On The Run - Asakusa

Do read my previous "On The Run" post too after finishing this. I had Yokohama, Yufuin and Takamatsu (Day I & II) posted up earlier.

In Asakusa, I had the luxury of starting my later in the morning as we would be out for sightseeing at 10.00am so I decided to only go out at 7.00am, after the sun was already shining and the day was bright and clear.

 

Kaminarimon in the early morning, sans hordes of tourists. One of my favourite time to hang out there, other than in the evening while viewing the illuminated temple.

At Azumabashi, a bit early for tourists to be up and about so bridge was devoid of pedestrians.

 Ran upriver and I took a look back and this is what I saw. The lovely Tokyo Sky Tree.

I wasn't sure how far I would go or where I'd end up to but I stayed by the river, making a straight run with no diversion anywhere. No left or right turn this time. In this back alley, there is actually distance marker so it is really helpful to gauge the distance for those without a running watch. I wasn't sure where I would head to, but I saw a few runners passing by so I decided to follow them (and get totally left in the dust by them soon after) *pant pant*

I ran up to this bridge and decided to run cross it rather than keeping on straight ahead. I told Rurousha that the bridge I saw was bluish. Dunno how I got that. This bridge is definitely not bluish, as you can see. ^^!

The view while running downriver.

In case you didn't know what river I was running beside.

Ran past a tent village(?) With allocated slots and what looks like permanent wooden structure there too.

Saw boats chugging by

Crossed Azumabashi and decided that I needed to run some more, so continued my run toward Kaminarimon and back to the hotel. Still feeling it wasn't enough as I took running breaks for a few days, I ran past our hotel and continued until I made a one hour run. Good thing I didn't get lost that day! ;p

People bustling - rushing to work and kids to school. Such a lovely, normal everyday sight. ^^

Running by the Sumida river was completely an enjoyable experience for me. I ran my fastest pace there and felt like I can go on and on, if not for the time constraints. I wanted to do another run the next day before taking our flight back home but finally decided against it because I didn't want to aggravate that cute blister of mine. I'm kicking myself now for being lazy! I should've done another run there!

On The Run - Takamatsu (Day II)

After an interesting discourse over those blokes in Asakusa in my previous post, we are back to my running series post. What an anti-climax, eh? LOL

Do read my previous "On The Run" post too after finishing this. I had Yokohama, Yufuin and Takamatsu (Day I) posted up earlier.

I started my run on Day 2 in Takamatsu half an hour earlier than the day before because I wanted to do at least 10K that day. With such gung-ho spirit, I went out and decided it was too cold to run by the pier again so I decided to just hit the pavement beside Tamamo-koen and to avoid the strong wind I might feel if I run towards the lighthouse.

The pavement beside the park. Not too many runners on this pavement as opposed to the pier nearby. The day before, when I ran on the pier towards the beautiful glass lighthouse, there were plenty of runners about.For obvious reason - the view there was lovelier. And I saw the sun rise right before my eyes too. :)

A ferry jetty across the street from where I was running.

Made a few loops before the blister on my left heel started to bother me so I decided to cut short my run and ran back to our hotel. But ended up running towards the covered shopping street for a couple of kms before deciding to call it quits and walked back to the hotel. One thing good about running at the covered shopping street - it's warmer since there are no strong winds to make you cold but due my blister, I think I only managed a 6 or 7K run that morning. huhuhu

As I came back to our hotel room earlier than expected, it took Zaini awhile to open the door. I think I had to wait a full 5 minutes before he finally opened the door! I had thought he was in the bathroom but turned out he was so soundly asleep, he didn't hear me knocking the door.

Before you ask why I didn't bring an extra room key/ring the doorbell - we stayed at Toyoko Inn. Only 1 key is given and it's needed to switch on the light. And no doorbell at the rooms either. It's a budget hotel after all.

Later that morning, rather shamefacedly I have to confess that I did this when travelling in the train from Takamatsu to Okayama. I have no choice!

Remember this? This cute little blister that bugged me from Day 4 in Japan. （・∀・）

My feet was hurting and I need to put it up. Raimie didn't complain so I'm confident that my foot of mine didn't stink that day.

Anyway, the feet need to be put up for a while because if you remember, from  Takamatsu we went to Okayama, then made our way to Nara, made a short stop in Kyoto and then to Osaka before taking a midnight train up north. We were out and about from 10.00am till midnight!

Sunrise!

How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!

                                                       John Muir 

A couple more photos, a continuation of my "On The Run - Takamatsu (Day I)" post. Nothing spectacular but I thought it would be nice for me to share it.

(And it's an excuse to put up quotes after quotes in my posts!)

Waking up early later this morning again, so I should make a point to enjoy the sunrise here at home too!

On The Run - Takamatsu (Day I)

Read my previous "On The Run" post too after finishing this. I had Yokohama and Yufuin posted up earlier.

We arrived Takamatsu quite late the night before and I hadn't had the chance to recce the route for my run. But lucky for me, the port is only 1km from our hotel and it looked like a good bet for a good running place for me.

