Garmin Training Plan ~Update

Germin Training Plan

I have planter fasciitis since late last year.  It is getting better and I plan to resume daily training.  So that I visited Garmin Training Plan page again.

One of mistake for recovery from stress fracture on my left leg was I picked full marathon plan.  Even it was "level 1", it was probably too much right after injury.  This time, I was considering to pick 10km or half marathon plan.

However, the page has some new plan in "other" category.  In the category, there are some plans "Getting started".   I just looked into the contents and it might be a good one for the recovery or beginner who just started running.

For recovery / beginner

I would think that people who is on the way to recovery or beginner may start with 3 times a week.  Also it better to increase the training time or total distance slowly.  For the point of view, it could be better to pick 5km / 10km or getting started.

In early stage menu is starting walking, it is good to slowly start. 

The other thing people might want to check is contents in the last a few weeks.  That indicates the goal of the plan, therefore it is good to check them.  Just contents of the time / distance and etc.

I realized this is very important to avoid injury due to over trained.   Having just a day for resting help to recovery the body.


I think overall the Garmin plan is getting improved.  Only thing they did not describe clearly who would the target people.   Other than that, the coverage for the most of regular runners  is good.

I may start a "level 1" 10km or half marathon plan to catch up!

Alviso Marina County Park

Alviso Marina County Park

Alviso is the south end of San Francisco Bay.  There is a small village and a few restaurants in this area.   At the end of the road, there is a small park called Alviso Marina Country Park.
In a map, it seems to be a part of the bay, however, if we go there, it looks like a trail around a lake.

From the parking lot, there is a trail loop and I went there for jogging this morning when my kids were in Japanese school in San Jose.


Jogging on a trail

Due to some rain yesterday, the trail was muddy again.   It was not easy to run in the condition.  Within a several steps, a lot of mud stick to soles and it was getting heavy in the first 20 to 30 minutes.   There is some cloud, but overall it was nice weather.
Along the trail, there are yellow flowers, they look like rape blossoms, but it might be different one.  A little wind was good for jogging, it was not too hot, not to cold.  

 Flowers on the both sides of trail

For me, it was the first time to jog this trail and I am not sure if I could do loop.   So I just watched time and distance on my GPS watch.  If I took two hours or 6~7 miles, I planed to turn around.  However, it was all right and I could do loop.   Most of people turned around around 2 ~3 miles, only one group was doing loop.

 Rail road -- Straight!

The second half was along a rail road and it was a really long straight section.   In this section, there was some white bubble, I did not know the word in English, based on a dictionary, it seems that it would be named whitecap in English.   It was on the trail and it looked like snow on the trail.....

 Beautiful sky!

 It was like snow!

The distance of the loop is about 9 miles and I slowly jogged there and I took 2 hours.  

After jogging, I went to Maria Elena's Mexican Restaurant for lunch.   It was not so crowded like weekdays and I had a nice time in Alviso.

Map I jogged today

Introducing mountains in Japan (7) Mt. Aizu-Koma (Aizukomagatake)

At the top of Mt. Aizu-Koma

Mt. Aizu-Koma (Koma-ga-take)

Mt. Aizu-Koma is in "Fukushima-ken".   Now "FUKUSHIMA" is very famous for the nuclear power plant accident in 2011.    The plan is located on the Pacific Ocean side and the mount is located on the mountain side.

The area is about 250km from Tokyo.   It is hard to access using train and most of people drive a car to get there.  The most popular trail head for this mountain is called "Hinoemata" where is also another trail head to Mt. Hiuchi (Hiuchi-ga-take) in Oze (Previous post for this area) from the north side.  This is also a good trail.

The region is also an area getting a lot of snow in winter in Japan.  Since I really like back-country skiing and I only visited there for skiing.   However, hiking in the other seasons is also very nice to see many wild flowers along the trail as well as very beautiful changing color in autumn.

Hinoemata

Hinoemata is a very small village in FUKUSHIMA.  It is famous for Japanese noodle "SOBA".  Also, there are some public hot springs in this area.   There is a big pool using hot spring as well.   The area used to be very quiet and not many people were visiting there.   However, after some development, the area is getting famous and more people are visiting there.

It is very nice we can take hot springs after hiking and we can eat nice Japanese noodle "SOBA".

