4)Sunday, September 20, 2009 Weather: Fine Jogging on the bank of Tamagawa River to JR Kawasaki Station

• The weatherman said it would be fine and hot on Sunday.
• I planned to run a longer distance than usual on the second day of autumn consecutive five national holidays.
• I decided to run on the bank of Tamagawa River to the sea. However, the distance might be more than 50 km.
• I was not sure if I could reach the sea by jogging at the present condition, I checked the running course by map.
• As a result, I found the shortest course: To reach the Tamagawa River via Shin-Ohme Highroad and Kanpachi (Kanjo Hachigoh Line) Highroad.
• I left home around 5:45 AM. It was fine as forecasted. The considerably strong wind were blowing owing to powerful typhoon located far a way from mainland Japan.
• Anyway, first, I ran alongside the Shin-Ohme Highroad to Igusa Intersection for 1 hour 20 minutes.
• From Igusa Intersection, I patiently ran alongside Kanpachi Highroad southward.
• The traffic was very heavy on both Shin-Ohme Highroad and Kanpachi Highroad. I was nervous about exhaust gas.
• I had a plan to reach Futago Tamagawa Bridge, however, I missed it.
• Soon I found the road traffic sign indicating Maruko Bridge. While running, the temperature was high, but the humidity was low and it was blowing. Therefore, I could constantly run.
• It took 4 hours to reach Maruko Bridge. It took more time than I expected.
• I crossed the bridge and I started to run on the bank of Tamagawa River.
• However, as might be expected, I started to feel tired since I continued to run more than 4 hours. The running pace was slowing down.
• Soon I saw another road traffic sign. It said "To Kawasaki Station: 5 km, Ukishima Is.: 13 km". Under the situation, I did not have confidence that I could run to the seashore.
• Anyway, I tried to reach JR Kawasaki Station at any rate. The running pace further slowed down.
• I finally arrived in Kawasaki Station after 5-hour running. The concourse was filled with passengers owing to national holiday.
• I came all the way to Kawasaki City, I decided to visit Kawasaki Taishi Temple, one of famous exorcism temples in Japan, located close to Kawasaki Station, because I had never visited there. I took on the train of Keihin Kyuko Taishi Line since I had no energy to run to the temple.
• I was surprised that the Keihin Kyukyo Taishi Line was double track although it is a very short local line. It may be due to the fact that a lot of passengers, especially worshippers, use the line.
• I again surprised that many passengers took off at the Taishi Station. The approach was also crowded with worshippers than I expected.
• The staff of souvenir shops were eagerly call in and they were noisy. It seems that the specialties are "cough drop" and "Glutinous jelly".
• The temple is big and the precinct is spacious. I expected great prayer answered!
• I went back home by train.
  
  
  Sign Maruko Bridge Tamagawa River
  
  
  Approach Main Gate Main Temple
  
  
  Turtles
  
  
  
• Total running distance was 47 km!

3)Sunday, September 12, 2009 Weather: Cloudy, then occassionally rainy Jogging to the bank of Arakawa River

• I intended to join Tazawako Marathon Race to be held on September 20, 2009 and I reserved overnight bus tickets and accommodations. However, for unavoidable reasons, I was forced to give up the race.
• Anyway, I challenged 40 km-run after an long interval. The destination was Arakawa River.
• It would be cloudy, then rainy. The temperature was expected to be the same as that of early October.
• I left home at 6:00 AM. It was surely cool.
• I could see several red flowers of cluster-amaryllis alongside Ochiai and Kurome Rivers. The autumn has come! I think this summer seemed to be short and not so hot.
• Although the temperature was lower than usual, I started to sweat after running.
• It took two hours to reach the bank of Arakawa River via usual course.
• I again saw a lot of red flowers cluster-amaryllis there.
• I also saw yellow flowers of Jerusalem artichokes (or girasoles) on the bank. It's a nice scenery with Arakawa River in the back ground.
  
  
  Cluster-amaryllis Cluster-amaryllis Jerusalem artichokes
  
  
  
• I got exhausted after 30 km point. It was so hard to run the last 5 km. To make it worse, the rain started earlier than forecasted.
• Anyway, the running distance was 40 km.

2)Sunday, July 19, 2009 Weather: Cloudy Re-reinforced bank of Tamako Lake

• The weatherman said that the rainy season of Kanto District ended on July 14 and that it ended four our five days earlier than usual.
• However, even after declaration of the end of rainy season, cloudy and humid weather continues.
• After a long interval, I headed to Tamako Lake by jogging. The bank of Tamako Lake had been repaired, but repair work was completed in spring. I did not have a change to visit there lately owing to the injury of my foot.
• Anyway, I left home at 5:30 AM. It was cloudy and humid. I heard the buzzing of cicadas. I could enjoy seeing pretty yellow flowers of evening primroses.
• I saw a lot of walkers and joggers at Tamako Lake Cycling Road. Almost all were old guys.
• Finally I reached Tamako Lake. The pathway on the bank was neatly refurbished. The volume of water was not so much.
• I ran through the pathway of bank and went into the forest of the Sayama Park. The air was cool and I felt refreshed there.
  
  
  evening primroses The bank of Tamako Lake Tamako Lake
  
  
  
• The running distance was 29 km. It was so hot that I sweated very much.

1)Saturday, July 4, 2009 Weather: Cloudy occasionally sunny Resuming Jogging

• It took one month to make a walking again.
• During the period, I walked 20 km as maximal distance. I did not feel pain on the right foot.
• Therefore, I decided to resume jogging after an interval of two months.
• The initial target distance was 15 km. I started to run along side Ochiai/Kurome Rivers around 9:15 AM.
• It was cloudy and humid and hot.
• I ran as slowly as possible since I was worrying about right foot.
• It's already July and thus I could not see spotbill ducks with chicks.
• The sun started to appeared sometimes and I started to sweat.
• I found a community structure of "Kisuge" (Hemerocallis thunbergii) near Kurome River. I took pictures.
  
  
  Kisuge
  
  
  
• I could run 10 km as usual, however, I felt tired after 10 km since I ran after a long interval.
• My running pace gradually slowed down.
• Anyway, I managed to complete 17 km distance.
• I felt the difference of hardness between walking and running. Of course, running is harder than walking.