miso soup which revealed itself to be a great post-run drink). I was hoping to finished by 8pm, and was happy to see that I'd finished about 13 minutes early (although I thought the trail was closer to 22k).

This might have been my only chance to do that course for some time, as I may have new work on Tuesday evenings starting soon. I'll need to find a new course to cover that distance in the future, but I don't think I'll do it too often, as I imagine that it will be taxing on my body, at least for now.

So with tonight's long run, it bring my total mileage for the first 7 days to 45km. Pretty happy with that. If I keep this up it will bring me to almost 200k, I don't think I've ever jogged so much in my life. Keep on jogging!

Day 6: Calories to Burn

For the second time in 3 days, I had an all-you-can-eat lunch to celebrate my wife's birthday. Today we went to a cake/dessert place, that also offered pasta and curry rice (my choice). I did have quite a few helpings of dessert, the best in my opinion was the banana creme brulée pie and the apple mousse cake (the last one also much enjoyed by my wife).

After work I had decided to get off a station early and jog back home, but I decided to do the opposite and jog straight out of work, which ended up being the best solution for two reasons: primo I saved some yen since this way I didn't need to transfer train companies (used the money for a beer!); secundo, it rained harder when I got home then when I set off.

Again I ran in my Crocs, 3.1km tonight, and although I could feel a little bit of tension in my right Achilles tendon by the end of the run, it was nothing really bad. I guess all that barefoot capoeira has already reinforced some the muscles needed. I'll give it a few more days to see if it hurts more, but "barefoot" running is something I'm going to enjoy, I think.

Running to Catch The Last Train

Not much of a jog today, but I did it anyways. I jogged from the bar to the subway station, a big 1.4km! Usually when I run to the station it is to catch the last train, and although I did get the last train, I ran by choice, not necessity. I went out to celebrate the birth of my friends' daughter Lylou. I was wearing Crocs, which are as close to minimal running as I've gotten so far. My running style was a little different, but it wasn't unpleasant in any way. I think I might try to go longer with them soon.

Jogging Haiku 46: Short Couple

Morning hangover
Disappears with fire bands,
Why the firemen?

Last night I jogged from Umeda to Yotsubashi to go to my capoeira lesson. The jog was short, about 2,7km, and it reminded why I dislike running downtown on main thoroughfares: traffic signals, cyclists texting and smokers. I guess I could have taken side streets to avoid such sidewalks, but I was meeting a friend who was going to try capoeira for the first time and since I needed to traverse some of big roads, I would have needed to do detours and/or wait at traffic signals anyways. It proved to be a good little warm up.

Then this morning I went for another short one, about 2,3km near my place, after waking up early. While the distance wasn't long, I did climb up and down many stairs, using the ones of an overpass going over the train tracks. My ankle was bothering me a little - and I don't know if it's the continuous running or the capoeira - and my underfeet also hurt a little, and in this case I know it's because of the capoeira! On the way back, I noticed some firefighters, all men, who were packing up their stuff from a nearby apartment building. I hope everyone was safe.

Jogging Haiku 45: Let's Get Philosophical

Innocent questions
Distract my mind from the pain,
Why ask why, really.

(10.7km, fairly easy pace)

For the second day of my challenge I decided to jog back from my morning class in Itami. The course is nice, with a good mix of pavement and riverside paths, a good part of which has sadly been cemented recently.

During the class the student and I started talking about sports and hobbies, asking me why I had so many activities. When asking 'why?' - and I often do when writing for Kansai Scene - people often expect an easy-to-follow and revealing answer, but often it isn't as simple as that. Here is an approximation of an answer.

To me, Life (capitalized for a reason) is about change and adaptation. Species that don't evolve and move (plants 'move' with their seeds) get swept up by new developments. And as I view my life as a microcosm of Life, I find it important to do many things, to try new experiences.

