I Think I've Got It!

Hi all. Here's wishing you stay safe and healthy during the Christmas period and enjoy the time with friends and family. I'm uploading a video blog post about some recent revelations I've had on how I should be preparing for the marathon.

Feel a bit dumb cause it has taken me 2 wasted attempts before realizing the mistakes I was making but I'm going to consider them both "base building" and move into the serious phase of my training. The next 2 years are going to be some ride! Really looking forward to a break through or two!

Thanks for your continued support. All the best and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Osaka Marathon post analysis

Race report/result analysis. Thoughts on how to run faster.

Frustration personified!

Just had to put this in as it shows some of the frustration we must all feel with this sport at times. I certainly wanted to go on a bit of a rant after my last marathon! Thanks for the link Dave at the Running Masters blog, great stuff!

NOT TODAY!

For stats and video click on this

runners-i

Go put 80010 in the orange box and click it

Well finished the 2012 Osaka marathon. I was running 18 min 5K splits until the 15th K and the next 10K I recorded 19 K splits so was on for a 2:40 finish but actually started to get this strange tightness in both gluteus maximuses, bum cheeks, at 15 K and basically just started to slow down from the 25th K. I just couldn't pick up the pace try as I might. Took all my will to hold it together and finish in 2:50.

I'm Proud that I didn't stop but there is a major problem with my marathon racing, not willing to admit I'm just slowing with age, I'll just have to find out what the problem/s are and as Ewen said "regroup for another crack at it!" I get that chance on Feb 17th in the Senshuu Marathon.

Some photos above of me grinding out the finish and my boys and I afterwards. And below a video of the same. That was a hard last 10K I'll give you the drum.



Not my day today but you know what they say about dogs having theirs? I will have mine!!

Last comment Osaka Marathon

Think I'm ready to run a good one, a few muscle pains here and there but pretty much set! I haven't run hardly at all this week so can't say I'm not rested. It will be fun and interesting to see what the body/mind can do! I will make a race of it! Thanks, I'll report back as soon as I can after the race.
My number is A80010 for anyone at the race. Thanks again!

Osaka Marathon 4 days out.

This will pretty much be the final analysis before Osaka Marathon 2012. I may put up a brief video blog post from the marathon expo on Saturday when I go to pick up my gear.

One week out Osaka marathon. Slight Hiccups.

The following a very funny clip and how I've been feeling all weekend!



One week now until my goal marathon. The last week I've had a few problems, not what I wanted or expected, with the taper. Firstly mileage has been cut right down. Had a couple of Marathon Pace runs but nothing more than 15K on any one day last week. I've been trying to nurse my groin strain and hopefully I've seemed to have fix that.

The other problem that caught me off guard and knocked me out all weekend was a severe bout of dehydration! Saturday I thought I was coming down with a virus, had diarrhea and an achey body. By lunchtime I had a splitting headache and stomach cramps and couldn't get out of bed! Wife called it as dehydration and had actually been telling me to drink more for the last two weeks or so (note listen to you wives).

Anyway just damn lucky it was this week and not next, otherwise I wouldn't of been able to run the marathon. Really so stupid to let this happen. Hopefully my lack of running recently, I haven't run for two days, won't hinder my performance next week. I'm still confident of a fast one just have to get to the line healthy. Easier said than done.

Thankfully the weather looks like it will be perfect, sunny 7 to 13 degrees! Don't think I've ran a flat course major marathon when it wasn't raining, so really looking forward to it. I'll do one more video blog post before the day. Talk to you then.

Hangout Episode # 9

OSAKA MARATHON WEEK 2

Osaka Riverside 10K report.  36:16 A strong preparation race for the Osaka full marathon. 4th place overall and 1st place in my age group 40 ~ 50. I'm 48.




Below a photo of part of the temple I was talking about in the video

A drink to celebrate 

Cheers!