Season to visit

 In winter time, it might be hard to be there due to so much snow over there.  As I mentioned that people usually need to drive a car to get there, therefore, it is not easy to drive a car in winter time.  I guess the best season is spring to autumn.   In early spring, there is still much snow to enjoy back country skiing.  Without ski, I guess it might be hard to climbing up there.

Late in spring to autumn, different wild flowers along the trails and driving there is much easier than winter.  People can enjoy many things in this area.

It is not easy to get a rent car for foreign people to drive there.   However, it is worth to visit if you really like quiet and beautiful nature over there.  You may take a train and take a taxi to be there.  It would be a long drive from a train station.  In this case, people may take Tohoku-Shinkansen to Nasu Shiobara station, then taking a taxi to Hinoemata.  It will take a several hours from Tokyo.

Pear

Baby pears in the back yard!

Pear

I have some spare time before going to a school to drop my kids.  I found many baby pears on a tree when I was watering in the back yard.

I thought a season for pears is around summer to autumn.  So that I did not realize baby pears on a tree in spring.   I just remember that the flowers were blooming a month ago, that is almost the same time as cherry blossoms.

 Flowers of pear (shot on March 18th)

Pear flowers is not really gorgeous like cherry blossoms.  But it is really pretty white flowers.   Since blooming flowers a months ago, as a result it comes into bearing now and they will be glowing during spring and summer time.  It is not to easy to realize this fact...

A photo of a day

Since last year, I try to take a photo once a day, a photo of a day.  The photo would be something I found in my daily life.  It is not easy task for me.   I am looking into my daily life to find something interesting.

A typical day, I drop my kids at their school in the morning before going to work.  Then I usually work in the office all mode all day.   At the end of the day, I just go back home.  It is really routine and usually nothing new.   Some time like today, if I do something different from a typical days, then I might be able to find something different from my daily life.  I hope I can find something everyday.

It makes me happy, I feel it is something a new world.

This task is not easy, but I will try to look into my daily life from different angle to find out something new and / or something different.

Anyway, it was really nice day today.  I felt so happy since I found baby pears in my yard.   Maybe I will check them everyday, how they glow up!

I am looking forward to finding something different tomorrow!

Big Sur International Marathon 2014

Big Sur International Marathon 

Big Sur International Marathon is one of most popular marathon race in California.  For this year's race registration, it was sold out within a few hours on the first day of the registration.
The course is a beautiful along a coast line on CA-1.

Last year, I ran the race without enough  training due to an injury, stress fracture, on my left leg.  I wanted to run it with a good condition.  So that I register the race this year again.

Planter faciitis

Since I finished a full marathon last year, the stress fracture on my left leg was healed.  I supposed to resume a regular training and I would be a good condition this year.
Unfortunately, I got planter faciitis late last year.  This is for the first time for me and I had never had it before.   The training was not getting really hard like before I got stress fracture.   Due to a recovery phase, I did not push me very hard.   But some reason, the pain was getting worse and I saw a few doctors.

However, I have not recovered from it yet.   It is getting better last a few months, but I feel a little pain at the first step when I get out from a bed in the morning.   I stopped running since late last year and I only did elliptical in a gym.   Last a few weeks, I tried to run around 10 miles, however, the pain was getting a bit worse.

So I decided not to run this year's race........

Today, I call a hotel to cancel the reservation this weekend.

No good treatment.....

Planter faciitis is not easy to get healed.   Even if I stopped running for a few months, the pain in the morning has never been going away.  Only improvement is a day time, after a several week of rest, I did not feel any pain in a day time.

Per doctor's suggestion, I stopped running, did stretching every day including night splint, put a special sole to support arch and etc.
They might help to release from pain, however, once I resume running, the pain is always coming back.....

Hope I can run the race next year

I really want to run Big Sur with a good condition.  I probably try it next year again.   Now I am focused on recovery from the injury. 
I hope it is getting better and I can find a solution continue to do regular base training.

Luna Eclipse

About 1 hour after total eclipse

Series of Lunar eclipse / Solar eclipse this year and next year

Yesterday, April 15, 2014, there was a Lunar eclipse in North America.  According to the news, there will be a series of Lunar / Solar eclipse events this year and next year.  Yesterday's event is the first one.

Here in northern California or San Francisco bay area, the eclipse started around 10pm last night and it was end around 4am in the next day.   After midnight, it was total eclipse and the moon was getting into red, it is called "blood moon".

