Welcome to Jim's running blog

7 miles on the Santa Ana River Trail this morning beginning at 6:30. No one on the trail until near the end of the run getting close to 7:30. Nice in the cool of the morning. No cars, expansive views across the now dry riverbed/flood zone.  Mild vapors along the way--pungent bitterness that reminded me of rotting birds under the freeway, the ozone smell of the train locomotive engine transformers as I passed under a very long train.  But really a very nice run.  Usual pace, started out slow about 11 min. per mile, ended up averaging slightly under 9 minutes/ mile pace.

So busy with term end and getting ready for trip to Japan. I'll try to run tomorrow and Sunday before the drive to LAX and Tokyo. 

Nice easy 4 miles with the San Bernardino Pacers. Friendly group.

In Tokyo, in an apartment next to the Hakusan Gotenzaka. 1.25 mile loop around the park.  All asphalt and concrete, but not much traffic so ok.

Long run down to the imperial palace and around it. Was out 1 1/2 hours, so probably about 8 miles considering the stop lights along the way. 

Down to the Imperial Palace and around it and back.  Ran one circuit in 23:45.  Not sure of the exact distance, I'll check in a moment. I was told it's "about 5 k."

 They were getting ready to hold a "Challenge Marathon," which I was told was 10 circuits around the palace, which would be a little over a marathon's distance, about 50 kilometers.  I think it'd be pretty cool to run a marathon around the palace, though it's going to get hot today. It's already sunny.