Japan Masters Athletics 3000m Race, Osaka

It has been a while since I last did a race. Over 2 months in fact. Training has been going well. For a long time I have not been improving. Though for the last month or so, I have started to slightly improve my repetition times and to be able to do sessions that I have not been able to do for many years. No major progress, but it is encouraging. So I was looking forward to running a 3000m track race at a Japan Masters Athletics meet in Nagai Park, Osaka, held yesterday on the last day of the Golden Week national holiday.

10 days previously, I had jogged up to the hard packed sand track in Sonobe, the town where I live, and ran 2400m, or 6 laps, as hard as I could, as a little workout to round off the week and a test of my current fitness level. I was surprised to finish it in 7:46, which is less than 80 seconds per 400m pace. I had ran the same distance on the same track 4 weeks previously in 8:18, so this was a decent improvement. I began to think, if I could run a race on a proper track after a few days easy running to freshen up, a new personal best could be a realistic possibility.

I arrived early at Nagai Park yesterday, partly to avoid the renowned Golden Week traffic nightmare, but also because I did not know what time my race was. I had to wait 7 hours for my race! I took it easy, lying down for most of that time in a shaded area with other runners trying to reduce our time spent out in the strong sun. I felt relaxed. I reflected on the fact that I had been to Nagai Park once before in November last year, to do a 10KM road race, coming second in the second fastest time I had ran that distance. Everything was pointing towards a good race for me.

31 men lined up for the 3000m men`s race at 3:30pm. Race Officials put out a table on the side of the track to hand out cups of water during the race, so it was hot! The start was fast, but though I tried to hold back on my initial pace, I found myself in third place after 200 metres, and I moved up easily into 2^nd place by 400m. The man in 1^st place was well ahead by that point. I remember going through 600 metres in about 1:51. I thought, I am on course for a personal best if I can hold the pace at about 76 seconds per 400m.

After I had ran 1500m, the man in third place overtook me on the straight section. I must have been slowing, but as I was out by myself I was not too concerned and tried to tuck in behind him and use him to drag me along at a good pace. Then, as I approached the lap counting sign, showing 3 laps to go with 1800 metres already ran, 3 race officials leapt out in front of me onto the track trying to flag me down. What was this? I realized I was being forced to withdraw from the race.

There was a problem with the race number that I was wearing on my vest. Due to a mistake or miscommunication issue not of my making, I was not given the correct race number to wear. I and the starter race officials both had only realized this as I lined up on the start line of the race. I waited anxiously as 3 officials (not the same 3 who forced me out of the race) talked amongst themselves about what to do. My name was on the official race entry list as I had entered weeks before. I had paid my race fee, of about 15 British Pounds Sterling! At the last moment, they said I could run the race but had to tuck my vest in! I was taken by complete surprise when the other officials leapt in front of me during the race, as I have never been forced out of a race before, but I quickly realized it was about my race number.

I packed up quickly and went home. What a massive disappointment, waste of time and money, and an embarrassment. I had been planning a summer campaign of track races. There are few to no decent road races during the summer months ahead, whereas the Japan Masters Athletics Association organize regular track competitions throughout the year. I know that the problem that led to me being given the incorrect race number is very likely to reoccur, so for the time being I will not do any more Japan Masters Athletics Association races. This means there will be very few chances for me to race until the Autumn when, due to the cooling temperatures, the number of road races picks up. 

Kansai Masters Ekiden Championships

The 2015 Kansai Masters Ekiden Championship was held in Wakayama Prefecture last weekend. There were several relay races, for different age groups and genders, plus an open relay. Kyoto Prefecture were the reigning champions and had to hand back the winner’s trophy during the opening ceremony. I’d been called up to join the Kyoto team and hoped that we could win it back!

Kyoto Masters Team

The first race was an over 35 years of age men’s relay. I’m only a few months shy of my 35^th birthday so had to sit this one out. I watched the first leg runners get off to a breezy start on the track with the lead runner clocking 72 secs for the first 400m and 3:01 for 1000m.

The first Ekiden race gets underway

The only race I was eligible to run in was the open race. The first section was 3.1km, followed by three 2.4km sections. On the Kyoto team bus to Wakayama in the morning of the race, I was informed by the team manager that he wanted me to run section one AND section four, as he wanted to pull out due to an injury he’d picked up the week before whilst acting as an official pacer for the Kyoto Marathon. I can’t say that I was thrilled by the prospect of running twice, as I didn’t want to overdo it and get injured, but concealed my misgivings.

Ganbare (do you best) Kyoto!

