Tokachi Millennium Forest Trail Run

I ran the 2nd Annual Tokachi Millennium Forest Trail Run (my translation) on Sunday.

It was 18 kilometers of up and down, mud, rocks, biting flies, mini ravines, water crossings, and bear bamboo grass, called "sasa" here. (kuma zasa)). Luckily(?) I was able to keep out of most of the mud. But the sasa is another problem. They cut out some new trail for the run which left the cut sasa at about 5 cm to 10 cm tall. It was like running on .... what? The sasa stalks are strong enough that they may or may not be crushed when you run on them. And they are hollow like straws. My new shoes have little round circles and cuts all over the soles where there is no rubber and just foam. Depending on your shoes, I can imagine that some people got cut by the grass stalks.

The terrain was all hills with only a few "flat" spots that only lasted 10 to 20 meters or so. Steep uphill climbs and long down hills with a section of mini ravines where event staff were posted to make sure you didn't fall head over heels into them. You had to either jump over them or gingerly climb in and out of them. One had a rope on both ends for climbing into and out of it.

Some areas were covered with grass and golf ball sized lava rock that was for the most part, hidden under the grass.

This was only the 3rd time I've ever run on a trail but it was great fun and a great challenge.

My time was much better than I expected. I don't know if that was because of the downhills or if perhaps, it wasn't actually 18 km. But since the course was different from the previous run of this event, it is hard to compare.

No pictures as I ran without a camera or phone. Sorry, but the view from the top of the mountain there was spectacular.

My legs felt like jello at the half way mark, which was the only distance marker, and my quads were sore by the finish. Today my quads, my shins, my calves and even the bottom of my feet are sore! The bottom of my feet haven't been sore in a long time.

During the downhills I could tell how having a strong core is important. That is my weak spot. Need to work on that.

If they didn't charge for access to the trails I'd drive out there for more regular runnings on the trails. What great exercise. You don't get a work out like that on the road! If only there were some trials nearby.
I hope everyone else had a great weekend. I did.

JOYFIT 北海道・十勝トレイルランニング
http://www.tokachi.co.jp/trarun/

This Year's Schedule

今年のレーススケジュールです。

• 3月21日 白糠ロードレース（10km） -完走
• 4月18日 ほんべつ公園クロスカントリー大会（8km）ー完走
• 5月23日　洞爺湖マラソン　(42.195km)ー完走
• ７月04日　ピンネシリ登山マラソン大会(42km)-完走
• 7月18日　狩勝サマーロードレース（10.5km）-完走
• 7月25日　釧路湿原マラソン大会 (30k)-完走
• 8月22日  納沙布岬ハーフマラソン（ハーフ）ー完走
• 10月3日  別海パイロットマラソン(42.195km)ー完走
• 10月11日 サホロリバーサイド駅伝ー完走＆PB!
• 10月24日 日産カップ陸別こがらしマラソン（ハーフ）ー完走
• 11月03日 しかおいトレイルラン （11.4km）ー完走
• 11月07日 白糠釧勝峠駅伝大会ー完走＆PB!

Bibs and Bells

Bibs and Bells
Originally uploaded by mr_caffeine74

Shikaoi Trail Run
Taken just before the first Shikaoi Trail Run held at the Nishikami Kanko Noen in Shikaoi.
The picture is of my race bib and my "bear bell". The race organizers required every entrant to wear a bell or they wouldn't let you run the race.
第1回しかおいトレイルランの直前にとった写真です。ゼッケンと鈴の写真です。この大会に参加する選手全員は熊よけのため鈴を付ける義務になっていました。

ペタしてね

Black Soy beans covered in white chocolate mixed with roasted soy bean powder.

Participants in the 2010 Shikaoi Trail Run were allowed to choose from these chocolates or a free hot spring bath as a finisher's prize. I got the chocolates! They were yummy.  They didn't last long.  They are roasted soy beans covered with white chocolate that has soy bean powder (kinako) mixed in. They are from a local confectionary called Ryugetsu.  If you want to find them they are called Kinachoko Kurodaizu. (きなチョコ黒大豆).

