stretching out

got in and did 1500m today, long and strong, just to stretch.
fly felt great, so did breast for that matter. hm. that's odd.

1500m

Yoga and Pool

Yoga

I finally plugged in one of K's yoga videos that she left for me.
I got through some basic standing poses -enough to feel a good stretch.
40 minutes worth today. Will hopefully get to it again tomorrow.


Pool

800RIM
400 kick
2x400 free pull -focus on finishing, since my tris are killing me from surfing yesterday.
400 kick
200 cool down

2600m

Surfing

spent the day in the Japan sea learing how to surf. how surreal.

kayaking and surfing both in one week -crazy.

Swim

800RIM warm up
400kick
2x400 free pull
300 cool down

2300m

Kayaking and Frisbee

Went to Gokayama this weekend, did a little frisbee and a lota kayaking!!!


Fun Schtuff!

To work and back

I had to play at the children's center today. I say 'had to' because it wasn't by choice, but rather a demand by our BOE. I resent it, even though we are here not only in the capacity of 'teacher' but also under the guise of internationalization. There are other ways I would rather 'internationalize' for 2 hours, than playing dodgeball in an over heated gym with children who would be playing dodgeball regardless of my presence. I guess what gets me is the way it has been advertised. It's hard to translate the nuance of the title but it's something like 'come play with big brother and big sister'. I find it hard to take on the role 'big sister' for these children because most of them are my students during the rest of the year. I'm sure this is the only reason it bothers me so much. I don't want to be their 'friend' - yet of course I want to be friendly. The bottom line is that I see it as the BOE's view of my status here. It demotes me from the status of 'teacher', and puts me on a level where I'm just here to entertain.

Whew.

Bike: 16km

Bike to Ikuji Festival

it's a straight line from my apartment to Ikuji, an fishing area of Kurobe City.

Bike: 21km (in the dark -my headlight is out!!)

pedal pedal

did the loop again this morning and added an extra km.
baby steps, baby steps.

Bike: 13.5km

Bike loop

I went for another quick spin on my bike today. Not a great distance, but lots of climbing. I'm thinking if I get used to doing this loop a couple of times in a row -with a bit of speed, I'd consider doing another sprint tri next year.


Bike: 12km from my apt to funami and back

Bike

I headed to the beach on my bike in the middle of the day. The temp was above 35 degrees, but biking parallel to the river is a bit cooler as the air blows off the water. The bike down to the beach -not technically a beach I'm sure, but a small area where the river flows out into the Japan sea - is a beautiful one. I follow the river from Unazuki and the road meanders, dips, switches back, and floats me down to the sea. Along the way there are all kinds of parks and recreation areas built into the somewhat narrow floodplains. There is REAL grass where the park golf (a hybrid of golf and mini-golf) course is. There is a place designated for remote control helicopters to be flown. A stretch of pavement for skateboarding, a baseball diamond, soccer pitches and picnic areas.

Because of the intensity of the heat today, I made it half way to the beach and decided to stop at a small park area, lay down my towel and sit in the sun with my book instead. I enjoyed a good half hour read then strolled to the river to cool off before heading home.

A great way to spend an hour outside.

Bike:12km

Thwarted by a holiday

Tried to go to the pool tonight but it was closed -I think because of the holiday week. Blah. So I went home and walked to the grocery story for some fresh air. It was pitch black already and I nearly walked into a gaijin trap! Next time I'll bring a headlamp or something -this tiny rice field roads are dangerous!

Swim

2200m

800RIM
400kick
8x100 alt IM and Free
200 scull

to the beach and back

25km exacally

A bike to the beach.

It's twelve km from my new apartment.
The ride there is great (from mountains to sea), the ride back is another story...

With a couple of detours: 25km

Back at it, finally.

I made it to the pool today, the first time in over a month. It felt great and I wasn't as out of it as I thought I'd be. I hope I can begin to get back into it on a regular basis this month...we'll see.

1600m