the hardest part

Lots of people ask me whats the hardest part of running a long run. or any run for that matter. people assume, its a certain mile. say mile 15. but i'll tell you the truth. the hardest part, is getting out of the house. changing into my running clothes, putting on my shoes, and getting outside. after that, the rest is easy. once i start, rarely do i have a hard mile.

fast and slow

sometimes a week seems so long, but when i look at my blog and realize that i havent updated in about a week, it feels like it went by so fast.

here-nothing new. the weekend was nice. to spend time with friends and some relaxing. i cooked eggplant parmesan. it turned out pretty good and was so easy to make!

sunday i went to a chinese new year party with hiro. some of his friends. it was nice. good food. also i hung out with some women after church and we baked stuff and just had an all around nice time.

but now its tuesday. back to the grind. but this weekend i am going to shirakawago. i think it will be so nice... but COLD! im really looking forward to it!

well other than that, i have to fit in my long run this week since i wont be able to on saturday. but my long run is only 12 miles so i think it will be fine. yesterday i did 6. today ill do 3 (if any, i may swim) tomorrow 8, thursday 5 and friday 12

nice morning

i went running this morning. it wasnt too cold. it was an enjoyable run. i listened to an audiobook and just ran. about 7.5-8 miles.

i have like 10 books lined up to read... so why am i wasting time online?

ok, im off to read!


funny student story of yesterday. i was reviewing 3 and 4 letter words with some elementary students. the cards are like : cut, cute kit, kite, tap, tape. teaching the difference with the "magic e"

well all was fine and dandy till one little boy read site. he messed up. and instead of saying site, he wanted to say sit. which came out with an sh sound at the beginning. so he is yelling the (what he thought was the correct) answer. over and over. then when he realized it was the wrong answer, (he didnt know what he was really saying) he just started laughing in uncontrollable laughter. it was so funny. i love seeing kids forget everything and just laugh. not a forced laugh, but a full out laugh. when they cant get a breath. when the other kids join in. and even i join in laughing.

kids are so refreshing sometimes!

new years resolution update

how are your resolutions going? i hope that if you made some, that you are sticking to them!

1. spend more time studying japanese- yes, i have studied so much lately. almost everyday!!!
2. speak and listen to french more. - ummm havent started this one yet
3. stop wasting so much time- sometimes i do better than other times
4. cook more- about 2 times a week now.
5. keep training and be optimistic about my leg/back- im training. but sometimes im not so optimistic
6. figure out what to do with my life post japan- it changes everyday
7. read a lot of books-working on it.
8. enjoy every moment-most moments
9. be more patient and caring with others- trying

today has been a productive day so far, even if i slept in till 8!

weather

in columbus, ohio- its 2 degrees, but feels like -12. (-16 -24 Celsius ) thats cold! in kasugai is 34 and feels like 30. (1, -1 celsius)

wow. im not made for that kind of cold weather anymore. i guess i cant complain for my run today. it could be worse....i could be in ohio. although, my knees feel the cold.

lets hope i dont freeze today. i am aiming for 8-10 miles.

so i guess i'd better stop being a wimp and get out there and do this! at least i can run again!

things that make me smile

yesterday i called the hair salon to make an appt. i didnt even have to say my name. takuya knows me. hahah well i may very well be the only foreigner that calls in. and its very obvious on the phone in my random japanese, that i am not a native speaker!

it makes me smile.

pictures of rainbows sent to me make me smile too.

candy makes me smile.

when my students make cute mistakes. for example. on a writing worksheet. What is your favorite number? (student answer) I like sex.

when i am finished running. that feeling of accomplishment.

when im too lazy to walk to rachael's room, so i call her instead.

speaking french

holding hiro's hand.

making new friends


ok im off to get my haircut and be productive for today!

happy thoughts

i ran the kasugai city 10km race this past weekend. up till last week, i still had some pain from my injury, but i decided to try and see how it went.