New personal best!

At the Sahoro Riverside Ekiden in Shintoku on Monday I ran my fastest 5k ever! During my leg of the event I ran 5.1km in 20:28 which was the second fastest time on my team behind our anchor by 3 seconds! I am very happy with my performance. That is all I can write now. I just had to get that up!
サホロリバーサイド駅伝で５kmのPBが出来ました。ところで、PBはPeanut Butterではなくて、Private Bestでもなく、Personal Bestの略だと思います。１０月１１日体育の日に行われた新得町での駅伝でした。自分のチーム「帯広楽走会　A」は１３チーム中の８位でした。５kmはどれぐらい早く走れるかはまだわからないけど、もうちょっと出せると思います。練習次第ですね。ichanさんから写真を頂いきました。

Receiving the Sash

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Pisukari Half Marathon

PERSONAL RECORD!
Race Name:		Pisukari Half Marathon
Race Date:		10/18/2009
	Dist	Time	Pace
Run	21.10 KM	01:34:00	04:27
Description: The run went well. I am very pleased with my effort. The weather was supposed to be windy and rainy and I prepared for that by bringing my winter running jersey and a long sleeve running shirt. However, the sun came out and it was warm and not at all windy and I was roasting in my jersey. I didn't bring a short sleeve running shirt so I put on a quick dry shirt that I got at the Yoichi Marathon and pinned my big number to that. I was number 165. That is a bit misleading though because there were only 18 men in the open division (18 and over). The Pisukari Half Marathon is two laps of an out and back course held at AERU in Urakawa, Hokkaido Japan. AERU is a facility for recreation and more importantly for raising and training race horses. I haven't researched this though so don't take my word for it. We think it is a national facility. The course is run on the roads that go through the area which are usually off limits to the public ( to protect the horses). It's fall here and the trees lining the road were beautiful oranges and yellows and dirty greens. There were two water points, with water only, but the staff made effort to make sure you could get water coming and going as we passed them at the 2.5km and 5km points. Since it's two laps of an out and back course you get to go past the water points 8 times. The course is out and up hill for 5km to the turn around point and then down 5km to the next turn around and repeat. I remember being totally trashed last year the second time going up that 5km hill. This time it wasn't so bad. I don't know if it was the extra hills that I've done this year or if it was because I was mentally prepared for it but I was able to get up and over the hills both times without getting too fatigued. I concentrate on keeping my foot pace the same. So I'm pretty sure I slow down going up the hills but I'm kicking out the same rhythm with my feet. The top four athletes blew out of the gate and soon were so far ahead of me that I couldn't even see them. But I had company anyway. There were three off us and we kept changing position throughout the race. Only the top 3 spots get awarded so we weren't battling for a trophy so much as just battling. On the second lap I was able to pull away about 100m going up the hill. The last time we went down the hill both the other guys hit the gas and I had a hard time keeping up with them. I figured they would do the same thing this time to so after the turn around I picked up the pace, determined to keep away from them. However, I soon heard foot steps behind me and the voice of on who kept calling out to his mates, and everyone on the side of the road to encourage and to answer calls of "way to go". He was coming closer. Eventually he was right behind me and I could swear the other guy was there too, but this was just relying on my ears. At this point, with the foot steps and heavy breathing on my heels, it is as much a psychological race as a physical one. We are running as fast as we think we can last for 21km and it is a sort of gamble. I never practice running 21km at this pace so I'm only hoping that I'll be able to keep up the pace till the end, and have enough left in the tank to shake this bugger of my tail. I don't know if he's holding back, waiting for the sprint to the finish, or if it is all he can do just to keep up. I had the feeling though that he was running close to 100% because with 3km left to go he was having a hard time keeping up his back and forth with the other runners who were still working their way up the hill as we came down. He just didn't have the breath for it. I wasn't wasting my breath. I didn't have that many people to cheer on anyway and when I did, I waved. Waving is not so easy at this point either. I can barely reach up to wipe the sweat of my brow. I start thinking too much. I think about his breathing. I think about not slowing down even though I got a bug in my left eye. I think about slowing down and letting this guy pass. It really is mental. Your body actually can keep up the pace and can go faster, go farther, but way before your body breaks down, your mind is telling you that you are tired. Stop this nonsense and go find a nice comfy mattress to lay down in. Just 100m before the start, I see a guy walking. He was in first place the first 10k, 3rd the last time I saw him. Is he cooling down? Did he stop running? Thinking that this may be my chance to get 3rd place I was now even more determined not to let this guy beat me in the last 100m. They guy I'm battling with says as we round the last corner, "almost there". ?? Is he running with me or against me? An altogether positive and bright sportsman. We sprint to the finish and I am triumphant! This is only the second time that I have had a battle in a race and it was exhilarating. I'm sure I would not have had such a great time if this guy wouldn't have been there to push me to the end. It turns out the third guy in our group couldn't keep up the pace. He came in a bit later. This is probably my 2nd or third best time in the half marathon and with very little training done this year. What does that mean? Does that mean that I am getting stronger mentally? Does that mean that I was training too much in previous years? Is it just a product of time? This is my 5th year running. My full marathon time this year was terrible (3:52). I've had two half marathons at the beginning of the year that were pretty bad too (1:45). I am writing this on the Monday after the race. Since last week I have had a sore left hip, again and my hip and legs, back and abs are all sore today from the race. I have one more half marathon this weekend and it is a bugger. I don't think I have the heart left to put into that race. At any rare, I'll take it easy this week and maybe run once or twice before the race then we'll see what happens.