At 1:10pm I lined up with the other open section runners for what was to be the second race of the day. After only 50m I realized that the pace wasn’t going to be fast so I took the lead. The first 700m was on the track before the course left the stadium and wound its way through a car park, onto a short section of cycle path, down a side street, with the last 300m back on the track. As I ran through the car park I knew I had a healthy lead as I couldn’t hear any other runners steps, but I didn’t want to relax too much at this stage as I wanted to give the other two runners in my team a good lead, as after all, I was going to have to run again for the last section and wanted to have as easy a run as possible the second time around.

Changeover at the end of the first leg

It was a warm day, though with a gusty wind, as the stadium was very close to the coast. Near the end of the first section I eased off the pace a little, wanting to save something for my second run. On the last bend of the track I lifted the team tasuki (sash) over my shoulders and then held it out for the next runner in my team at the changeover point, where a crowd was gathered. After handing it over, I looked around and could see that our team had about 250m lead over the second team.  My time was 10:13, which was a decent enough pace, being about 3:18 per km.

Results from the first leg of the open race

I took it easy whilst the second leg runner was out, but was a little surprised to see her return in second place, about 80 metres down on the lead runner. Once our third team runner was out, I started doing a few easy striders to get ready for my next outing, having changed vests to show my fourth leg number. I got a lot of amused comments from other runners when they realised that I was going out again! As our third section runner entered the stadium I jogged over to the changeover line, and could see that he had also lost one place, leaving me to pick up the tasuki (sash) in third place. Any thoughts of taking this second run easy were displaced when I sensed that victory was possibly if I worked hard. After about 300m I caught the second placed runner as we entered the car park. The lead runner had a much bigger lead, and I didn’t catch up with her until half-way around the course on the cycle path. It was nice to win the race and break the finishing tape to gain valuable points for our team. My time was 8:11 for the 2.4km, so a slightly slower pace than for the first section.

Results from the last leg of the open race

Sadly, Kyoto came last out of the six Kansai prefectures this year. Osaka won overall on points. On the bus back to Kyoto I asked the team manager why we’d done so badly, and he explained that he couldn’t get a full team together to enter into the women’s race, so we’d missed out on loads of points – scoring zero in that event. He also said that he wanted me to run in the over 35 men’s race next year. I will, but only for one leg next time!

Kyoto Ekiden 2015

Before I came out to Japan, I’d read about the unique style of relay races in Japan and hoped that one day I could experience it for myself. The Kyoto Prefecture Ekiden is held annually in Sandanike Park in Fukuchiyama. Each town and city in the prefecture can enter a team. This year there were 22 teams. I was selected to run with the Kyotamba team, my connection to the town being that I teach at the town’s senior high school.

An Ekiden has several unique features. The most obvious is the role of the Tasuki (sash). Each team has one sash which the runners must wear or carry and pass on to the next runner. Another is the nature of the course. When I did the National Road Relay Championships 12-stage in England, each ‘leg’ or section starts and finishes at the same place. However, the Kyoto Ekiden had a 38KM length course, with each of the 8 sections set out at a different point along the route. For the Kyoto Ekiden, each team had to be comprised of at least one male and one female junior high school student, one male and one female senior high school student, one adult female and one adult male – with a free choice given for the remaining two runners! I got given section 3 to run, which at 7.1KM, was also the longest.

On the bus to the start of my leg with the other section 3 runners, I got talking to a university student from the Kameoka team who told me that his personal best for 5000M was 14:20 and that he went out to Iten in Kenya last summer to train. I started to feel out of my depth and hoped that my team would not be too disappointed with my time.

The race started at 11am and the first two sections were each 3KM long. The first section was to be ran by female adult runners and the second by female senior high school student runners. I saw the first runner from section 2 round the bend in the road and come into view at 11:19 and head towards the changeover point where I was stood. I watched keenly so I could observe how to receive and also how to hand over the Tasuki. Kyotamba were in 14^th place by this point. The section 2 girl in my team held the Tasuki out to me and I grabbed it and turned in one quick motion and started out down the road in my first Ekiden!

Knees up: rest and ice did the trick

The runners ahead of me were well clear by this point. I had jogged the race route the day before so I knew what to expect - an undulating course through some small rural villages. It was a bit windy and cold but with clear skies. Some spectators lined parts of the race route and I could hear them say, “Kyotamba” as I ran along as it was emblazoned across my vest in Kanji. Sadly I lost three places. I’d missed 3 weeks of training in January as I tripped and fell and landed on my right knee on a concrete floor causing a lot of pain. I was just happy to recover enough to do this race, though I certainly tried to run my best.