Osaka Marathon final approach

Down to the short strokes now. Had a bit of a scare mid week my achilles problem flared up again but seems to be OK as I write this. Another worry is a strange strained feelings around the knees, this is mainly a concern as I've never had this before.

Still 90% these both will be remedied by race day and all other systems are go! I'll upload our episode 7 now. It outlines my race from last week. Was anyone you know effected by the cancellation of the New York City Marathon? I know the feeling of having a race you've trained for pulled at the last minute. Still as we are all so fond of saying "There's always another race"! Sometimes we have to face this reality.

Have a great week.

Osaka marathon week 3 report

Half marathon report Wakaura Bay Marathon with Jazz

OK some details from todays race. Time 1:20:03  Not bad considering, see video IMG 0610, feel ready to PB in Osaka in 3 weeks.  Thanks as always for your support, mails, tweets etc.

Osaka Marathon training update 4wks

Just a brief video blog update. Tomorrow test my fitness with a half marathon race 2012 Wakaura Bay Marathon, Wakayama Prefecture Japan.

Running In Japan Episode 6

New episode of "Running in Japan" I'll put up a more personal post shortly but just to let you know everything is on track for the Osaka Marathon and I remain injury free!

Running In Japan Episode 5

Lastest episode of Running in Japan with J R a beginner runner and fellow ex-pat.

Osaka marathon training WK 6

Don't Run Sick!

I think the combination of the half mara on Saturday and the 3000m track race on Monday with the 100 mile week enabled the sinus infection to take hold. I've pretty much had sinus problems since my early 20s but the last 5 years they seem to be recurring with a greater frequency. Two a year on average now.

If there are any runners who also suffer with sinus please let me know as I'm still not sure what brings it on and how, if possible, to stop them from happening. This latest one was no fun at all, I had a phlegm blockage that had my nose looking like Arnies' in that scene from "Total Recall" when he was trying to pull that tracking device out of his nostril (see below)!

Anyway, back to the training this afternoon.

Running in Japan Episode 4

Starting to smooth this out. A work in progress as Kevin said but it's got potential. I'd like to bring in a bit more humor but hopefully that will just come natural as I relax a bit more and the two of us build some rapport.

Any advice on what we can discuss and or anything you think might help would be appreciated.

Bye for now.

Think I'm coming down with something, cancelled my second session tonight.

3000 meter track race

Did my first 3000 meter track race today as part of the events associated with the "Sakai City Olympics." Actually I've never raced on the track and think this is due to a couple of reasons. Firstly haven't had the opportunity but mostly it's cause the shorter distances freak me out, and hurt.

While I don't really bat an eyelid running a fast 3K on the road, 3000 meters on the track does my head in for some strange reason. Anyway I think I should try to do much more track racing. I could be wrong but I think our friend in Ireland "Beer Matt" from "Marathon Exploits" once blogged that it was only after starting to run regularly on the track that his distance times started to come down significantly.

I guess if I do the same the fear factor will diminish and my times will start to come down too. Got any thoughts on racing track? And my first attempt at 10:25:51 ? I was disappointed with it and thought I could have gone a lot faster today, but simply couldn't. Anyway what doesn't kill you as they say.....Blah blah blah.

(Above photo: My mate Tiho from Bulgaria came to watch me run today.)

Half Mara Race Report

Did the half marathon with the Kansai Ladies Marathon club today.  Pretty good run for this time of year, was 28 degrees when we finished. At this stage of my build up I simply needed to get the body used to marathon race pace which I pretty much did.

My time 1:21:58 is over what I will be wanting to run in the Osaka marathon in 8 weeks but feel that by that time, with the extra training and atmosphere of Osaka and the cooler temperatures, I shouldn't have too many problems running a little faster.

I think today I would have run faster but I was running on my own the whole way. The fast leaders took off and the few that were with me dropped back in the first few Ks. I wasn't looking at my watch and couldn't rely on the group to help me move along. This will not be a problem in Osaka. I expect to latch on to a speedy group and hang with them!

