Training Log Archive: dkonotopetz

I woke-up at 6:00 am. and made my way to the start area via subway. When I arrived at the start area at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices at Sinjuku there were many people. The security was much tighter than the 2014 addition of the race. The security was similar to what you would find at an airport. There were metal detectors, body/bag searches and a limit of 400 ml. water bottles. The temperature was 5°C and the weather was overcast, raining lightly. I went to the changing room, changed my cloths and got ready for the race. After changing and stretching I dropped off my bag and made my way up the stairs to the start line. I tried to make my way as close to the front as possible. I remembered from last year that there were a lot of charity runners and/or people in costumes in Wave A. As I waited in excitement for the gun to go off and for my second chance at this IAAF Gold Label Race I was very cold. Finally the gun went off and the mass of people began to move towards the Shinjuku intersection. I was feeling good as I settled into a comfortable pace and before I knew it I hit the 5 km. mark in 20:04. I took a gel at the 8 km. mark as I made my way around the Imperial Palace. Around the 13 km. mark I saw the leaders going the opposite direction around the 17 km. mark for them. I took another gel at the 16 km. mark and I was feeling really strong at this point. Then I rounded the U-turn at Shinagawa and then made my way back towards Ginza. I crossed the halfway point in 1:25:52! I was slightly behind my goal pace of 2:55, but I was feeling strong and passing more people than people were passing me. I took gels at the 23 km. and 26 km. water stations and then made the turn at the Asakusa area of Tokyo (the area that I was staying in). I felt like my pace was slowing slightly around 30 km. The 30-35 km. split indicates that I was 2:25 slower than the first 5 km. I could smell the finish line and I wanted a PB more than anything. I knew that I could do it; I just needed to pick-up my pace. I took another gel at the 32 km. water station and got a little spike in energy, which helped me. I fought my way up the bridges between around the 36.5 km. to 38.5 km. marks. I tried to pick-up my pace as I made the last left turn of the race. I crossed the line in a new PB time of 2:57:21!! I was on top of the world. I placed 890/34,063 overall, 146/2,616 in the 25-29 age group and 3/100 Canadians.

Splits:
0-5 km. - 20:04
5-10 km. - 20:08
10-15 km. - 20:12
15-20 km. - 20:18
Half- 1:25:52
20-25 km. - 20:54
25-30 km. - 21:30
30-35 km. - 21:40
35-40 km. - 22:29
40-42.2 km. - 10:06

Results: http://www.tokyo42195.org/2015/result/detail.php
Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6595856
Race Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOxW2dtzNQA

Phetkasem Rd., Buddhamonthon Sai 4 Rd. to Buddhamonthon park, 1 lap of the park and back.

C • nice training 2

5-2 win vs. the Ramkhamhaeng Red Wings, 2 goals.

Phetkasem Rd. to Phetkasem Soi 49 (Soi William) and back.