sebscorner

.. is finally subsiding.  Finally I can walk normal again.

That’s what running  42.something km does to you.

The backstory: for 3 years I’ve been unsuccessfully trying to run Tokyo Marathon now. (It’s incredibly popular so who may or not run is decided by lottery ) So out of luck, I choose another, second-class marathon happening in the idyllic, little town of  Tateyama all the way down from Chiba.
I do quite a bit of training usually – just to counter balance all the desk sitting and mouse clicking I do all day. But for the occasion I put in extra effort (4< times a week)  and I didn’t touch my wine bottle either. Now that was a challenge. Running almost every day quickly resulted in notorious knee pain  (note to self: 3 year old worn out cushion trainers are not ideal for this) so I got some new shiny Asics ones.  They actually scanned my feet at the store – I really should have brought a USB stick…!  With the big day coming closer I still didn’t run no more than 25k, oh dear.. But I just can’t get motivated on those treadmills – once in a while  there’s  a view worth per suing but without hope of catching up what’s the point?

So ill prepared we took the train from Tokyo for a long but lovely ride along the coast. Tateyama is a nice little town where you can buy funny souvenirs and eat whales (Kujira = Whale). I’m sure they only serve those unlucky ones that were fished “by accident” or washed up the shore..  The next morning 10 am, armed with 2 snickers and a spray of anti-pain spray I start running! Beautiful day, lovely view on the sea, not too hot, not too cold (thanks to those running tights I bought just before!) Lot’s of grand mothers (jap: obaachan) , fathers and children cheering in the street. And the best thing: every 5k a checkpoint with Bananas, Cake, Candy, Salt and Water! What’s more to wish for!
Everything went surprisingly well for the first 30k. After that, more than 5 km over my longest training distance my legs finally got heavier and heavier.  Eating so much at the checkpoints was a bad idea – foolish me, gobbling down those cakes!  Those tasty and free cakes.
Then finally, the last 5km were really very dire – leg pain, stomach pain, everything pain.. I overtook a Japanese guy running with a can of beer in his hand. Mmh. beer.

But with the end  in sight and the help of some more candy, more walking than running I managed to cross the finishing line! 4.03 hours! Not quite below 4 but close! Anyway – it’s done, I made it! Marathon – check!
After foot onsen (hot spring) and sweet, fresh sake it’s finally off home. Yakitori for dinner. Walk home like a drunk zombie. Sleep.

and there I finished another post – Fanfares! More sooner or later.