Northern Territories Nosappu Cape Half Marathon

I went to the Northern Territories Nosappu Cape Half Marathon over the weekend. I took a micro-bus there loaded with other runners from the Obihiro area. When I say micro, I mean micro. I had to sit in the guide's seat beside the driver because the area between seats was so small that I couldn't sit there. My knees were pressed up hard against the back of the seat in front of me. I thought I was lucky to be able to sit in the front seat until the ride home when, sun burned and tired, I had to ride for hours into the setting sun with no shade or protection of any kind.
The people on the bus were a good natured and jolly sort that loved to drink and razz each other on. I was surprised again, which I shouldn't have been, but they drank all the way to Nemuro, where the race was being held, drank before, during and after dinner, and then opened up cans of beer the moment they crossed the finish line after the race. They kept opening them for a few hours on the way home until the bus started to quite down as they finally dozed off into drunken slumber. But they weren't too bad as far as the drink goes. Even though it seemed they were drinking the whole time and that the race was only an excuse to drink, none of them got out of hand or overly boisterous.
After breakfast we all loaded into our micro-bus which took us to the Nemuro City Hall. There we got on much larger buses that carried us off to Cape Nosappu. Reception and the opening ceremony was held at the cape and then we were able to get back on to the buses which carried us to the starting line. One for the Half and one for the 10k. It was a straight course to the Nemuro City Hall. The course was full of hills and we were running into a headwind. It was hot. 76 degrees. Doesn't sound too hot but it was too hot for me running in the sun. I got a half body sunburn. Most course are out-and-back or loop courses so you get baked on both sides.
All along the way there were people watching and cheering us on. Especially, when we entered Nemuro, the numbers of people cheering us on increased as we made it down the last 4k to the killer hill at the end before entering the round about at city hall.
After finishing you were able to get a drink, some crab soup and some rice balls if you handed in your meal ticket. Inside city hall they were printing out certificates of completion?? with your time on it. There was a closing ceremony, awards ceremony and a lottery. Every year they give a prize to the person who came farthest for the race. Next year, if I go, I'm writing America instead of the town I'm living in. Since I can't place, that's about all I can do to take something home.