Started out at 6.30am and it was still dark outside. I'm so used of vacationing in Japan on other seasons that had the sun rising at 5.00am, it was rather a bummer for me to see the still dark sky at this time. It's like going out for my early morning run in Malaysia. Except it's colder. Waaaaaaaayy colder.

Walked the 1km as my warm-up and after seeing a few runners passed me by, I started my run from the Kotoden Takamatsu Chikko Station, past this art installation,

past by the rather quiet jetty with only a few ferries about, with passengers boarding them

up to the pier where the red lighthouse is, passing by men intently watching their fishing poles or putting baits on that cold Monday morning and plenty of people having their morning exercise and then double back and ran towards the apartment complex by the port area and then, head back to the lighthouse for a few more loops.

I was huffing and puffing doing my run yet many doing their rounds look so relaxed and they were way faster than me! Oh gosh! I probably looked like a lumbering bear there. (T_____T)

I probably won't see such scenery if I'm not into running and willing enough to wake up early. Watching the sun rises over the horizon while doing something I enjoy - priceless! And being able to share my experience makes me happy.

And that's why folks, I always run with my compact camera in hand. Yes, while running in road races too. ^^. Saying that, I probably should get myself a waterproof camera soon. I don't know how long my compact can withstand being drenched in my sweat. xD

On The Run - Yufuin

Read my first post of this "On The Run" series at:
On The Run - Yokohama
to know why I'm all excited about doing morning runs in Japan. ^^

I didn't really have running gear suitable for the colder season and buying new ones would be such a waste since I'm only using it a few times so to keep me warm, I just put on my Uniqlo heatech shirt and another shirt on top it and my usual capri pants.

Started later than I wanted because I overslept. I trust my body-clock to wake me up and I'm usually  awake by 5.30am but somehow only managed to be up at 7.00am that day!

Zaini and I went out at 8.00am (after having a soak in the hot spring water to warm up my muscles. heh) and headed off to nearby Lake Kinrinko. Had an hour of leisurely stroll around the lake area and decided to return to our hotel when tour buses started disgorging tourists to the area.

Zaini returned to our cottage, while I started my run along from the hotel along the small river that leads out from Lake Kinrinko and made a bit of detour towards the paths towards the fields but I didn't stray too far from the river. Don't want to get lost now, do we?

I don't know what it is with people and asking me stuff, but I have had encounters when I ran around Presint 5 in Putrajaya (where people might come and visit the Pullman Hotel and Putrajaya International Convention Centre) and gotten stopped a few times either for directions or being asked to take their photos. Heck! I've had a guy asked me for the time when I was running in the Putrajaya Night Marathon! Like, seriously?

So while pounding the road there, which by 9.00am were already busy with visitors in tour groups with guides armed hailers and the like,  I avoided any eye-contact with all of them. Yes, nobody got a "ohaiyou gozaimasu" from me when I'm running. Though plenty when I was walking with hubby.

45 minutes later while I was doing my cool-down walk towards our cottage, two Japanese ladies with a map asked me for the way to a temple (or something of similar nature) nearby.  I was naughty. I let them finish their sentences before going with my usual "aaa.... Nihongo de wakarimasen".

On The Run - Yokohama

After my Autumn Reminiscence series, I thought I'd start on another. And it's something that I love doing and that's running, folks. Combine running and venturing out in a strange city = seeing things I probably won't be seeing otherwise.

On this "On The Run" Series, I'm just sharing photos I took while out running in a few places in Japan. ^^

My first running experience  in Japan was in Yokohama. We stayed in a hotel just a few steps away from Shin-Yokohama Station and also quite near to Nissan Stadium.

We were going to take a train at 9.00am to Yufuin that morning so I needed to do my run early, to make time for rest, shower and breakfast. I woke up at 5.30am and got ready by 6.00am. Hubby had kindly accompanied me walking to the nearby park located in front of Nissan Stadium but he didn't linger for long. For good reason because it was drizzling when we made our way there. Since I am already up and alert, I decided to do a short run rather than going back to our hotel. Zaini on the other hand, after deciding that it was probably safe to leave me there alone, went back to the warmth of our hotel room.

If I'm not mistaken,  I was running alongside the riverbank park of the Toriyama River. I wish the sun had risen much earlier but it was still dark after I finished my run at 7.00am.

Nissan Stadium in an almost darkness state. While doing my run there, saw a few runners doing their morning run too. See, I wasn't the only one who would do this on a cold, rainy morning. ^^

And this, the West Gate Bridge from Nissan Stadium for those heading to Shin-Yokohama Station. I made a few stop while doing a couple of laps there, to try take a good photo of the area with my compact camera. As you can see, didn't do much of a job at it. Ah well. C'est la vie.

and the last lap, on the gravelly path by the river back to our hotel. Next time, if we come back to this part of the world, I am going to take day photos of the area (and of course, do a bit of running again).

Still, if not for my running shoes, I would not have seen and experience this view of Japan during my trip. And I'm so happy I did! :)