7)Sunday, September 25, 2005 Weather : Fine Cluster-amaryllis

• Yesterday, the weatherman said that it would rain in the afternoon and thus I got up at 4:00 AM to complete 40 km run in the morning.
• However, unfortunately, it started to rain around 5:00 AM since the typhoon was approaching. The weather forecast was not reliable.
• I had to wait until the rain stopped. However, the rain did not stop although sometimes it stopped for a short time. Consequently, I could not run at all.
• I finally went out to Japanese pub neat the Higashi-kurume station to join the "Higashi-kurume fathers' association" in the evening.
• This time, we did not run and had a drink party and a Karaoke party. Eight members joined this time. The association is being developed!! We trained "liver" and "throat" instead of "heart".
• Today it would also be rainy and thus I gave up running. However, the rain stopped in the early morning although the strong wind was blowing.
• I did not run for two days and thus I went out to run. I ran alongside Kurome and Karabori Rivers.
• There is a place where cluster-amaryllis glows in cluster alongside Yanase River. I could see many beautiful red cluster-amaryllis. The flowers will be in full bloom next week. It will look like red carpet.
• It was cool and nice for running. I ran 31 km.
  
  
  cluster-amaryllis cluster-amaryllis(white)
  
  
  

6)Sunday, September 18, 2005 Weather : Fine Jogging for 40 km

• It is getting cooler both in the morning and evening. The autumn is coming. This summer was surely hot like the summer of last year.
• I again challenged to run 40 km this weekend.
• I left home past 5:00 AM. It was fine. It was cool in the early morning. I started so early after a long interval.
• I could see beautiful rising sun around 5:40 AM. It was so impressive.
• I decided to run to the bank of Arakawa River and return alongside Kurome River.
• The temperature was rising after the sunrise.
• I managed to reach Arakawa River, then I ran on the bank of the river. It was cool since the wind was blowing on the bank.
• A lot of yellow flowers of chrysanthemum family ( Helianthus strumosus) are in full blossom alongside the bank.
• The bank connecting Arakawa River and Kurome River are under construction. The display says it is impossible to pass. However, I could pass somehow today, but I may have to find the detour next time.
• The weeds were dense in the road on the bank of Kurome River and it was not good for running.
• I found several cluster-amaryllis along side Kurome River in Niiza City. I could see more flowers by the end of this month.
  
  
  Arakawa River & Yellow flowers Flowers of mum family
  
  
  Cluster-amaryllis
  
  
  
• Anyway I could complete running 40 km this weekend.

5)Saturday, September 10, 2005 Weather : Cloudy then sunny Autumn is coming!

• It's already September! The marathon season is coming in Japan.
• I intend to join mainly the full marathon races this season.
• The first race of this season is Ohmachi Alps marathon race to be held on October 16. Only one month later. I will join with my four running mates.
• Therefore, I decided to run 40 km today. The course is to go around the Tamako-Lake.
• I left home at 6:00 AM. It was cloudy, but not cool. The weatherman said the maximum temperature would be 30 degrees Centigrade. It's not autumn, but summer!
• I started to sweat immediately after running.
• I was looking for the sign of autumn while running the Tamako-Lake cycling road. However, all I could find were the sign of summer including the buzz of cicadas.
• I could not find cluster-amaryllis, one of famous autumn flowers in Japan.
• I entered Tamako-Lake Circular road from Sayama Park.
• The road is undulating beyond expectation. I always run flat course, thus I was getting exhausted.
• Soon I found many mushrooms or toadstools in the brush. I have no knowledge about mushroom/toadstool and thus I couldn't identify them. I think most of them are toadstool.
• Anyway, I finally found the sign of autumn. Autumn is surely coming!
  
  
  Mushroom
  
  
  
• After 30km, the sun appeared and the temperature was rising.
• I managed to run 40 km today as planned. However, it was hot and hard to complete.

4)Saturday, August 6, 2005 Weather : Sunny Tamako-Lake

• Hotter weather continues this week. Therefore, I got up at 4:00 AM and left home around 4:45 AM to avoid the hotness.
• However, contrary to my expectation, it was not cool outside and no wind was blowing. When I looked at the thermometer, I found the temperature was already 30 degrees Centigrade!
• Anyway, I started to jog to Tamako-Lake after a long interval. Within 30 minutes, I dripped with sweat.
• There were many walkers on the Tamako-Lake cycling road, however, I saw a few runners in the early morning.
• The flowers of crape myrtle are in full bloom now. It's a flower of summer, reminding the hotness.
• I could hear the buzzing of cicadas at the Sayama Park even in the early morning.
• The total running distance was 30 km. When I came back home, I was wet to the skin with sweat as if I took shower. It was so hot!! The thermometer indicated 37 degrees Centigrade around 9:30 AM!!
  
