Training Log: ColmM

Quick train out west for the Shizuoka parkrun !
Made it with a minute to spare, legs pretty ruined from the last few days of descending, and body fairly cooking in the heat.
Left Ali off to the lead pack, and nestled myself into the 2nd pack, they mostly went back, but one guy passed me after 1-2km. Held on for a little, but it was too much hard work in the heat. Settled for where I was in 5th, but did have to pick it up a tad in the last km as 2 boys nearly caught me again.
Brilliant to dip under 21 - that was tough.
Sat around then found a tap and then fountain-pool where we drenched ourselves before heading back.

Another great big old day of climb with Ali.
Up Mt. Kaikomo from the campsite / river to the east. It was awkward to find somewhere nearby to stay, but we got a guesthouse with another incredibly friendly host. The microphone version of google translate got us past any language barrier, and he dropped us up to the hot springs the evening before, and then dropped us to the start of the trail for this - very accommodating.
We made friends with James / Chris initially but sadly had to drop him on the climb. Big long old slog at points because it is 2200m in one go, but despite some very thirsty moments, we made it to the hut three quarters of the way up for water refills and a coke.
From there, it was a few more ladders and some bits of scrambling, but nothing crazy before we were at the top.
The dream view of Mt. Fuji sadly didn’t materialise (until the train later in the evening), but as the cloud rolled through, it was still beautiful.
And then a big long descent on the beautiful quick single-tracks, in typically beautiful Japanese forest along the ridge line. A treat.
Lower down we got into some great descending, skipping the switchbacks for fun forest lines.
Dip in the river at the end, another great one.

Nice little morning jog with Ali, followed by a Brie & hamless sandwich for breakfast.
Then a nice little dip in the Azusa afterwards, in some of the clearest water I’ve ever swam in, and against some of the strongest currents !

We waited a little while after our 05:00 breakfast because it was really heavy rain and didn’t feel ideal for the ensuing scrambling.
This calmed down a bit after 07:00, so we set off up the final top, and then the long descent.
The descent was far trickier than I’d probably anticipated, still lots of chains, little scrambles and ladders in place, so we didn’t get much proper running in until the bottom stretch after we’d passed the lower hut.
And then a mini-reprimand from Rika, but also lots of smiles to see us at the campsite.
Later in the day they were delighted to provide us with another evening of accommodation and have us hang around.

Running over to book another eve

Mt. Yarigatake - Hodaka Circuit.
Though we underestimated the route & the mighty Daikiretto ridge (!!), so as sun set and we had another summit to go we chuckled our way into Hotakadake sanso - circuit not complete.

Will write a bit more later.
These new Altras I picked up are a right treat.

Nice little evening run with Ali around Matsumoto, still feeling a bit like fat camp. Heat not quite as bad as Tokyo, but still humid enough to be incredibly sweaty.
Up to the Alps park and back along the river. Stomach turned which is quite unusual for me, and got a case of the mini-dumpies for a couple hours but no more, good turnaround.

Fell asleep at 16:00ish and woke up at 20:30, missing the run-club!! No, very sad.