11.8 K Run Around the Lake Senba in Mito

I had a tremendously refreshing running session around the Lake Senba in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture. I was there for a teacher seminar on the following day, and had several hours to myself before crashing for the night. I had running gear with me, so I threw myself in it as soon as I got to the hotel, and off I went straight down the road until I came to a small bridge across a river that runs between the downtown district and the circular road around the lake. I ran the loop three laps to cover 9 K there at a reasonably brisk pace, but not too fast. I didn't want to tire myself to much as I have an important 5-hour seminar that requires focus and stamina. The distance between the hotel and the bridge is 1.8 K. So 1.4 K multiplied by two, plus 9 K is 11.8 K. I ran it in 1:06:36. I was drenched when I got back because although it was hours after sunset, it was very hot and humid. I took a quick cold shower as soon as I got back in my room, and filled my stomach with sushi I bought in Ueno, Tokyo. I ate it like a whale eats one big school of sardines or shrimp. Even after having it all, I felt like I could still eat a horse. 

Mother's Day Run: 6 K by 3 Sets Build-Up

It was a rainy day all day today. I had a bad hangover until almost mid afternoon. I took my mother to a sushi restaurant because it's Mother's Day today, but I didn't have much appetite. But by dinner time I felt better, and when dinner was over, I felt just as usual. Luckily the rain had stopped by then. So I decided to hit the road. There was slight stiffness left in my right food, so I decided to run in aqua shoes for protective purpose instead of running barefoot. I ran 6 K three times with a short break between laps. I gradually built up the pace with each lap.

1st 6 K: 32:26.97
Rest: 2:02.60
2nd 6 K: 30:20.81
Rest: 3:12.49
3rd 6 K: 29:25.34
Total 18 K: 1:35:25

Running 6 K in 29:00 is my short-term goal. It's easily doable in itself. But my ultimate goal is to keep that pace 7 more laps without any break. If I can do it, I can finish a marathon under 3:30:00. (Of course, I need to run just a little bit faster because there is 0.195 km more in a real marathon race, and it takes a little less than a minute to run that extra distance.)  When I do build-up training next, I hope to run my 3rd lap in 29:00, and go extra lap to keep the same pace. Eventually, I hope to run all laps in 29:00 without taking a break.