  
  crape myrtle
  
  
  

3)Friday, July 29, 2005 Weather : Fine Running northward on the bank of Arakawa River

• Summer holidays will finish after three days.
• I planned to run on the bank of Arakawa River northward from where Shingashi River merges to Iruma-ohashi Bridge.
• I tried to get up at 4:00 AM, however, I couldn't. Actually I waked up at 5:00 AM. I left home at 5:45 AM. It was sunny and hot even in the early morning.
• Flowers of evening prim-rose were beautiful. I could see a lot of walkers alongside Ochiai/Kurome Rivers.
• It was so hot and my running pace was so slow.
• Finally I reached the bank of Arakawa River. There were a few people. I continued to run silently under the hot weather condition.
• The golf courses spread out on the dry riverbed of Arakawa River. A lot of golfers were playing golf even on the weekday under the shining sun.
• I still continued to run, but I could not see Iruma-ohhashi Bridge. I started to wonder if I could reach the bridge.
• I was forced to drink water and sports-drink many times to avoid the heat exhaustion.
• Finally I reached the bridge. The distance was approx. 38 km. I had a plan to run further alongside Iruma River to the Iruma Station of Seibu Line. However, it took much time than I expected to reach the bridge. Moreover, it was too hot to run.
• I changed my mind and decided to run Route 51 to Honkawagoe Station of Seibu Shinjuku Line.
• However, the distance to Honkawagoe Station was more than I expected.
• I ran through Kawagoe downtown and arrived in Honkawagoe Station. It was 11:20 AM. The running distance was approx. 45 km. I could not run any more.
• I took on the train from the station to Higashi-kurume. I felt better when I took on the train owing to the air conditioning. I finally came back home around 12:20. I took shower and drank canned beer.
• It was so hot. I should have left home earlier. I should challenge to run alongside Iruma River in autumn again.
  
  
  evening prim-rose Golf course
  
  Iruma-ohhashi
  
  
  

2)Tuseday, July 25, 2005 Weather : Cloudy then occasionally sunny. Kurashiki Bikan District (Tourist attraction area), Okayama Pref.

• I went back to Okayama, my home country, during summer holidays.
• It was rainy in the moring since the typhoon was approaching to Japan.
• Although the weather was not good, I started to jog from 9:00 AM.
• I aimed Kurashiki downtown.
• I ran alongside the Sanyo Shinkansen.
• I ran this course for the first time and found it was good for running since the sidewalk was properly prepared.
• It was cloudy at the initial stage, however, soon it was getting sunny and hotter.
• Finally I reached JR Kurashiki Station. The Bikan District was very close from the station.
• The running distance was 15 km. I was strolling around the Bikan District for a while. Many tourists were there.
  
  
  row of old houses Entrance of Brewery
  
  
  
• I did not want to run back under the hot sun any more and thus I took on the train from Kurashiki to Niwase.

1)Saturday, July 10, 2005 Weather : Cloudy occasionally sunny Spotbill Ducks & Arakawa River

• Yesterday, a Higashi-kurume Fathers Running Club was held after a long interval. We ran (20 km) and drank at Japanese Pub (for 2 hours) and sang songs at Karaoke Box for 3 hours!! We could have a good time.
• Under the circumstances, I could not get up at 5:00 AM as usual this morning. However, I started to run before 9:00 AM. Although it was cool on Saturday (The temperature was around 24 degrees Centigrade), the weather man said it would be around 32 degrees Centigrade today.
• Anyway, I decided to run alongside Ochiai/Kurome Rivers to Arakawa River.
• I could see Spotbill duck with chicks in the Ochiai River. Seven chicks were so cute.
• It was so hot and humid and thus I had to be careful about heat injury while running. I frequently drank water and sports drinks. I consumed more than 1,000 cc of sports drinks.
• I found the community of thistles in the lower part of Kurome River. They were so beautiful.
• Finally I reached the bank of Arakawa River. Since I did not want to come back the same route, I ran on the bank of Arakawa River southward.
• I ran alongside Shirako River to Oizumi Central Park.
• The temperature seemed to be more than 30 degrees Centigrade and I felt exhausted.
• From the park, I had to stop running and walk several times on the way back to home. My body was covered with salt.
• After taking shower, I could not help drinking a canned beer.
  
  
  Spotbill duck with chicks Thistles
  
  
  
• Today's running distance : Approx. 40 km.