OSAKA vs KOBE

What to do?


"If it doesn't rain it pours!" I've just today been accepted to run in the Osaka marathon on Oct 30th and Kobe marathon on Nov 20th. Now as I can't do both I have to decide between them.

Both are first time mass participation races on flat courses. Both are wonderful cities with great "running" histories (Kobe the home of ASICS & Osaka the home of the famous Ladies race). Another great thing for me is that they are both almost equal distance from my home by car.

The only big difference will be the weather on the day. It's not out of the question to see a 27 degree day at the end of October but more than likely it'll be about 18 to 25 degrees with the rare possibility of a cool to cold 12 degree day in Osaka.

Kobe's temperature at marathon time should be about 8 to 15 degrees but there is a higher chance of rain. I have no real problem starting training at the end of August to be ready for the Osaka marathon but I'd rather not, Kobe would suit me more and would allow me to do my usual 10K and half marathon prior to the race.

Still, I'm finding it hard to go past Osaka. I didn't get in the first time and the only reason I got in now was because they have had a lot of cancellations from dim-witted wimpy foreigners that said "No thanks" to their offer of a place in Osaka marathon fearing they would die of radiation poisoning, or something. Anyway the powers that be opened up more places for foreigners that didn't get in, in the first place as they had to fill a quota, so I was lucky enough to get in now (Thanks Bob "Tokyo Racer" for your help with this).

Well I'm in a quandary and when I'm confused I turn to you guys? What are your thoughts? Which marathon would you run? Don't force me to make this decision on my own. ;)

Those were the days my friends

Once upon a time...

Woke this morning with my 8 year old singing "Those were the days my friends.."

How they come across this type of music is beyond me but I asked and he seemed to have gotten it from an ad on TV. Where else?!

This got me got me thinking about the 80's, surfing and my past life. A fun time for sure but not something one should dwell on.

You do this kind of thing when you have no present life, to speak of! Still battling with my injury which has me hitting the bottle to smooth things out. Don't worry I'm a few bottles away from total destruction!

Uploading clips of my present thoughts. Kind of interesting but not how things really should be!

THESE DAYS

These days everything seems surreal! Is this just me?

I'm so full of pride for my family and sadness that "these days" will end.

At the same time I can't even wait until things get better! I Had a relapse of my injury which is of great concern but on the whole it's getting better! "I'm bound to be improving."

Just heard that Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and it's put me into a mild depression as the song he recently recorded, at 75, is my favorite and one written by Jackson Browne, another favorite, when he was just 16!

Here is the cover by Nico I also a beauty!



Another glass of wine perhaps!

Or another version! Take your pick!

Happius Maximus

Could this be it!?

Good news! I think I finally got to the bottom of things and found my problem. Had a successful 5K run this morning (1k splits) 4:05, 4:08, 4:12, 4:08 and 4:06 and finished off with a 3:35 1K just because I could. As I was able to stride out and do it with no pain I was almost dizzy with happiness. It has been giving me trouble while sitting at work today but I really think I'm on the way to getting rid of it.

While the pain was coming from what I thought was the gluteus maximus, it was in fact more in the area of the of gluteus medius, or closer to the gluteus minimus and the pain was radiating from "Trigger points" here down my left leg!

Thank you all for your advice last post it all led me to this find, be it indirectly or directly.

On Ricks advice I looked up "Trigger Point Therapy" and Marty Recommended the book "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook" that I ordered and have already been working with for a few days now.

Now I don't want to give this methodology the full seal of approval just yet but I'm so impressed with my present condition vis~a~vis last week, I'm almost ready to shout its praises from the highest mountain. Just need a few more sessions to be able to get up that mountain to do it ;)

Thanks again all, I'll write more on this later in the week.

Hey there people...

You know I like everyone, that is, I can really appreciate everyone, their different views and lifestyles, but especially I like people who like Frank Zappa! Really have not met a Zappa fan I didn't like!! The World really is a worse place without him, and I miss him!



And this

Just Like Starting Over

"It's been so long since we've took the time"

Well I hate to bore you with continuing bad news on my injury status. (This = I'm going to bore you with my injury woes and have little concern if you like it or not) But things are not much improved.

I have about four main problems. Two hurty ankles, one hurty foot arch & heel and a persistent pain in my left glute. These are, I believe, all the result of tightness in my calves and hamstrings. Basically I'm stiff as a board and probably have more internal scar tissue than someone with a lot of internal scar tissue. (This = Ewen)

This is all the result of my hatred of stretching and ancillary exercises. I could go on fighting not to do anything outside of running but I'm going to have to face facts and start over building myself up from inside out. I'd appreciate any advice on how to go about building flexibility or if anyone knows of a sweet tasting fruit that will loosen tight muscles, please let me know.

I read an excellent quote on "speedygeoff's" site the other day. It said:

"Strength shows not only in the ability to persist but in the ability to start over"

I totally agree so I will and we'll see if I have what it takes!

HOME

In the grand scheme of things there aren't really too many things more important than running but there are somethings and this is definitely one of them!

OBAMA Japan "No we couldn't!"

But we tried!

Went away with the family for the weekend to Fukui Prefecture on the Sea of Japan side of Japan about a 4 hour drive from our place in Osaka. We went to a place called Wakasa, and a city called "Obama". The city of Obama is a very old town named long before anyone had ever heard of Barak! Beautiful place and a very local but popular race. They have a half, 10K, 5K and 2K races. This is only their 7th year running it but as most country races in Japan everything was spot on.

Well almost everything. Not my performance which was piss poor by my last years' standard. My bloody left glute was tight as a bastard on Father's Day and despite going into this with some hope I had a bit of a shocker. Still, doesn't mean I didn't enjoy. But couldn't stride out and it showed in my finishing time. 38:58:56.

Frankly I'm sort of glad to have my racing season over for now, (won't race again until August in Australia and October here), cause I'm plain beat up! Can't even drive now as if I'm sitting down with my left leg not being able to stretch out the throbbing is just about too much to take!

I'll get on to fixing this and once I'm back into it I'm sure, before long, this will all just be a distant vaguely horrible memory. But the holiday's memory will last ;)