7)Saturday, June 25, 2005 Weather : Cloudy then occasionally sunny Tamagawa Irrigation & Tama River

• After a long interval, I planned to run more than 40 km.
• Checking through the map, I decided to run alongside Tamagawa Irrigation, then to run to Tama River via Tachikawa City. and return to home.
• According to the weather forecast, it would be sunny and hot even in rainy season. The maximum temperature would be around 32 degrees Centigrade!!
• To avoid the heat, I woke up at 4:00 AM and left home before 5:00 AM.
• It was cool in the early morning, however, I was still sleepy.
• As soon as I started to run, I started to sweat. After dropping in the Koganei Park, I entered the course alongside Tamagawa Irrigation.
• The course was full of green and I could refresh. Soon I met a lot of walkers.
• After 1 hour 45 minutes (17 km), I finally reached Tamagawajosui Station of Seibu Line.
• Then, I ran alongside Tama Mono-rail. There was nice walkway and thus I could continue to run to Tama River alongside the monorail. However, soon the walkway was terminated!
• Therefore, I was forced to run Imokubo highroad. Then I entered into Tachikawa highroad. I ran through the Tachikawa City and finally arrived in the Hino Bridge of Tama River. (2 hours 30 minutes, 23 km)
• Then I continued to run the cycling road of Tama River to Koremasa Bridge of Fuchu-hommachi.
• The sun started to beat down.
• A lot of cyclists were enjoying the cycling on the road. However, I could see only a few runners. Anyway, it was too hot for running.
• I managed to reach the Koremasa Bridge. However, contrary to my expectation, the running distance already reached to 35 km. I had to run further 15 km to come home! I was worrying a little bit if I could run home.
• Anyway, I still continued to run slowly drinking water many times to prevent heat injury.
• I could come back to Koganei Park anyway (45 km). However, it was the limits of my running.
  
  
  Tamagawa Irrigation Tamagawa Irr.
  
  
  Tamagawa Irr Station Tama River near Hino Bridge
  
  
  
• I had to walk from Koganei Park to my home for 7 km.
• The total running and walking distance of today was 52 km!! I was exhausted.
  
  
  

6)Saturday, June 11, 2005 Weather : Cloudy occasionally rainy Iris Festival at Kitayama Park (Part II)

• Rainy season just started in Kanto District. It was rany at dawn.
• The rain stopped in the morning and thus I decided to visit Kitayama Park again to check the Iris flowers.
• I changed the course and I ran alongside the Hakkokusan Green Hills to reach the park.
• On arriving the park, it just started to rain. Fortunately, the rain was not heavy.
• It was around 9:30 AM and there were many visitors in the park. The ratio of bloom was almost 30%, I guess. It was wonnderful.
• Many snack bars were prepared there.
• Higashi-murayama Station was crowdede with guests to visit the park. They are surely satisfied with flowers today!
  
  
  Iris Iris
  
  
  
• I returned home running alongside Karabori/Yanase Rivers. The running distance was 34 km.
  
  
  

5)Saturday, June 4, 2005 Weather : Cloudy Iris Festival at Kitayama Park

• I went to Izu area last weekend with my running mates and ran the slopes and seashore of Izu. I had muscular pain after a long interval.
• Today, I decided to go to see iris flowers at Kitayama Park in Higashi-murayama City. Iris festival is held between June 1 and June 19. Kitayama Park is famous for iris flowers.
• I left home at 6:30 AM. It seemed to start raining when I left home.
• I reached Higashi-murayama station of Seibu Line via Tamako Lake Cycling Road and Fuchu Highroad. The distance from the station to the park is approx. 1 km.
• Contrary to my expectation, I could see a small amount of flowers. The flowers have just started to bloom. I guess the rate of bloom was less than 5 %.
• It was 8:00 AM when I arrived in the park, however, there were already several visitors. Anyway, I took pictures of flowers. I think the best time for iris flower viewing is after June 12. I think it would be marvelous when the flowers are in full blossom.
• I could enjoy seeing the flowers of water lily.
• When coming back, I met the people with brochures of iris festival heading for the park at the station. I guess they may be a little bit disappointed when they reach the park.
  
  
  Iris Iris Iris
  
  
  Iris Bud Water lily
  
  
  
• Today's running distance was 27 km. I was relieved that it did not rain.
  
  
  

4)Sunday, May 22, 2005 Weather : Cloudy Heirinji Temple

• Yesterday, I went a pilglim after a long interval. I visted 20th Fudasho, Saimyoji Temple, located in the Mashiko-cho, Tochigi Pref. Mashiko is famous for it's pottery (Mashiko Yaki). I took on Kanto Railways and Maoka Railways and enjoyed the local scenery of Kanto Plain.
• As to jogging, I had been refraining long running since the conditions of my foot and waist were not so good. However, I tried to run 20 km today.
• I left home at 7:45 AM. It was cloudy and cool. I ran alongside Kurome River and reached the Heirinji Temple. The forest of Heirinji Temple was full of green.
• I ran back alongside Nobidome Irrigation.
• Since I managed to run 20 km, I will try to restore the running distance little by little from now on.
  