Unfortunately, the sky was not very clear last night and some time cloud covered the moon.   Since the progress was slow, I was doing something else other than observing the event.   When I got out the back yard, it was around 1am and the moon was almost total eclipse.   I tried to take some photo of the total eclipse.  However, due to some cloud covered the moon, my photo was not very good.

 It is not very clear, but this is the total eclipse

The moon was red!

I gave up to take photos.  But before going to bed, I checked out side and sky was getting clear, the moon was like a half moon.  I took some photos that is shown on top of this post.

This year, there will be another Lunar Eclipse on October 8 and there will be another two events in April and September.  There will be also two Solar Eclipse, but they won't be seen in North America this year.  There is more detail information on NASA web site.

There will be some events next year, 2015 as well.  

A series of such event is not typical, it is good for kids to see the events.  I guess it would be much better to see on a book. 

Next one will be coming October!   Let's mark this date on a calender and see the whole event!

Introducing mountains in Japan (6) - Mt.Echigo-Koma (Echigo-Komagatake)

Mt. Echigo-Koma (Echigo-Komagatake) in March

Mt. Echigo-Koma (Echigo-Komagatake)

Mt. Echigo-Koma is located in Nigata-ken about 2~3 hours from Tokyo by super-express-train (Shinkansen).   It is about 230km from Tokyo.  Urasa　Station is the closest station the express train stops.  However, the public transportation is not very convenient in this region.  You may need to take a taxi to get there.

As you probably know, I like back country skiing, therefore the top picture was taken in early spring in March.  This mountain is really nice back country skiing area.    It is quiet and not many people go there for skiing due to very long approach in early season in March.   Due to so much snow in this area in winter, the major road is closed during winter, so that it is not easy to approach this mountain in winter.  Depending on the progress of snow removal, a major road called "Okutadami Silver line" may open some time in March ~ April.  Then, people can access to Ginzan daira by car.  Starting from this time of a year, some people start visiting for skiing.

Approach in early spring, March~April

In early spring, the approach is still long, but it is much better than winter time.  People may reach to the top by ski from Ginzandaira around 4~6 hours depending on the snow condition.   The going down is easy and fast by ski.   Around Michiyuki-yama is tree line.  Above the mountain, the sloop is really wide open and it is very good for skiing.

For me, early spring is the best season to visit this mountain.   However, this mountain is good to try in summer and fall.   Then, people can approach from north side of Ograyama (Mt. Ogra).  There is a hot spring on the north side named "Komano-yu".   A lodge would open in late spring and many people approach to this mountain in late spring to fall.

There is a lodge near the top of the mountain and people can stay over night in the lodge.  In busy season, a person is in the lodge to maintain the lodge.  People can stay there, but people need to bring own food and cook by themselves.  It helps people to spend more time on their way with many wild flowers and nice view.  The trail is a long and  a day trip could be hard for many hikers, so that the load near the summit is helping a lot!

Echigo 3 zan (Major 3 mountains in this area)

In this area, Japanese people called "3 major mountains in Echigo, Echigo is an old region name for this area", which are Echigo-Koma-Nakano-dake and Hakai-san.  Walking though those 3 mountains are nice.  However a ridge between Nakano-dake and Hakai-san is really narrow.  So that if people wants to walk through this mountain, going to Mt. Tango could be easy choice.   There is another lodge near the peak of Mt. Tango.  This course is also long, but it could be easier than going to Hakai san.

After hiking!

There are some hot-springs in this area.  People can enjoy hot-spring (Onsen in Japanese) before / after hiking.  This is one of really good things to visit this area.  Also, you can find many nice Japanese Sake in this area.  This area is really famous to making very good Japanes Sake in this area in Japan.  One brand name after one of major mountain in this area, Hakkai-san (八海山) is very famous in Japan.  You may find it in a local liquor shop!

Local food in this area could be a fish from river / lake like rainbow trout, wild vegetable dishes from the local mountain.   In fall,  I guess some mushroom dish could be a good one to try.

The area is a bit far from Tokyo, but you can see old Japanese culture over there.  If you need more information, I can help to find them out!!  Please let me know!  

Mt. Whitney Lottery result 2014

From the top of Mt. Whitney

(North side)

Lottery Result for 2014 is on the web site

Mt. Whitney Lottery for 2014 was closed last months and the result is available on the web site.
I thought it was notified by E-mail.  At least, I got the notice last 2 years.   However, it seems that it has been changed.  It is indicated on a web site, Inyo National Forest page.