I feel human life is also about happiness. Keeping a young heart is easy when you do different things and continue learning and achieving new goals. Although I can't say that I love the cold weather, I pity those who live in the tropics where the weather is the same throughout the year; they will never experience the amazing joy of seeing the first snow of the year (and later seeing the same amazement in children's eyes), the comforting joy of drinking hot sake under a kotatsu table on a cold winter night, the liberating joy of that first spring day when you venture out the door in short sleeves and shorts with the warm sun hitting your face, or the dazzling joy of seeing beautiful colours on trees blanketing mountains. For similar reasons, I pity people who waste hours watching TV, remaining spectators of fiction instead of being actors in real Life. When I'll be on my deathbed, memories of 24 are not what I want flashing in front of eyes.

For me, I experience different joys partaking in different activities. With jogging I will always remember the moment I crossed the finish line of the first Oxfam Trailwalker Japan with Yuriko, Akemi & Carsten by my side. The Wow!-I-can-do-a-back-bridge eureka moment is what drives me to continue to play capoeira, always getting a kick when I manage to do a high parafuso, 5 or more scissor kicks while on a handstand, or a beautiful bico do papagaio, even if that's how I dislocated my shoulder two months ago. Ride 30cm+ of dry powder and you'll understand the rush I get snowboarding. And that just with physical activities. Mental activities, like photography and composing inconsequential haikus, are also part of that process.


Wondering like my student how I do it (and it's nothing special, really)? The answer is deceptively simple, so actually difficult to grasp completely: I just go out and do it. I get off the tatami mat, put my shoes (and hat when it's cold or rainy), and out the door I go, literally or figuratively. Come out play!

Jogging Haiku 44: First day

Hunting locations
For a new project of ours,
Just found baguette.

(3.3km, easy pace)

For the first day of my 30-day (well, 29; February is leaping this year) challenge of jogging every day, I went for a small jog around my neighborhood to a bakery my wife likes. Along the way I scouted locations and I took alleys I'd never been on before. My legs didn't feel so energetic, although it shouldn't be too surprising since I rode over 55km on my bicycle yesterday, including the last 14 in less than 40 minutes, including traffic slowdowns & stops. Mind you, that's not to much faster then the world-record marathon pace!

The day hadn't started so good though, as I ignored my early alarm clock to go for a quick jog. But the extra time did allow me to think of a reason to jogging, which made the outing all the more pleasant. The distance might have been short, but day one is no time to go all out and burn myself out. Tomorrow I'll go longer, jogging back from morning classes in Itami.

30-day Challenge & Barefoot Running Event

For the past few months I've been taking 30-day challenges. In December I tried to take portraits of strangers every day, while in January, I ate natto almost every day (I still don't consider it food, but it much palatable than before).

For February, I've decided to try to jog/run every day without fail. I will consider any jogging of a kilometer or more as a success. There will be days when only 1k will be fine, as I do not wish to injure myself either. The biggest hurdle will probably finding the time to do so, but I'll do my best.

On February 18, I will do so barefoot, when I will join a clinic on running 'au naturel' (at least for the feet)! It is organized by the original makers of 'barefeet' shoes, Vibram Five Fingers, and a pro runner will guide us through the first steps of running without shoes, and then we will get to try some of the companies products. I found out about the event when I went to try shoes in a store; I jumped on the chance to literally try the product before buying. If you live in Kansai and wish to join either the Osaka (me!) or Kyoto event, check out this link; if you can't navigate the website, probably you shouldn't join since everything will be in Japanese!

See you on trail!

Jogging with Bob

Yesterday I went for a job with Kaz using our Bob Revolution jogging stroller. We've been jogging with it for about 4 months now, so time to do a little review. The model has changed a little since we bought ours, I imagine it only improved.

First of all, it's big! So for everyday promenades, especially ones going shopping or riding mass transport, it is not the most suited, although on not-so-crowded trains and large shops, it's much much of a hassle. Also, we've never brought us with us on any car trip, but if we did it would take a good amount of cargo space. On the other hand, it goes really smoothly on streets and relatively even paths, much more so than our other stroller. It has a pretty big cargo space under, a net at the back, but it lacks a bottle holder, a mosquito net and a full rain cover, which considering the price (thanks, bro) perhaps should be included.