Section 3 results

As I approached the changeover point, I took the Tasuki off and held it taut between my right and left hands, with arms outstretched shoulder width apart, as I’d seen the other runners do earlier. The junior high school boy section 4 runner in my team grabbed it and sped off only a few seconds behind the 16^th placed runner. My time was 25 minutes 23 secs, the 17^th fastest or 6^th slowest of the section depending on which way you look at it! The lad I’d spoken to earlier from the Kameoka team ran a stunning 20:56, which was inside the section record, but a runner from Kyoto City had topped that with 20:54.

Kameoka`s section 8 runner taking the victory

After a quick warm down the section 3 runners were bussed back to the start/finish point of the Ekiden. At 1pm the section 8 runners started coming in. Kameoka were the winning team this year! Kyotamba finished 18^th. The standard of running was high and I feel privileged to have taken part in this Ekiden to represent Kyotamba. It has certainly inspired me to try and improve my running times and I hope to run this race again next year.

 

Kyotamba finishing in 18th place

Relays

Back in September 2014, I'd planned my winter training around the goal of running a half-marathon PB in Osaka on Sunday 25th January. I'd read that it was a flat course with a strong field. As there is no cross-country season here, I was struggling to find something to work towards over the winter so this seemed to fit the bill. However, I've had reason to reconsider this plan.

Firstly, though communication with my UK based coach is sporadic, it's clear he doesn't want me to run a half-marathon yet. I've struggled to make any progress as I've been beset with repeated injuries. Best get that dealt with first, build a solid base of consistent training and get my times down for shorter distances before I have a crack at a half-marathon. This is currently the longest injury free spell that I've had for a very long time, so I haven't even began to fully benefit from this yet. If I can keep this up, the speed and PBs should follow.

Also, I've had two offers come along. On February 8th I've been invited to run in the Kyoto Ekiden. An Ekiden is a relay race, though with a unique Japanese twist. I'll be representing Kyotamba, a rural town that I teach in twice a week, in this intra-Kyoto Prefectural competition. I'd read about Ekiden relay races before I came out to Japan and hoped to get the chance to run in one.  So getting an invite to this is great. I'll be running a 7K leg.

This week I also received an invite to run in another relay event. This is the Kinki Masters Relay Road Race Competition, to be held in Wakayama Prefecture on February 22nd. The distance is 3K for each leg. I'll be representing Kyoto Prefecture in this inter-Kansai region (Kinki) prefectural event. I've never been to Wakayama-ken before, so this will be a great way to get my first visit in.  The invite comes after I came to the attention of the Kyoto Masters Athletic authorities by winning the Kyoto Masters 10K just a few days before Christmas last year. It will be a great honour to represent Kyoto-fu.

So, from having an empty period with little to aim for, my schedule has got some quality racing action in it, with both relays being held over short distances, which my coach would favour. In that light I think that it's best that I change the plan. Focus on these relay races instead. After the relays, look for  some fast 5K and 10K races in the spring and ideally some track races. 

2015 is off to a promising start.

End of 2014

I haven’t updated this blog for a couple of weeks as my computer was broken. In that time I have ran in two races.

On 23^rd November I did a 10K in Nagai Park, Osaka. It was two and a half laps of a pedestrianized road inside the park. The 10K start line was 400 metres behind the half-marathon field, with both races starting at the same time. So it was bit tricky getting past the half-marathon runners, with a lot of weaving about being necessary. The day was unseasonably warm and there were huge crowds milling about relaxing in the park as well. I ran at the front of the 10K field from the start, though was quickly joined by one other runner. We stayed together throughout the race. I made a bid for glory at the end of the second lap, but the other runner caught me and put in a nice sprint finish to take the race in 35 minutes 6 seconds. I finished second in 35 minutes 19 seconds, which is also the second fastest time I’ve ever ran a 10K, though its well outside my PB.

On 14^th December I ran my last race of 2014, and my first Japan Masters Athletics race. There were two races, a 5K and 10k, with both fields starting together, in Kyoto City along a hard packed sand path beside the Kamogawa River. Soon after the race started there were three runners in the lead pack, including myself, though I didn’t know whether the other two runners were in the 10K or 5K. I tried to hang on to them but after we turned around a cone at 2.5K to head back to the start line, they opened up a gap on me. As I approached the 5K mark and start/finish line, I could see the other two runners cross the line and stop: so they were racing the 5K! I turned around and headed back the way I had just came, knowing now that I had a clear lead in the 10K. It was a narrow path at points and plenty of dog walkers, cyclists and joggers about, and with three turns in the race, it wasn’t a particularly fast race. I crossed the finish line in 36 minutes 5 seconds. A journalist from the Kyoto Shimbun newspaper interviewed me after the race and it was published in the paper the following weekend.

