JOGGING DIARY

JOGGING DIARY

July 2000 - September 2000

7)Saturday September 2, 2000Nature destruction (Fine)

Last weekend, I went camping to Okutama district and thus I didn't have a chance to jog.
After an interval of 2 weeks, I ran alongside Ochiai/Kurome rivers as usual and was surprised to find that two big bamboo forests which formed terrific green views had been destroyed!
All I can see now is only digged ground! Big apartments may be built there soon.
Every year, in spring, I could see bamboo shoots coming out from the ground. It was one of my joys during jogging.
It is very regrettable to see nature being destroyed!

6)Thursday August 17, 2000Jogging from Higashi-kurume to JR Oume station (Cloudy)

Consulting the map of Tokyo, I decided to jog to Oume city alongside Shin-oume highroad. Shin-oume highroad is almost straight road from Tanashi city to Oume city. I once saw the sign that the distance from Tanashi city to Oume city is 28 km.
I left my home at 5:10 in the morning. The sky was unexpectedly covered with thick cloud. Thus I was forced to carry an umbrella.
I came across Shin-oume highroad after jogging 4 km. There was a sign that the distance to Oume is 24 km. I continued to jog on the sidewalk of the straight Shin-oume highroad.
Fortunately, it was cloudy and there was no shining sun! But I was dripping with sweat.
Shortly, I passed near Kumegawa station of Seibu Line (Approx. 8 km). Then, the sidewalk suddenly narrowed with 0.5m-wideth concrete plates. It was hard to run. It was also dangerous since the cars passed away very closely with high speed. The narrow sidewalk continued almost 1 km and I got tired of it. I was afraid that the narrow sidewalk might continue to Oume city. Then the sidewalk widened again and I was relieved. Only the part between Higashi-murayama city and Higashi-yamato city was narrow.
I was much impressed that the Shin-oume highroad runs throughly straight. The traffic was heavy and thus I was annoyed by exhaust gas at the initial stage. However, soon I did not care about it. But I think I absorbed a great amount of exhaust gas.
The road was straight and the scenery was simple. Thus I only concentrated to jog. It is surely a good course to run long distance. On the way, I came across a jogger who wore a sack on his back. I chukled to myself to find that the similar runner was there.
By way of Musashi-murayama city and Mizuho-cho, I finally arrived Oume city! Shin-oume highroad was changed to Oume highroad without my knowledge.
I arrived in JR Oume station after running 6 km from the boarder of Hozumi-cho and Oume city. The final uphill road to Oume station was hard to run. It was 8:40 AM when I reached the station.
Working hour was 3 hours 15 minutes. The distance was approx. 32 km.
My T-shirt got wringing wet. I changed the wear in the toilet near the station. Then, I took breakfast at the Mac in front of the station. And I took train for Tachikawa at 9:14 AM.
At Tachikawa station, I bought a bottled milk at Kiosk. It was so delicious since it is very difficult to buy bottled milk lately. It was chilled and the taste was genuine! Whenever I visited Tachikawa terminal, I was interested in bottled milk, however, I did not have a chance to taste. I will surely drink the milk next time!
When I arrived in my home, it was already 10:40 AM. It took much time than I expected.

5)Monday August 14, 2000 (Fine weather)Jogging from my parental home (Okayama city) to State-established provincial temple of Bicchu (Souja city)

I went back to my home country during 'Bon' holidays (in the middle of August when the festival is done for inviting the soul of dead person)
Whenever I come back, I always jog to the State-established provincial temple. The total distance is almost 20 km.
I got up at 5:30 and started to jog at 5:45 AM. It was so busy! It was cool in the morning.
After several hundred meters' jog, I arrive in the bank of Ashimori river where I used to swim when I was a junior highschool student! (No one can imagine scuh a scenery now!)
There are a lot of herons around the river such as Little Egret, Great White Heron, Blue Heron.
I finally arrived in the Kibi cycling road after 4 km jogging.
You can see only rice field around there. The scenery has never changed so far.
Then the indication that the distance to the temple is 3 km appeared.
Finally I arrive in the temple. Shortly before, I met the first jogger today. The distance was almost 10 km. It took almost 1 hour. I was drenched to the skin with sweat.
When I came home, it was 8:10 AM. The cicadas were singing noisy! It might be hot today also! The temperature had been more than 35 centigrade degrees while I stayed in Okayama!

4)Sunday August 6, 2000Jogging to Inokashira Park (Mitaka city, Tokyo) Fine weather

This time, I decided to jog to Inokashira Park as new jogging route.
Last night, I went to Sayama city with my junior son to see fireworks (The Star Festival) and thus I could not get up early this morning. We went to the Festival for the first time. However, we were taken by a heavy thunderstorm in the evening. We were forced to stay at the station for a while. After the thunderstorm, we found a lot of people were gathering. There were a great number of night stalls there. A large number of people gathered than I expected. The fireworks started at 8:00 PM and more people gathered. The fireworks were not so gorgeous since they were shooted a little bit faraway from us.
Anyway, I left my home at 5:20 this morning. It was cool owing to last night's thunderstorm, but it was fine weather.
I ran to Hanakoganei station alongside Koganei Highroad as usual.
From Hanakoganei station, I ran to the opposite in the Tama-Lake cycling road to the starting point.
It was getting hotter.
I arrived in the starting point after approx. 50-minutes jog. (Approx. 8km) Then, I reached the sidewalk alongside Tamagawa Irrigation while I jogged 1 km. The sidewalk is narrow and unpaved. It was not good for jogging.
After jogging 1.5 km, I finally arrived in JR Mitaka station. While I was jogging the town of Mitaka city, I lost the Tamagawa Irrigation. I consulted the map and found the way to Tamagawa Irrigation. I again reached the Tamagawa Irrigation, however, found that the sidewalk alongside the irrigation disappeared. (The sideway becomes alongside roadway.)
Finally, I arrived in Inokashira Park. The distance from JR Mitaka station is 1.5 km. Approx. 12 km from my home!
A lot of old ladies and gentlemen were also walking there in the morning.
I visited the park for the first time and I strolled for a while. It's a good place for walking/jogging!
I was surprised to see a lot of gigantic carp (almost 3 feet!) in the pond.
I found the park is very close to the JR Kichijoji station!
As a return route, I jogged northward from JR Kichijoji station to Oume Highroad.
It took much time to return to my home since I strolled the park. It was 8:20 AM when I reached my home. It was also so hot today! The distance was 22 km.
I jogged totally 47 km this weekend since I jogged 25 km yesterday!