As for jogging, Kaz seems to enjoy it quite a bit. The times he got fussy were when we were out for a long time (jogging or not), like when I jogged for charity from my place to (and then around) Osaka Castle Park. And he got fussy because he got bored or sleepy, not from lack of comfort I think. On our run yesterday, even if it was pretty cold, he fell asleep in it after 10 or 15 minutes, and only woke up when we got home and I talked with my father-in-law whom we met by chance. I never had the feeling that the balance was off and it could tip over.

I'm about 165cm (5'6") and although the handle bar is a little high for me, it does offer the advantage of keeping my hands high, which is supposed to be good. I've had to re-inflate the right wheel 2 or 3 times since getting it over a year ago (and I walked with Kaz before jogging with it), perhaps there is a very small puncture in the tire, but as it doesn't happen often, I suppose it could be unrelated.

Overall, I'm very happy with it, and so does Kaz it seems (he can't talk yet)! If I would have known, though, maybe I would have ordered a model that can be adapted to pull behind my bicycle (my friend has one), but that point notwithstanding, I have no real peeves with this product.

'Born to Run' Book Review

Christopher McDougall has a nice bank account thanks in part to his book, Born to Run. And it's easy to understand why, as for people like me, who like jogging & pushing the limits, a bit of traveling and some sprinkling of mysticism, it makes for a very interesting read. Actually, I got my hands on the book Sunday night after a great KFMH3 run (thanks, Dog), and finished it very early Wednesday morning after spending close to an hour trying to put my baby back asleep. I managed to sleep another hour before heading out to w*rk, and slow jogging the 7k back to my house (the best part was meeting this woman, this time in my jogging shoes, not on my bicycle). I got the will to do the run from the book.

The main thesis, which seems to me well argued and researched, although the text sources are pretty inexistent, is that humans climbed the food chain by being long-distance-running hunters. From our ability to run (not walk) farther than any other predator, thanks to great evolutionary developments like sweating to prevent over-heating and a ligament at the back of our skull which allows for our heavy heads to move coordinately with our bodies (apparently all running mammals have it, walking mammals don't), we were able, in the long run (pun intended), to out run faster preys so they couldn't relax long enough to catch their breath. This ability has been observed in some African tribes, and the author goes so far as say that this was made possible by the development of our brain, which allowed us to 'predict' and put ourselves in the mind of our hoofed prey, a creative act that is at the base of pretty much all artistic and scientific endeavors (if x happened in a circumstances, maybe y will happen in b circumstances; if I were a deer, what would I do in this situation?).

A good part of the book is based on the Tarahumara, a used-to-be-secluded tribe of Native Americans living in Mexico, and known for their running feats, shaming pretty much anyone around you claiming to be an ultramarathoner (especially me, although I don't consider myself one: I might have jogged/hiked two 100km charity events and a 56km trail as a challenge, I've never actually ran such an event; I've never even finished a full marathon). His romantic view of the tribe is a great read (and I can sympathize, if not agree, with his claim that long distance running is beneficial for the mind and spirit as much as for the body), but one should not be forgotten that his account is a bestseller book, and not a peered-reviewed scientific paper, allowing a bit of creative freedom along the way (I assume). He deplores the disappearance of their old world style of life, and yet, by making them 'famous', he contributes to that last tragic act.

Perhaps my personal beef with the book, however, are the numerous attacks on my favorite ultramarathoner (because he's basically the only one I know), Dean Karnazes. I'm sure McDougall's claim that Dean is a bit vain are probably justified up to a certain point; that some of his exploits edge toward publicity stunts is an acceptable point of view. But then Karno, through these feats, like running 50 full marathons in 50 days in 50 different states and doing a charity 199-mile team relay run solo, did make the sport of ultrarunning much more popular, therefore helping the sale of Born to Run. While he spends a lot of time writing about how long distance running seems to make people more balanced and better humans, his argument is defeated by his own gratuitous attack on an athlete whose only negative point seem to have been chosen by some marketers to be the poster boy for what was going to become a popular sport anyways. Shooting the messenger is never a virtuous deed, in my humble opinion.