that morning went. i wasnt nervous. i had no pressure. just finish. take it easy if i had pain. i ended up meeting a new friend, mitsuko, who was running the 10km as well, in the 40 and over category. we chatted like we were old friends. we encouraged each other. then it was time.

i ran. i ran my pace. i was back. after 5km, i was feeling pretty good. still hesitant that the pain could come anytime. but it never came. i ran next to a man who was the same pace. without a word, we understood each other. we needed each other to help finish the race strong. sometimes, i pushed us along, sometimes he did. we made it! after the race, he came over to me saying, "arigatou gozaimasu." we shook hands. and parted. its those times, when i am touched. the little acts of kindness. the encouragement we can get from strangers. i ran that race in 49:11. it was my best time (by 30 seconds) and maybe it doesnt seem fast, but this race was such a nice moment for me. after all the pain, disappointment and tough times of not being able to run or exercise in the past 7 months. i finished. i finished strong. i finished with no pain. its a huge blessing. there's no reason for the pain to have left so suddenly. (as of saturday, the day before the race, i had some pain) but to the people who are praying for my recovery....keep praying. please.

on another note. i got a subscription to a magazine that i really wanted. the economist. it was a surprise. i opened up the mailbox yesterday and found that i got a 3 month subscription to it. thank you hiro.

friday

its friday! this week has flown by! i've been keeping busy. back to the gym and running. unpacking. thinking about organizing. and studying.

this sunday is kasugai 10km we'll see how that goes.

today will be a long day. i have my least favorite class today. (well its tied for least favorite class)

this weekend, im hoping to organize some stuff and just get caught up in life.

monday starts marathon training. i'll only have 2.5 months to train. and thats if my body can handle the hard schedule. ill be starting at 25-30 miles a week. now im up to 20/week plus 5km/week swimming. hopefully itll be good. i'm not looking for a PR in tokyo, but i do want to finish and come out strong after this injury. and hope that i continue to heal and not get worse.

ok off to work! happy friday everyone!

back to work

i got back monday night and worked tuesday. no jet lag! yay! its somewhat comforting to back in my routine. its also nice that the sun rises much earlier here than in ohio and florida.

its fun to be back and enjoy being funny with my students. making them laugh and enjoy class. crazy to think there are only 2 and a half months left of this school year.

this sunday i am running the kasugai 10km. im not sure how it will go. i cant race for speed or to beat my best time, but i can just go and try and have fun and hope for no pain.

this weekend, i think i am going to take some time to get organized. organize my closet. buy some drawers. also i want to email people back. and get caught up for the new year.

we'll see how that goes.

ok well im out to go for a run before the gym!

have a good day/night wherever you are!

long way back

and im back. tired of sitting. it was a long ride, but got to nagoya at 6:20 instead of 7:00 that was nice, but it didnt really matter as i waited for rachaels flight at 8. now we are both back. my suitcases have exploded in my room. i think ill shower and go to bed!

columbus airport

well my first flight is delayed. so far 25 minutes. thats fine for now, i will have plenty of time in detroit. i just hope the next one isnt cancelled! i do not not not want to get stuck in detroit. the lady at the counter just said the weather in detroit is bad. lets hope for the best!

back to japan

im leaving today. in a little less than 2 hours. time to finish packing and take a shower! see you all in japan! goodbye everyone in the US!

ohio with friends!

more florida pics

last day

its 6:30 saturday morning. i leave the house at 8 am tomorrow morning to start my long trip back.

it has been a great 3 weeks. i have really enjoyed spending time with my family and friends. ive enjoyed shopping. ive enjoyed relaxing. and now its time to go back.

last year, i didnt want to go back to japan. i wanted to move back here. this year, i am ready to go back. to see someone special. to get back in my routine. to stop living out of my suitcase.

so today will be a day of packing. picking up last minute things (and then attempting to put them in my already full suitcases) and enjoying my last day here.

so japan time, monday at 7:05pm i get back
ohio time, 5:05am