3)Saturday July 22, 2000Jogging on Iruma River Cycling Road (Sayama City to Kawagoe City)(Weather : Fine)

Ms. Kosugi who lives in Sayama City informed me thru E-mail that there is a nice cycling road alongside Iruma River. Thus I decided to visit there.
I got on the first train from Higashi-kurume Station at 4:57 AM. I arrived in Iruma City station at 5:22.
The northern part of the Iruma City Station area are being developed. Therefore, it was difficult to find out the route to Iruma River. I finally found the way to Route No.299.
After running 1.5km, I arrived in the bridge of Iruma River (Housui Bridge). I found the sidewalk on the right side of the river. I decided to run into.
However, the sidewalk soon became unpaved and finally terminated. I then found the cycling road was on the left side of the river. By way of Hirose Bridge, I finally reached Kawagoe-Sayama cycling road.
I understood at the end that the cycling road starts from the left side of Housui Bridge.
According to the guide board near Housui Bridge, the cycling road extends to Iruma Big Bridge in Kawagoe city. The total distance is 22.8km.
Anyway, I started from Hirose Bridge to Kawagoe City.
It was fine. Even at around 6:00 AM, I felt I was running under a burning sun!
The cycling road was nice and I felt good.
I felt as if I were running on Tama River Cycling Road. It resembles very much.
Although it was hot in the early morning, a lot of people were walking/jogging.
On the way, I found a kind of lily flowers.
I reached the boundary between Sayama city and Kawagoe city at a distance of almost 10km from Iruma City Station.
There was a park covered with turf as if it were golf course. Many people were strolling.
It was so hot and thus I decided to return to Iruma City Station from there.
I had to drink water frequently to prevent heartstroke caused by hot weather.
This time, I jogged approx. 20 km for 2 hours.
I will try to jog this course once more to Iruma Big Bridge when it becomes cool.
Ms. Kosugi, thank you for your valuable information. I would run without problem next time.

2)Sunday July 9, 2000 Jogging from Karabori River (Higashi-murayama City) to Yanase River (Kiyose City)

Yesterday morning, it was very windy and rainy since the out-of-season Typhoon No.3 approaced Kanto District.
Contrarily, it was fine this morning. I left home at 4:30AM as I did last week. It was still cool.
I ran northward alongside Shinoume Highroad until I arrived Kumegawa Station of Seibu Shinjuku Line. Shortly after passing Kumegawa Station, I reached the sidewalk of Karabori River. (The distance is approx. 7 km.)
I ran on the sidewalk downstream. 'Karabori' means 'Empty' and thus Karabori River usually has little water. However, owing to heavy rain by typhoon, it had more water than usual. A lot of old ladies/gentlemen were walking even in the early morning.
I came across Seibu Ikebukuro Line at a distance of 4 km from Kumegawa Station.
Soon Karabori River joins Yanase River (After 1.5 km jogging from where I came across Seibu Line.) and the sidewalk teminates.
Then I entered the sidewalk of Yanase River. (It took a little bit time to find out the sidewalk.) Then, I arrived in the Kanayama Bridge thru Kanayama Green Park. The Kanayama Bridge was the place where I also came last week.
I took the same course from Kanayama Bridge to my home as that of last week. I arrived in my home at 6:45AM. The running distance was approx. 20 km.
Yesterday, I ran 20 km after the rain stopped under the hot/humid condition. Thus totally I ran 40 km.

1)Sunday July 2, 2000 Jogging alongside Yanase River (Kiyose-city, Tokyo) Sunny:Very hot!

Sunny days during rainy season! Temperature was almost 35 degrees Centigrade yesterday!
I left home at 4:30AM to avoid the heat.
I jogged alongside Kannetsu Expressway to the north for almost 1 hour untill I came across Yanase River.
Yanase River flows the border of Tokorozawa city and Kiyose city.
It's a middle-size river and the water is almost clear.
I jogged upstream on the sidewalk alongside the river. I passed under the bridge of JR Musashino Line. Higashi-Tokorozawa Station is very close.
Sidewalk seems to be arranged alongside both Yanase River and Karabori River (Branch of Yanase River).
This time, I jogged 2km alongside the river and headed to the south to Kiyose Station of Seibu Line.
The broad road to Kiyose Station is called "Zelkova Tree Road" since it is an avenue of zelkova trees.
When I came home, it was 6:40AM. I ran 18.30km for 1 hour 47 minutes. Yesterday, I ran 24km. Totally, I ran 42.3km this weekend!
It was hot even in the early morning and I was drenched in a sweat.
I will try to run alongside Yanase River and Karabori River next time.

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