In a way, it reminds me of when snowboarding entered the Olympics; many in the sport shunned the event, feeling it betrayed the true soul of the sport, and I understand their point of view. On the other hand, it helped legitimize an activity that is now the bread and butter of thousands of athletes, creative designers, factory workers, lift operators and so on around the world. And while the focus is on the big names getting gold medals in the olympics, it doesn't stop 'true souls' from enjoying the activity they love, and to this day, many snowboarders like myself follow the progression of big mountain riders like Jeremy Jones and Xavier de la Rue much more than the antics of pipe and park jocks, even if their double-corked 1080s are something amazing to witness.

So in conclusion, if you enjoy running, especially longer distances, you will enjoy this book. You might even be tempted in trying out a full matathon or barefoot running, which according to more and more doctors is the natural way to do it (running injuries are more common since the advent of "modern" jogging shoes, that go against what Michelango described as one of the most beautiful pieces of engineering, i.e. the arch of the foot; and the book does present some evidence of this). If you are looking for motivation to start jogging or go longer, the book can also prove inspirational. But remember to take some of the facts with a grain salt. Actually, I have started to read it again, taking some notes for further research into performance and nutrition, which seem to be more than grains of salt.

Kansai Scene Article on the Rokko Trail

My article on the all-mountain Rokko trail was (finally) published in the January issue of Kansai Scene. Check it here.

Jogging Haiku 43: First New Year Jog

First jog of the year
After over-indulgence,
Come on little heart.

(9km, at an easy and sustained pace)

Happy New Years!

I'm not going to make any resolutions, especially about running. When you want something, just do it. None of the big changes in my life were the result of a New Year resolutions. I think that if you really want to do something, you don't need to wait to the start of a new year to get on with it.

For the last few days I wanted to go out for a jog, but always found excuses not to: woke up too late, too cold, etc. But after exchanging emails and reading the blog (in French only) of a real runner, I decided last night to set my alarm for 7am. Of course getting out of the warmth of my futon was a little difficult, but as always once on the road, it felt nice to be jogging, even if I only went once in over a month, after the Sanjurokumine race.

It wasn't that cold actually, certainly less than in Canada where my new jogging internet friend has to train. And the sky was very beautiful, fantastic winter morning skies. I was wearing some new clothes I got in a New Year 'surprise' bag (not much of a surprise, the contents were advertised in a flyer!) on January 1st after lining up for 45 minutes or so and waiting for the people who grabbed the bags without looking and then returned them (numbers were limited). I got an Under Armor bag, which contained tights, two 'compression undershirts, a hoodie and a beanie for ¥10,000. This morning I wore the beanie [quite useful considering my (lack of) mane], the thin undershirt (which will probably change shape in the future considering my belly) and tights, in addition to a fleece. The shirt felt nice, and it seems to have helped with posture a little, the tights were OK, and I didn't feel the beanie, which is good. At regular price, I don't know if any of the items would have been worth it, but with the special, they certainly were.

Now, I previously said I wouldn't take any resolutions, and I won't, but I would like to run more this year, and to this end, I may do the unthinkable and join more races. There's a nice 36k trail one coming up in April and I think I'll try to enter it. If I start training again now, judging from my performance last month I think I could do it relatively easily and enjoy it. The race is located southeast of Osaka, going over the Kongo mountain, and its main challenge is that there is only one aid station to fill up with water along the course, so participants need to carry more water than usual. This is an important issue for me as I tend to drink and sweat quite a bit while exercising. And if that goes well, I may even be tempted in trying a 50k, but we'll see then.

Happy trails, folks.

How Not To Be Cold: Canadian State Secrets Revealed

"It is cold."

"I am cold."

