Consistency the key to being consistent.

Personal Worst

Sorry I forgot to mention the time. It was about 1:32...something. Now let's not speak of this again. ;) Thanks too to Rick for the offer of form analysis. While I don't think that is my problem I just might take him up on it if I keep getting these recurring injuries.

Osaka Half Marathon

First race of 2014

Had a race today but it ended up more of a good workout than a race. I wasn't able to do what I wanted in terms of time. I got 37.53 and was looking for something in the 35s. Glute minimus/mediu pain and/or tight hamstrings prevented a better time but it's not the end of the world I have basically just got back after the Kobe marathon. December's been a month of fits and starts.

I should be able to run a better race in the Osaka Half Marathon at the end of this month. I've got to keep remembering that my goal race, The Nagano Marathon in April, is the one I'm aiming to do better in and to treat the other "races" more like training runs or at least not get too upset when I run them as such. As you all know, when racing we forget important things like that and always want to do better than we are capable of. Remember too that you have no idea about what your competitors have been doing in training, whether they are peaking or just calling it in for the day, so don't be so proud when beating someone and don't be upset when someone you think you could beat beats you.

Everyone's been past by an unfit looking old dude with really bad running form or past someone young and fit looking that seemed to not touch the ground. The best we can do is try to understand why our race was a good one or not. And as for mine...

I Just checked my splits for that 10K and they tell a sorry story 3:34, 3:36, 3:39, 3:43, 3:44, 3:47, 3:53, 3:51, 3:55, 3:55. To be honest I didn't think I was going that slow at the end, that is a sure sign that you're not racing fit. Those last five 1K splits are around my slow marathon pace! So it seems like I also lack racing fitness on top of everything else. 

I can't over eat and drink during the new year/ Xmas period and expect to get away with it anymore. I can go faster, much faster but I have to remember my age, remember I don't bounce back so well after bingeing. I've also got to simply put in the time on my feet or suffer slower times in racing.

All the best for your training and running this year!

Below are a couple of photos and videos from today.

Note the young lad next to Vince, 2103, is one of my students at University. He did 34.03, shy of his PB by a minute. Good runners everywhere here!

Shoes

Mark these are the shoes I do most of my training in. And all of my marathons.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Cherish The Day

Couple of songs that mark me as a man of the 80s. Still haven't changed all that much. Anyway, things are good, slowly getting back into running with a few slow 30 min jogs each day. Today I picked up the pace a bit, it felt good burning through the bright red, and yellow fall leaves that have collected on the paths of my local runs.

Enjoy a bit of reminiscing with me. Talk soon.

Cherish The Day ~ Sweep The Leg (song dedicated to the Karate Kid 1985).

A Good Day.

While I didn't get a PB, actually four minutes shy, I did have a good day. Nice weather, couldn't buy a cloud in the morning and wind was only blowing against us for about 8 out of 42K. The thing that made me happy was that I finished and regained my confidence for the marathon that had taken a battering the previous 3 attempts.

I now know that with continued training with "Tinman" and a can do attitude, anything is possible!! Well a least it has given me the confidence to know 2:30..... something is indeed possible.

More later.

A few snaps from the day.

Fall  in Japan is the bomb!

Kobe Marathon 2013 Garmin Splits.

1	3:43.3	1.00	3:43
2	3:51.1	1.00	3:51
3	3:44.1	1.00	3:44
4	3:45.5	1.00	3:45
5	3:46.9	1.00	3:47
6	3:54.0	1.00	3:54
7	3:45.2	1.00	3:45
8	3:49.3	1.00	3:49
9	3:49.6	1.00	3:50
10	3:53.5	1.00	3:54
11	3:52.4	1.00	3:52
12	3:54.4	1.00	3:54
13	3:56.9	1.00	3:57
14	3:52.4	1.00	3:52
15	3:55.1	1.00	3:55
16	3:54.2	1.00	3:54
17	3:57.9	1.00	3:58
18	3:48.2	1.00	3:48
19	3:55.3	1.00	3:55
20	3:56.1	1.00	3:56
21	3:55.0	1.00	3:55
22	4:00.5	1.00	4:00
23	4:00.3	1.00	4:00
24	3:54.6	1.00	3:55
25	3:56.8	1.00	3:57
26	3:53.5	1.00	3:53
27	4:00.6	1.00	4:01
28	4:02.9	1.00	4:03
29	3:59.5	1.00	3:59
30	3:59.8	1.00	4:00
31	4:05.2	1.00	4:05
32	4:06.6	1.00	4:07
33	4:08.1	1.00	4:08
34	4:02.9	1.00	4:03
35	3:59.9	1.00	4:00
36	4:18.2	1.00	4:18
37	4:18.7	1.00	4:19
38	4:18.2	1.00	4:18
39	4:01.4	1.00	4:01
40	4:19.5	1.00	4:19
41	4:15.8	1.00	4:16
42	4:19.3	1.00	4:19

Kobe Marathon (Update)

It's been a while. Sorry for not updating for so long but I had my reasons. Happy to say things are somewhat sorted and I can say with some confidence that I'm back and on the way to running at my best. Please let me know how you are. I look forward to hearing form you.

Like Starting Over

You can always contact me here, I'll still be on Google Plus and if you want my email let me know and I'll send it to you. Thanks.

Post from Hokkaido.

Finisher!

Actually never got going today. Held back on purpose the first 15K and then tried to pick it up the but all that did was aggravate my right ankle and lower leg problem, the one that's been plaguing me for 6 months, and by the 25th K it was numb in pain and I was done.

Still after walking 3 times for about 5 mins each time I was able to finish. Really nothing to say I could get depressed and throw in the towel or throw the blame on my body and work to fix it. That's what I'll do. Actually think if I didn't run this my leg was on the mend but still obviously too soon to race that distance on it.

Anyway glad not to have DNFed and I'm on to the next one after giving the puppies a rest. Really beat that leg up today.

Oh and the time. A PW, I haven't run that slow since December 2007. 3:17:34


Before the start it was cloudy, sunny for the start and until about 35K and then a rain storm to the end.
Pretty hot overall but I could have handled the heat if foot held up.

The medal is a beauty modeled on the sculpture in the Sapporo Station. See me below.

Less than one week to go.

Two weeks to go!