I
have joined the Tokyo based Namban Rengo International Running Club. I have
really missed being in a running club. Namban Rengo’s main training night is
Wednesday. They currently meet in Yoyogi Park at 7:30pm for an immediate start,
warm-up not included. Since I moved to Tokyo in October, I have not been able
to go along as I usually work until about 8pm on weekdays. However, December
23rd is a National Holiday in Japan, thanks to the Emperor’s birthday falling
on that day. I could finally get a chance to try out the club!
About
10 runners showed up, down from the usual attendance of 50+ so I was told, due
to the holiday. The session was 5x1000m around a loop inside Yoyogi Park, with
about 2 minutes interval between repetitions. Then the following week, on
Wednesday 30th, I could go to the club meet again as my office was closed for
the week. I won’t be able to go along to the main club night again for a few
months. For the last Wednesday club session of each month, there is a 5km time
trial, again inside Yoyogi Park. About 15 runners showed up, and the course was
two 2km loops followed by a 1km smaller loop. I enjoyed setting off and running
in a pack again, but soon had to drop off the leading pace. My finishing time
was a new Personal Worst for the distance. So I went into 2016 knowing that I really have
to up my game.
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| This morning's Saturday hill training group |
Luckily
enough for me, a few of the club members meet every Saturday morning at Akasaka
Palace for a hill repetition session. I went along to that this morning. We did
8 repeats in total. A good session and it certainly got the heart rate up and
legs turning over, and running with others certainly helps you to push yourself
harder than you would do alone. Some club members also organise long Sunday
runs. I will definitely be going back for more training sessions with the club
this year.