On Monday, day after tomorrow, I'll race a 3000m on the track and as Ewen said I'll have to be careful not to pull a hamstring trying to out kick some younger dude, but if I can put in a decent time it will be another positive for Osaka.

Hope you're well. On my way out now to get a massage and then for a nap! Life is good!!

Week 8 Osaka Marathon training update

Another video post. Things happily on track. I hope you are well.

Video "Hangout"

Up loading a google "Video Hangout" I did with Kevin O'Shea yesterday. Kevin is a local runner, active on twitter and has a pretty successful youtube channel that focuses on all things "Japanese."

This is a kind of interview made mainly for the benefits of beginners or those wanting to take their running up a notch or two. If it gets some good response on Kevin's channel we will keep making them.

Week 12 Osaka Marathon Build Up.

Hope you are well, here's my update.

Summer Update

No real running as I've been away on holiday for the last couple of weeks but now ready for the serious work of training for the Osaka marathon.

Medicine Ball Routine

(Excuse the hissing, it's my Macbook Pros' fault. I'll take the blame for anything else)

I got this routine from a download I bought by "Jay Johnson" it's called "Building a Better Runner. Building From the Ground Up." Plenty in it for doing just that, I reckon.

I'm going to do another two weeks of steady running and then start in earnest at week 14 with the more serious training. I will keep you up dated and try to put a few numbers/details in it (although not my strong suit) so as it may be of help to you.

I hope you are all enjoying the Olympics as I am.

Later

Scott

Update, of sorts.

Sorry for not posting last week, excuses below.

Week 4

Sun LRP 25K

Mon RR 15K

Tues 10Kam 8Kpm LRP

Wed OFF

Thurs 10Kam 12K on TM pm

Friday 16K LRP

Sat 7K RR

WEEK TOTAL 103K

Week 3

Sun LRP 23K Mon LRP 12K Tue 8K am & 10K pm LRP Wed 20K LRP Thu 11K on TM plus gym wkout Fri Off Sat RRP 20K WEEK TOTAL 104K

Osaka Marathon Training W2

Sun LRP 21K Mon LRP 12K Tue TM 10K Did @ gym Wed RR 21K Thu 12K with 4K @ MP Fri 12K with 6x30sec hills Sat RRP 15K WEEK TOTAL 103K

(Macbook was hissing while making this video, sorry about that)

Anyway some notes:

On to my 3rd week without any alcohol, feel no more withdrawals. Left Achilles still hurting but getting better with massage before & after running.

UPDATE

Why You'll Never be a Great Runner!

Inspired by a TED talk I saw this morning see link below. I talk about why we will never be the runners we are capable of being and why it's important that we are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKHTawgyKWQ

Long overdue update

Strange!

Just happen to search youtube for something on Kyoto marathon and found one clip taken and uploaded by someone I don't know. The bizarre thing is they caught me and my family on it! Out of all the time (7 hours) of runners coming into the goal they got us in the one minute clip.

You can see me hunched and crawling in from 20~25 seconds. You can see my family from 37 seconds to 54 second, first boy in blue jacket and green hat, next woman in brown coat and younger boy in orange jacket with blue hat and ear muffs. You can even hear them talking! Too bloody weird!!

Video Race Report

Kyoto Marathon Photos

Just received some photos from my mate and work colleague Frank. He was at several places along the course. You'd agree they are great photos and give a good overall sense of the race.

In the 6th photo I'm like 9 people back the few following are of me at about the 10K mark.

You can see the ones with me at 32K showing a marked deterioration in form!

Breakthrough another day!

The last 100 meters, man was I hurting! In fact the last 3K was the longest I've ever experienced.




Had a bit of a horror today! Still trying to understand the main problem. Chief amongst the problems, cramps and hills!

Actually fully expected to get sub 2:40 but never really got going today. I'll post a video blog tomorrow after a little more thought. Thanks for your continued support.

A humbled, and broken Scott.

2:52 something.