北方領土納沙布岬マラソン大会

今年も根室の北方領土納沙布岬マラソン大会に参加してきました。去年は1時間34分か、1時間44分で走りました。どちかは覚えていません。確認しないと。今回は1時間35分を目指していたけど、残念ながら1時間39分48秒しかだせなかった。私にとっては天気は暑くて大変でした。アップダウンが結構多いワーンウェーコースでした。ほとんど気持ちよく走れたけど、最後の4kmくらいはきつくなり、ペース上げることができなくて、ペースを維持するだけで必死でした。本当に心のかなで1時間30分で走りたいなぁと思っていたけど、現実的には1時間35くらいが可能だろうと思っていました。One wayコースだったので、日焼けもone wayでした。向かい風が時には厳しかったけど、どれぐらい影響あったかはわかりません。
応援はよかった。特に根室市街に入ってから日陰で応援してくれる市民は以外に多かった。もっとたくさん居てもいいと思いますが。
一緒に行った皆さんはかなり楽しんでいたみたいです。皆はよく飲むなぁ。すごい。それから走るんだからすごいと思いました。私は走り終わってからしばらく具合が悪くビールを飲むところではなかった。水とスポーツドリンクを必死に飲んでいました。

十勝健康マラソン

第29回が終わり日専連の十勝健康マラソンは来年からないという連絡のはがきが来ました。豊頃町のサーモンマラソンにつつき、二つ目の十勝管内のマラソンがなくなりました。十勝では10k以上のマラソンはもうないですか。浦河町のピスカリマラソンがありますが、浦河町は十勝管内ですかなぁ。
After finishing it's 29th meet, the annual Tokachi Healthy (kenko) Marathon has come to an end! There will be no more. At least that is what a postcard that came in the mail from the organizers said the other day. After losing the Toyokoro Salmon Marathon two years ago, there are now now large foot races left in Tokachi! I'm not sure if you can consider Urakawa part of Tokachi, but it is the only race over 10k left near by.This is so sad. Hopefully the race in Honbetsu will gain momentum.

The team at 5 am, after 12 hours of biking

The team at 5 am, after 12 hours of biking
Originally uploaded by Vivian Hung

This year we once again had a team in the All 12-Hour Japan Mama-Chari Endurance Race. What's a Mama-Chari? It's the bicycle. The race starts at 5pm and ends at 5am the next morning and is run on the Tokachi International Speedway, a racetrack. It was fun and something to be remembered. I even behaved very foolishly by paying lavish amounts of money for a t-shirt. Something that I kind of regret now. The team name was G-Power, keeping it the same as the year before, least some other teams be looking out for us. Last year we didn't get any media attention at all, which was pretty disappointing considering we live in a country were most everybody has an Asian face and straight black hair. However this year we did catch the attention of the announcer and of at least two media organizations and got a little write-up done about us in the local news. Apparently, our team was also videoed by a TV channel or something, but I wasn't there when they asked my teammates to dance like idiots for the camera. This I heard second hand. You will notice if you look at the newspaper clipping that I am not in that photo either. Bummer. But at least I did get my name mentioned.

An athlete begins his run after the swim.

An athlete begins his run after the swim.
Originally uploaded by mr_caffeine74.

Photo of me in the local edition of the Hokkaido Newspaper. The captions reads, "an athlete begins his run after finishing the swim". I participated in the Obihiro no Mori Aquathalon for the second time. I bettered my time from last year by a few minutes. My swim was much faster but my run was slower. I haven't been able to exercise much. Don't know why my swim was faster??

十勝健康マラソン

この間の十勝健康マラソンに参加しました。この大会を狙っていい成績を残したかったけど、ペースが遅かったか、1：37で完走しました。その前の週の小樽運河ロードレースで1:30で完走したので、今回は1:29がほしかった。風邪のせいか、暑さのせいか、単なるペースが遅かったか。わからないけど、小樽よりもずっと厳しかった。終わった後もしばらく具合が悪かった。吐き気がしました。暑さが原因だと思いますが。自分の友達も暑さで完全に倒れていました。救急車で運ばれました。やっぱり、俺の日本語はまだまだ足りないところばっかりです！自分がいやになる。今週末のピンネシリ登山マラソンの完走だけを目指しています。完走できるか！？