  
  

3)Sunday, April 24, 2005 Weather : Fine Arakawa River

• This weekend, I had a plan to enjoy relaxing to cure the weariness of Kasumigaura marathon race. Therefore, I only jogged 10 km on Saturday.
• However, on Sunday, it was fine early in the morning. It would be very good for outing according to weather forecast.
• Thus I could not stand and left home at 6:30 AM. The destination was Arakawa River.
• It was cool in the morning, but it was getting warmer and warmer.
• It was the season of dog-woods and double cherry blossoms.
• At the bank of Kurome River where I picked many horsetails a few weeks ago, green field horsetails grew like green carpet.
• There were many dandelion flowers at the bank of Arakawa River.
• The running distance of this morning was 37 km.
  
  
  Arakawa River Dandelion Dandelion
  
  
  Carpet of horsetails Double cherry blossoms
  
  
  
• Immediately after coming home, I went to Koganei Park to see double cherry blossoms by mini-cycle.
• On the way to the park, I dropped in the convenience store to buy canned beer and cup Japanese sake,
• The trees of double cherry blossoms were not so many as I expected, however, a lot of people were enjoying eating under the cherry trees. Fortunately, no noisy drink parties were being held.
• I enjoyed drinking canned beer and Japanese sake under the double cherry blossom. Then I took a nap under the tree for a while.
• It was a nice fine weather day!
  
  
  Mini-cycle and cherry One cup sake with cherry flowers
  
  
  Double cherry blossoms
  
  
  

2)Saturday, April 9, 2005 Weather : Fine Otaka no Michi (Otaka Road) & Cherry Blossom-viewing Run

• Lately I read the article about the "Otaka no Michi" on the Tama district version of Yomiuri Shimbun.
• I once tried to visit there by running. However, I lost my way and could not reach there.
• I intended to try once more this weekend.
• However, I had a cherry blossom-viewing picnic with my running mates on Friday.
• After taking dinner at Chinese restaurant, we went to the Ueno Park to have the second drink party. The flowers were in full bloom. Lots of people were having drink parties there. We managed to find the place and had a big drink party. After coming back to Higashi-kurume, we went to Karaoke Bar. I returned home past 2:00 AM!!
• Thus I could not get up at 5:30 AM this morning.
• But it was fine and good for cherry blossom-viewing. I left home around 10:30 AM although I was hang-over.
• First, I visited the Koganei park and saw the cherry blossom. Many people were enjoying drink party under the cherry trees.
• Then I aimed "Otaka no Michi". I ran alongside the Tamagawa Irrigation until Kihei Bridge. Then I ran southward alongsode Kokubunji Highroad to JR Kokubunji Station. Near the station, I found the MINI STOP convenience store. I bought a soft cream without hesitation. It was delicious under hot weather.
• This time, I could reach the "Otaka no Michi". A lot of people were strolling there. The volume of water of small river along side the road was very small.
• A man was drawing water from the fountain near the "Masugata no Ike" and putting into the plastic tank. However, the water seemed not to be pure. I am of opinion that the water of Minamisawa fountain and Bamboo Park fountain in Higfashi-kurume City is purer than that of Otaka no Michi and that the volume is large. I was a little bit disappointed.
• At the terminal, there were Kokubunji Temple and Yakushido Temple.
• I came back to Higashi-kurume via Tohachi Road and Shin-koganei Highroad.
• Lastly, I visited Hakusan Park to see cherry blossom. I bought a 500cc-canned beer at the convenience store. I appreciated the cherry blossom drinking beer for a while. When the wind blew, the petals of cherry flowers were fluttering. It was wonderful.
  
  
  Hibarigaoka Housing - ditto - Koganei Park
  
  
  Otaka Road - ditto - Kokubunji Temple
  
  
  Stone Buddha Yakushido Temple Takiyama Housing
  
  
  Hakusan Park Cherry Blossom
  
  
  
• The total running/walking distance today was 40 km.

  1)Saturday, April 2, 2005 Weather : Cloudy The lower Kurome River

  • I have to train more since I will join the Kasumigaura full marathon race on April 17, 2005, which is my last race in this season.
  • Thus I left home around 6:00 AM for jogging. The temperature was 6 degrees Centigrade in early morning. It was cold!
  • I decided to run to the lower Kurome River after a long interval.
  • As I always mention, this year, the coming of spring is delayed. However, several flowers start to bloom.
  • Flowers are: rape blossom, magnolia, forsythia, gypsophila, etc.
  • Almost all cherry flowers are still bud. Only a few flowers can be seen. Full blossom will come next week end.
  • Kurome River was under construction at Asaka City area and thus I could not run the bank around there.
  • I could find a colony of horsetails around the bank at the lower Kurome River. I picked up them and took home for cooking, It can be eaten.
  • I could hear the skylark singing in the sky. The spring is really coming.
    
    
    Horsetail Cherry flowers forsythia
    
    
    
  • Today's running distance is 32 km.
  
  

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