That’s it for 2014. I had hoped that I could make a breakthrough and get a PB this year, but I didn’t. The closest I came was running 16 minutes 40 seconds for 50000M in Osaka in May, which is a joint PB. However, I had three lengthy injury spells this year, each with back pain, that prevented me from getting more than several weeks of consistent training in before having to take a few weeks off.  I’ve thought several times about quitting competitive running as I don’t seem to be able to make any progress from the plateau that I’ve reached, but each time have quickly dismissed the idea. If I can remain injury free for several months and train consistently, then I remain optimistic that in those circumstances I could set new personal best figures. Maybe next year!

Kyoto Tamba 5K Road Race

Having done this race last year, my first in Japan, I had been looking forward to repeating the race. Last year I finished fourth overall and first veteran man aged 30-49 in a time of 17 minutes 22 seconds. For this year’s race I set my eyes on a top three finishing spot and beating last years' time, preferably with a sub-17 minutes run.

This year, the only change from the previous year was that the race was on a Monday and not Sunday, it being a national holiday. My plan was simple. Knowing that once the starting gun was fired, there would be a sprint start from most of the field along the race course, which for the first 200 metres was uphill, before the pace settled, I would wait until the course turned out of the park where the race started and descended into the nearby town – and then work at catching and then hanging on to the lead group. This is what happened last year. This year though I just couldn’t seem to get my legs going. It was half way down the steady descent into the town that I realised that there was no way that I was going to catch the lead group.

I just tried to dig in and graft away and not give up hope that I could at least have a solid run. After 1 mile there was a steep 200 metre climb which didn’t seem too difficult, though a young whippersnapper worked his way past me on the ascent. At the crest of the hill I could see down a long stretch of flattish road which the course was to follow and decided to latch onto the youngster and use him to pace myself down the road. However, after about half a mile his pace began to waiver so I dispensed of his services and slipped past him.

Two runners passed me at 4K. I could hear them working at catching me and had expected to see the youngster once more, but unbeknown to me he had faded well back by that point. The race finished on a track and I tried to at least look strong and determined in front of the assembled crowd. I crossed the line in eighth place overall, and third veteran man aged 30-49, in a time of 17 minutes 18 seconds. So I had achieved one of my goals, though I was disappointed not to have run a better race.

3rd man 30-39 prize: locally produced Tamba wine,
 a bag of rice and certificate

The second placed overall finisher was a fellow British runner, also called Mike, formerly of Darlington Harriers. He recognised the Morpeth Harriers club vest that I had worn during the race and we chatted whilst waiting for the prize giving ceremony. It seems that he’d previously lived in Japan many years ago, had married a Japanese woman, was a veteran 50 years plus runner and returned to Kyoto annually at this time of year on a business trip from his current base in Reading in the UK and made it a tradition to run the Kyoto Tamba Road Race. Small world.

Awaji Island 5KM Road Race

I first read about Awaji Island, the birthplace of Japan, several years ago and so was open to an opportunity to visit. When I saw that there was a road race on the island I booked a place. Training has been going terribly over the last few months, beset with chronic back pain and other distractions. So I saw this race as a nice day out and a bit of fun rather than aiming for a good finishing time.

The course was mostly flat and I felt good throughout. It was a bit of a surprise to run a decent race, finishing 4^th man overall and 3^rd senior man in a time of 16 minutes 49 seconds and securing a place on the Winners Podium. I have finished in the top three of several races but always missed the prize giving ceremony due to not understanding how these events work and the language barrier. I was determined not to miss it this time around. I received a magnificent trophy, three types of Awaji Island produced salad dressing, a certificate and a bag of onions – the agricultural product that the island is best known for!

Other highlights of the day include driving across Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and seeing Izangi Jingu Shrine. Awaji Island is connected to the main island of Japan, Honshu, by Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which at 2 miles in length is the longest suspension bridge in the world. It was a bit of a thrill to drive across it to and from the race venue, which was next to Izanagi Jingu Shrine - the oldest shrine in Japan.

Legend has it that Awaji was the first island of Japan, created by the gods Izanagi and Izanami. They stirred the sea with a heavenly spear, and when they lifted it, a droplet of salt water fell from the spear into the sea which created Awaji Island. The gods then descended to live on the island, going on to create the other islands of Japan before taking human form and living out their days at the site of the shrine that is now dedicated to them. Many runners took the chance to visit it after the race, making a relaxing end to a nice day out on the island.