Photo with family after the race today. And a couple from Japan Running News. Kyoto is a beautiful city!







Just thought I'd add a comment I read by Nathan Pennington on Arata Fujiwara about the ups and downs of marathon racing.

"Arata Fujiwara, a 1:04 half-marathoner and former '2:38' marathoner from Japan ran 2:08 at the 2008 Tokyo Marathon, a major breakthrough and that is JUST ONE of many examples of MANY men and women who made huge improvements because they believed in what they were doing when others just talked!. The japanese dont quit and I may not be the fastest but atleast I can share in that characteristic, MANY men have run 2:19, in fact it is not that fast at all, but a 2:38 marathoner going to 2:08 shows a great amount of tenacity and hard work."

And look what he did this year at Tokyo!

I will use this experience and continue to have patience!

3 Weeks out!

Update (see video) and as for my shaking house, stopped and hasn't started since so I hope that's the last of it. Still have no idea why!

What the Hell!?

My house has been shaking like this since yesterday? Very freaky stuff? Watch video and tell me what you think!

Good News

This morning I received a package in the post and on opening it I was surprised to find a trophy for 6th place in my age group in the Takatsuki marathon! You remember the one where they stopped us so close to home. I didn't end up contacting them as I found in the small print where they said they may have to stop because of traffic concerns, so I just accepted it.

But it seemed someone knew what happened. It was either an official or the guy that passed me to get 6th that helped with this but I shouldn't have doubted that things would be put right. It is not for no reason that the Japanese are known for being honest and honorable. I was very happy about this.

5 weeks to go!

Not really related to running but this clip is amazing to watch (Thanks Mary). A year in the life of Japan and its earthquakes. To know just how much seismic activity there is here and still be able to sleep at night says a lot about us here. Good and bad! Note March 11th 2011! Coincidently the Kyoto marathon will be held on the 1st anniversary of this tragic event.





The next 5 weeks I have this basic plan. Firstly to get down to 60kgs or slightly less (63kgs now).

To get faster. I feel I have some speed but will start on some intervals and a lot of smooth fast pace striding over the next 4 weeks to improve on that.

I need to build my endurance: Yesterday I did a hilly 32Ks at about 4:30 per K pace and feel beat up today. So maybe I should slow down on these runs. My marathon plan has me tapering on the long runs from the week after next but I haven't been getting in many long runs because of so many races on Sundays recently. So I'm not going to taper that hard. I want to get in at least 3 more over 30K long runs in before the marathon as I need them for confidence and to help get the weight off.

As the Kyoto marathon is hilly I can't go into it carrying any extra weight. I know that if I'm light and race fit I'll be able to handle the hills. It is really up and down until about 25K and if I can get to there on pace it's overall down from there and I'll definitely be looking at a PB!

So if I can stay healthy, fix my lingering groin problems, and get to the line light and with a big enough endurance base and I can jag a good weather day in March, I might be looking at hitting the 2:30s!

A lot of bloody "ifs" I know but this is the game!



Running with Album: Odyssey Number Five (above) these days. Easy to run to!

Osaka Half Marathon

Me and Mr. Boatman post race.

I'm really an idiot sometimes.

Woman's race was great to watch live!


Well happy to have finally got a PB! It's been a while. With lack of fitness and injury I haven't PBed in like 2 years! Although I was running OK I was stuck on a bit of a plateau. But being able to run well yesterday still slightly injured and with a heavy cold has given me hope for the future and the races ahead.

At the end of yesterday's race I got talking with a Mr. Ogawa. I started talking to him because he looked my age and had already half dressed, ready to leave. He turned out to be 46 a year younger than me and if I ever thought this was the end of my PBs he has definitely changed my mind! His finish time 1:12:00 and a bit, mine 1:18:03! By the way this guy is ranked number 2 in Japan for his age group in the marathon at 2:30:00 something!

I got a way to got but happily heading in the right direction!

Takatsuki Half or when a PB is not a PB

Sakai New Year's 10K