There is a fundamental difference between these two sentences, and I would bet that every language in the world can explicitly express the difference. The first one isn't a matter of choice, unless you are Bill Gates and have the money to travel anywhere, anywhen (I know it's not a word, but it should be). The second is, for most people [especially the few (Hi, mom!) that actually read this], more a matter of choice. It depends on what you wear. Contrary to hot weather, when even if you remove all your clothes you'll still be hot, cold weather offers you the opportunity to protect yourself from its unpleasantness (even Canadians don't like to BE cold).

Interestingly enough, here in Japan I've often been the coldest inside a building, which makes you wonder why in a country with 4 seasons (and five temperatures: cold, cool, warm, hot and the-pop-corn-popped-in-the-jar hot, as opposed to Canada's hot, warm, cool, cold and the-tip-my-nose-fell-off cold) it took them so long to come up with the idea of building insulation, when comic books for grown-ups (and I'm not necessarily taking about the gross ones) have been around for so long. But I digress.

Yes, there are cold temperatures, and here are a few serious rules about how to deal with it. Telling non-Canucks about it makes me a traitor and subject to be court-martialed; think of me as the Bradley Manning of cold weather. So without further ado, here are the basics of "How not to be cold", applicable when doing sports OR not.

First and foremost, you have to make the choice between function and style. For some this is the easiest step; for others the hardest. Last winter I saw a young woman wearing mini-shorts (midly NSFW), a blouse and open jacket complain about the cold... No matter wether you bought it at Uniqlo or at Chanel, down jackets will keep you warm, with the side effect of making you look like Bibendum or Stay Puft Marshmallow Man: they were ugly when they came out, and no matter how talented the designer, they are still ugly today. BUT, they do keep you warm, if you wear them properly.

Second step is to keep your extremities covered: head, hands and feet. We lose most of our body heat from the head. Natural since the brain is the body's biggest energy consumer. Considering how little hair I have, this is much of a concern for me, but even lucky people with more gracious manes need to think about it. Warm gloves and footwear will also go the distance, especially when immobile. Sandals and high heel shoes dot fit in this category.

The final step, found in "The Perfect Canadian Compendium" given to children upon entering elementary school and all new citizens, is the 3-layer system. It is very basic, and it works wonderfully. When putting on clothes which you actually want to keep you warm, dress accordingly. First layer, which could be the most important, wear anything that wicks away moisture, i.e. NOT COTTON. Cotton is great in hot temperatures as when it gets wet (perspiration, rain, etc.), it cools down. This is NOT good when it's cold. In the past I have worn ice hockey jerseys [Canadiens represent! (represented would be more appropriate)], but recently when doing sports I usually opt for inexpensive 'dry' sport t-shirts, both 'warm' and 'cool' seemingly working equally well.

The second layer should preferably also wick away moisture, but mostly keep you warm. Think wool, fleece, down inner jackets, and so on, which do get cool when wet. The final layer should stop the wind and water (frozen or otherwise) from coming in, and preferably 'breathe' out moisture (think Gore-Tex, no bloody Texans here, and other fabrics work good too).

Use this system and you'll rarely be cold (although remember that to be 100% effective, it should be like this all over your body, not just your trunk). For instance today was pretty cold and quite windy in Osaka, so much so that I saw some flurries while riding my bicycle (nothing like this, though). And during my two 40-minute commute, except for a few moments at the beginning when the wind was cooling my feet faster than they were warming from the exercise, I was never cold (had a beanie under my helmet, snowboard gloves on my hands). This, even if I committed the crime of wearing cotton as my first layer.

Would Lady Gaga have called the fashion police had she spotted me? Perhaps, but only if she was indoors, because otherwise her fingers would have trembled too much to even dial 119 (this is Japan). But I really couldn't care less. I was warm and off to meet sensible people.

And cold weather isn't all that bad, isn't it? First, it allows a way to deal with it and still enjoy fun activities. Second, it makes some of the good things in life even better, like kotatsu tables, Japanese pot-au-feu, warmed sake and snuggling.