Happy Day after Valentine's Day.

Whadchya get/give?

My pictures from afar fortunately went a long ways, or at least far enough  whew.

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Last January (2014) I took the train connections from Osaka to the hot springs town of Kotohira on Shikoku Island and the famed 1,368 stairs up to Konpira Shrine on the adjacent mountainside.  Even though it was a Sunday after one of the Saturday marathons sponsored by the Japan 100-Marathon Joyful Running Club, I thought I should be able to make the round-trip three times, one each in my favorite Japanese footwear.  After all, it’s only walking and that’s all I’m doing in my marathons nowadays anyway, NOT, as I only made one RT before retiring to the local hot springs.
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This time, starting a little after 6:00 am when it’s starting to get light out over here, the first round trip took an easy (this time) two-and-a-half hours followed by Japanese smorgasbord breakfast at the hotel overflowing with the fish, shellfish and seaweeds I love. After washing up, a short rest in the hotel hot springs) helped make nos. 2 and 3 in just under two hours but when I got carried away for a no. 4, it took more than two-and-a-half hours again but it must have rested me up as no. 5 was the fastest of the day.  Unfortunately, the hot springs closed for the daily cleaning by then so I guess I’ll have to go back again sometime.

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Grand total: 13,680 stair steps [(1,368 up + 1,368 down) x 5] in

. . . (1) wooden geta sandals,

. . . (2) straw waraji and

. . . (3) straw zori thongs,

. . . (4) jikatabi cloth/rubber secure Japanese scaffolding shoes and

. . . (5) barefoot
but not in that order as barefoot was first as I didn't want to appear to be odd or anything like that when the throngs started arriving in late-morning/early-afternoon.

That's a lot of stair steps, tet. Congratulations! You are truly one of a kind. The next time I'm at Payless, I'm going see if I can find me a pair of those jikatabi cloth/rubber secure Japanese scaffolding shoes.

Mornin' everyone!

Tet, you're an animal! I can't imagine making that trip once in any of the foot gear you wore, but 5 times with different footwear each time? Yikes!

Dave, good for you for just getting out and getting to the race in that weather! And good for you for taking good care of the volunteers. Especially in that kind of weather, I'm sure they'll appreciate the coffee gift certificates.

Yesterday afternoon, we and a neighbor went snow shoeing on the pond across the street. We went into the woods on the far shore and followed some deer tracks for a while, then we went over near the dam where there was a hawk that appeared to be chowing down on a fresh catch. And, finally, we took a walk around the shore of the pond, which was a half-mile jaunt. Fun stuff, but it was also some work since we were breaking trail the entire time.

Looking out the window this morning, there is at least another 12-15" of snow on our deck that fell overnight. The snow is just about done, but the winds are supposed to keep up at 25+ mph today as the temps drop from a high of 20. My workouts today will be with the snow blower, shovel, and roof rake. I just hope the winds don't blow the snow back to where I clear it! After this, we get a break:  there's no more snow in the forecast till Tuesday!

Keep smiling, stay warm and safe, and have a greta Sunday!

Jay

...tet never ceases to Amaze me.................either I just Amaze Easily, or we should have him committed when he gets back.......

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and here's a Fun Fact:

check

the damn WindChill

before you go out for a work-out

60-min bikeride 7-up and 7-down

came home

after I couldn't feel my feet anymore>>>>>>>>>>>>>8-degrees with the WindChill

no wonder I didn't see anybody out this morning,

also

I may be An Idiot.

..................good running guys..........Think Warm Thoughts...........

Wow, Dave.  Just wow.

I got my heroic winterish run in yesterday, stealing 4 mi in relatively warm +12F while I could, as it will be bitter all week.  I am very, very happy about getting out, as it's my first steady run with no walk breaks since before the new year.  Pitifully slow, and I am glad for the snow and hills to blame.  But it was *so good* to be outdoors and actually running nonstop.  Except for the last bit into the eye of a whiteout.

Hammie came with me and was covered in snow and ice by the time we got back.  I had to stop part-way through and pick ice cubes out from between his toes, and have since trimmed the hair on his paws right back.  I have vague memories of someone saying that spraying Pam on a dog's feet would help avoid snowballs - all I can imagine is Hammie trying to lick it off.

DPOSSLQ and I traded Valentine meals yesterday:  I made the Eggs Benedict in the morning, he made the Lobster Thermidor in the evening. We are both committed to hours of activity today to try to work a bit of the love back off before it remains with us for too long.

It is -10F with windchills far lower. I just got off the spin bike, a two-hour Sufferfest called It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time.  Lots of fun, am pleasantly tired now.  So I will sit in the sunny window and soak up bright light reflected off the snow, and feel very pleased that I am NOT going out there.

Well, I took it pretty easy out there today.  I had an episode running in the extreme cold years ago where it made me cough (hard) for hours afterwards.  So I backed off all the way to the 5k, bundled up, and made sure not to push myself to the point of really heavy breathing.

I ended up with a 27:48 (8:55 pace on the Garmin.)

Not many people turned around at the 5k halfway point which means a vast majority of people were doing the 10k.  I may have even placed in my age group (by default) but waiting around another hour or more for (the possibility) of an award, even a very, very cool Ice Cube Man didn't seem worth it.  Plus it would be one more piece of junk to pack up when we move.

Garmin upload says it was -13 and felt like -27:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/698243841

I had 1 short sleeve shirt, 3 long sleeve shirts, and a wind breaker on top.  A full head covering hat thing, and one of the shirts had a hood so I pulled that up over my head too.  I had sun glasses but they fogged up too much to keep on.  Down below I had on my warmest pair of briefs and 2 pair of tights.  And on my feet, I used rubber bands to hold hand warmers over the toe area and then those were covered up with my shoe sheeldz (http://www.embracedincomfort.com/category-s/1828.htm)  On my hands I had gloves, mittens, and some hand warmers.

...sorry dave//...........I missed that Heroic Effort the first time thru.......apparently my brain was still cold

you deserve a Medal,

and

also to be committed with tet when he gets back

HardCore Racing......

I never thought I would say this but I wish we had the weather evanflein is supposed to get! 

stumpy77 with the weather being what it is I am becoming a fan of the TM!

Dave59 you must have a polar bear somewhere in your family history to brave those temperatures!

tetsujin209 in your case there must have been a mountain goat in your family history!  What a trek!  

Today was an elliptical day for me.  Tomorrow will be a nothing day due to work.  Tuesday an onward the temperatures are going into deep freeze territory.  I may see if 14 miles on the TM is survivable.  I have to get my weekly miles and runs up from 3 to 4 if I am going to run a marathon in May.

DW got up this morning feeling sorry for the local bird population.  Translation, Twocat go out and fill the bird feeders.  So I put on my heaviest coats, gloves and hat.  Went out in my work boots and filled up the bird feeders.  Happy birds we have!