'Marathon Run' Day at Rakuhoku

Last Thursday was the 'Marathon Run' at Rakuhoku High School. Every February, good weather permitting, all of the students at Rakuhoku head to the Kamo River to run up and down it. Required distances vary depending on your grade and sex. Junior girls run maybe 4 miles while senior boys run 11 miles. I'd been hearing about this running race since before Christmas so it's clearly a big tradition at the school with a lot of hype. All classes were canceled for the day to prepare and run the races. I had decided early on that I was going to run it to gauge my fitness and just have a good time with the students.

Cindy, Mike, and Hirai-sensei before the racing

I can't post any pictures of students' faces because of security and safety concerns so all the pictures I have are from a distance or from a behind.

Junior students at the river getting ready.

The boys ran on the other side of the river because there were so many students taking part. It's actually mandatory at the school to engage in it. You can walk if you want, but most of the students ran. I've noted to many friends and family members that this just would not fly in the United States. Some school official or parent would likely throw a fit about how their child can't run for whatever reason. But parents turned out in droves to watch this kids run and compete. "Fight!" I would hear a Japanese teacher yell to me, urging me to keep at it as I ran. That's the mentality most bring to this event. It's an opportunity to show endurance and dedication to a difficult task. That the distance gets longer the older you get seems to be evidence of this. They make you push yourself the stronger you get.

Principal Maehara waiting to address the students before they begin.

Off they go!

I followed.

Ready to run myself.

These little tykes were running the same day our school was. They were just too cute not to take pictures of. They were probably a little freaked out when a 6'3'' foreigner in a bright orange shirt came bounding toward them in a crouched position to thrust a black camera in their faces.


So I ran the 11 miles, or 18 km, that the senior boys ran. It was difficult through the last couple of miles but I powered through. My knees, calves, and thighs were definitely sore the next day. I was hobblin' for a few days after even. But I think I've almost recovered completely by now, five days after the event.



I couldn't do much the rest of the day from pure exhaustion. Thank goodness we had no classes. As the weather starts to become warmer and more inviting I can imagine doing some more running by the river. And soon the cherry blossoms will be out and I'll be running through them like in this old picture from 4th year.

Smug Cat on the Nippon Maru

Back again from a wonderful weekend in Yokohama. I took Friday off and left Thursday night in order to get to Yokohama and Carly a day earlier. I also went into Tokyo on Friday to see friends Billy Martyn and Franky Chung who were kind enough to show me some of the sweet programming stuff they're working on with their new start-up, ABCLoop, a social networking site for Japanese people in the Kanto (greater Tokyo) who want to learn English. Check them out at www.abcloop.com.

Twice this past weekend, Carly and I went to out favorite lunch spot and coffee vendor, Gooz. It's the closest shop to a 7-11, where you can get fresh-brewed coffee in a 12- or 16-oz cup and can fix it up with all the creams and sugars your system can handle. They also had this chilled/cold hamburger in a fresh roll for ¥270, which was the BOMB! so I was pleased.

Carly loves Gooz so much!^

Table seating outside, which will be even better in warm weather.^

Picture by the port.^

Outside a mall before going in to eat this muffin...

Banana muffin for only ¥170! (is that a lot? I forget American prices)

On Saturday we went on a walk around ¥okohama. Carly has been working through a list of local walks from a book she found in her apartment. There are 24 different routes around various neighborhoods in the city. She has decided to complete a new one every weekend until the end of the year. This week's took us near the ports where we boarded and toured the Nippon Maru, a Japanese training vessel for aspiring seamen. I guess. They train people here for something involving sailing.

Ahoy Matey!^

Toughest swashbuckling pirate on the Nippon Maru^

I spotted this sad looking magic show going on in front of the Nippon Maru museum. The act, I later observed, involved levitating pencils, rainbow colored handkerchiefs, and disappearing rubber balls. A little cold for a magic show, but the kids liked it. Meh.

Weathering the perfect storm.^

Fail. Some just aren't meant to be sailors.^

The poop deck.^

Orange poop deck #1^

Orange poop deck #2^

Carly didn't know I was getting her to imitate the crane on the placard when I asked her to pose this way. I don't even know what it says.



But Carly was happy to imitate this smug cat.

Closeup of the smug cat^

Nice stained glass window below deck^

We did a lot more this weekend but I didn't take any pictures of those events. On Friday night, Carly and I cooked some curry and had the Strands up for dinner (Carly's neighbors two floors below us). Kendra is in school with Carly, and Greg, Kendra's husband, is taking care of their not-yet-two-year-old daughter, Emma Ruth, this year. Emma is super adorable, and I was trying to get her to say cute things all night, like "hot dog" as she slapped her knee, as a reaction to something funny. It didn't quite take, but I have time to work with her. Check out Carly's blog for cute pictures (http://carlyinthehomeland.blogspot.com/). On Saturday night, Carly and I went out to her friend Chris's house for a party with Carly's classmates. I ate way too much good food, but that's what happens when you go without guacamole, chips, and pumpkin cheese cake for six months. I'm slightly disgusted to say that I was simultaneously munching on tried squid throughout pieces of cheese cake and guacamole.

Sunday we relaxed and then I headed out at 7:46 on the shinkansen back to Kyoto. Back in the grind now. Can't wait to get back! But Carly is coming to Kyoto in two weeks. Countdown!