Round the bay.

Lovely to hear the alarm clock at 4:41am...Still the rain was pouring down-perfect running weather.
Set off OK at 6:03,I knew the oval at Kinkumber would be water logged so planned to run around the far end.Got a bit lost and ran the length of the car park across the grass and down to the small easement-but it was too far to jump and full of water-so had to back track about 400m.
Probably added 2 mins to the run.So I was really pleased to come home in 2:43:04 especially considering the number of flooded paths/grassed areas I had to get through.Had a pain at the lower side of the left foot at Woy Woy and thought I would have to stop but even though I couldn't walk after finishing all seems OK.The shoes were hanging off with all the water but at least the cool conditions were really welcome

Friday/Saturday.

The trip home was a bit af a nightmare even by Jetstars best standards.We eventually left Osaka over 5 hours late and into Friday morning.Not much better at Gold Coast were we missed our connection due to queing for ages and customs etc.Then the next flight was delayed.....
We eventually got back to Sydney-got the train to Central then boarded the "Newcastle express" ...got a few hudred meters out of station then were informed the train was faulty and they would have to return to platform for us to change trains,(this took a long time).
Then we boarded the slow train as the express was full.At Hornsby we were told we were going so slow because the train in front was faulty.(In Japan we travelled over 700km in 2 1/2 hours) We eventually got home with a pizza and some milk from the shop at 9:47PM.I knew the time trial was a no go and slept in till 11AM.
Went for a 41 min jog today,(Fountains road).

Wed/Thursday.

Wednesday was the longest run so far - about 2hr 20min but very slow with a couple of toilet stops.
This morning was a slow 50 min jog before leaving for our trip back to Australia.
Our Jetstar flight was due to leave Japan over 2 hours ago and then 20 mins ago but the latest news is for 12:30 tomorrow morning.If we are lucky we should get home some time tomorrow arvo.

Sunday/Monday/Tuesday.

Basically jogging now Sunday a 40 min jog,Tuesday a 1:36 run at pace-a snake crossed the bicycle path I was on and had to slow to avoid it.Today was a very slow 35 min jog.Been out on a couple of beanos where we`ve been downing heaps of beer,saki and wine-so my plan to concentrate on running once turning 50 going a bit squiffy as I haven`t had a sober night since turning 50......

Thurs/fri/sat no pc access

Finally managed to get to a P.C. but may be a little incomprehensible due to having just drank a bottle of Wolf Blas followed by a couple of beers,(but it is my birthday - and ran as an over 50 for the first time today).Thursday managed to get a 2hr 06 jog in - but was wasted afterwards.Fri a 45 min jog - today a 1hr 30 min run went OK apart from severe toe pains from 1hr - reminding me that every run I`ve done over the past 12 years over an hour has been accompanied by severe pain to the second toe on Right foot.I`m assured that eventually this pain will subside but after 12 years you can understand my scepticism.

Shirahama

Up for 6:30 jog of 58mins very nice along coast.

Nagahama/Shirahama

Managed to get up at 6 and get in a 1hr 7min jog around Nagahama before setting off to hot springs resort a 300km drive on the Peninsula south of Osaka called Shirahama which means White bay-after the white sandy beaches.As Typhoons took a lot of the white sand hundreds of thousands of tons were bought from Australia so when we were on the beach today we were probably still on Australian soil-so to speak.
We had yet another eat as much as you like buffet which was of superb quality and I did OK with lots of sashimi,sushi and miso soup and fruit.Did have a rather large ice cream to end but it was still a pretty healthy feed,(apart from the beer).We`re　having long soaks in the hot springs and tomorrow going to a safari park so I`ll try to get up early and get in a run before the eat as much as you like breakfast......

Nagahama

"Rest day"today before setting off to hot springs resort tomorrow-so tried to get in a longer run.
Couldn`t generate any pace at all but managed to jog for 2hrs 11mins was sunny again and about 20C but felt much hotter.Toe sore from 1:07 so not a fun run and knee too still giving grief.

Sunday Yokohama

After another "all you can eat" in Yokohamas Chinatown and because of a 10am checkout could only manage a 50 min jog around the dock/islands area.It rained just for the day and it was great running around in it and would have loved to have been able to run longer.

Imperial gardens Tokyo

1hr jog around running path in centre of Tokyo.
Felt OK apart from sore toe/knee.Still just jogging to maintain some fitness.

Tokyo

Ran around the Sumida river/Tokyo bay area for about an hour in nice running conditions.

Nagahama/Nagahama-Tokyo.

57 Min jog around Nagahama yesterday before going on an eat as much as you like resort.
Was 4kg heavier then 3 days before....
Jogged for 1:22 this morning before catching the bullet train to Tokyo...

Round the Bay/Travel to Japan/Nagahama.

Was pleased to run Round the Bay in 2:41:42 on Sunday.Had to work hard but great to record second best training time.
The whole of Monday was spent travelling to Japan.
This morning found it hard to get going and only managed a 10:45 start to this 53 min slow jog.
With very warm weather and quite high humidity here difficult to run at any speed.Went on a familiar route around Nagahama the smells of late Spring/early Summer flowering plants a noticeable contrast to the Autumn just left.

Avoca steps.

Took about an hour this morning but alas as I was reminded - I should have included The Skillion.Still felt pretty good moving some way through after the dreaded steps.Was especially pleased to run up the Tramway far better then previously.

Rest

Rest today after a long day at work....

Dog Trap loop.

Set off well and a combination of tiredness on the hills and sore toe and knee to Right foot slowed me slightly but still a very pleasing 1:09:12 on this tough course.

Knob the builder/6@6

Tuedays speedwork was just about to begin when a phone call from work ended it.
No outside lights had come on due to a builder accidentally turning a circuit breaker off whilst using the electrical switchroom as a store room,(allegedly).
Tonights 6@6 went somewhat smoother with a pleasing 22:22 and another pb in pretty good running conditions.

Fountains road.

Slow jog in 47:27.
Feeling a little tired as usual on Mondays and knee sore but generally OK.

Kincumber mountain & Round the Bay.

Saturdays Trotters run saw me initially left dawdling/chatting and then playing catch-up,which was difficult once we started the off road climbs,(and scary as the first off road running since 6').
Descended well and managed to run in pretty well-in about 1hr8mins.
Felt I'd ran a bit too hard to run well today at Round the Bay so set off pretty easy.Picked up the pace as much as I could and finished in 2:50:04.I was hoping to run a little faster but as I've no races planned soon was quite happy to have a good weekends training done.

Fountains Road

Slow jog in 50:28.
Knee sorer then usual when jogging slowly and toes also sore later in run-but needed a rest/run.