I also filed the application and I had been waiting for the result.  I checked the result today and I won!


If you file the application, it is better to check it now and need to accept the result by April 30 with the payment.   Otherwise, the spot will be invalid. 

The rest of spots

Based on limit for each day, all available spots are ready to book on the site since April 1st.   This is first come / first serve basis.  If you did not win the lottery and you are flexible for the days, you might have a chance to get a spot.   You can check it on the same site that you submitted the lottery application.  If you really want to hike Mt. Whitney this season, you'd better to hurry!

Be prepared!

Mt. Whitney trail is not technically so difficult.   The trail it self is not really steep.  Overall, it is easy.  However, the total distance from the trail head to the top of mountain is long.  It is better to have training in regular basis.   Then, you might have a better chance to get to the top.

Anyway, the lottery result is ready.

Black Mountain Hiking !

Nice Blue sky!

I went hiking to Black Mountain while kids were in Japanese school today.

Black Mountain

Black Mountain is one of peaks on a hill located west side of Silicon valley.   On the hill, it is a wide ridge and a trail is going through from a winery Ridge to Page Mill Road.   The trail is not really steep and I used to run in this area for my training.  Due to an injury on my left foot, I was just walking for fun!

 There is a course guide and map in the parking lot

To reach the top of Black Mountain, one is from Rancho San Antonio and the other is either from Page Mill Road or Skyline Boulevard.   Today, I started from a parking lot on Skyline Blvd.
This parking is usually not busy and it is easy to find out a parking spot.   I think parking along Page Mill might be a little harder.   So I always park a parking along Skyline Blvd.  This area is Skyline ridge open space preserve.  There is an area map in the parking lot.

 Parking lot

From Skyline Blvd

First of all, from the parking lot, we need to across Skyline Blvd.  Then there is a gate to get into the trail.

 Trail entrance on Skyline Blvd

 From the parking lot, the trail is going down to Stevens Creek, the trail name is Skid Road Trail.  Due to rainy days last a several days, the trail was muddy and it was not easy to walk this morning.  The trail is getting into in a forest and there is a nice shade in summer time.  However, the trail was getting more muddy today.

There was nice shade!

The trail merges Stevens Creek Nature Trail and continue to go down to the creek.  In summer time, there is usually no water, but this time of the season, the water stream was still there and the sound of the water stream was really comfortable.  The birds were singing.  There is no other people except some mountain biker some time.  I really enjoy a quiet trail in the morning. 

Once we get out from the forest, there is no tree

The trail merges Canyon Trail and branch to Indian Creek Trail.  The trail is a fire track lane, but view is really nice.  The sky is blue and cloud in the sky is really beautiful.  It was getting warmer and started sweating.  But it is a part of training, so that I kept fast walking pace to the top of the hill.

 Top of the hill is wide open

It's almost the top of Black Mountain!

On the top of hill, it is flat and wide.  The view for the east side is nice.  We can see Silicon Vally.

View from the top of the hill

I saw San Francisco!!

On the way back, I took different trail.  Old Ranch Trail to Bella Vista Trail, then back to Canyon Trail.   This trail is really quiet, I only saw a trail runner other than deers.

Getting back to the shade near creek, the trail was getting dry and it was not too bad like early in the morning.

I think Spring is the best season, we can see many wild flowers including California Poppy.   I would recommend to try this!

 I do not know this flower name, but it is pretty

California Poppy

(End)

Kids are in Spring break now!

California Poppy is getting blooming

Spring Break Now!

Kids are in Spring break this week.   We send kids to a spring camp during daytime.  This camp supposes to do various outdoor activities such as hiking.   However, due to rainy weather last a few days, they need to stay indoor.

The alternate location for the camping is near hills in the town.   Behind the building, there is hills and they are getting really green now.   One of symbol for spring in California is "California Poppy" that is an orange flower and we can see almost everywhere in the bay area in spring.

I started seeing the flowers a few weeks ago.  However, last a few days this week is getting back to cold weather with rain.   Today, I saw the flower is not blooming.

Mountains are getting much snow last a several days.  It is April, but it seems that all ski resorts in Tahoe area become really good condition, it could be one of the best this season.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is also getting much snow last a few days per a web cam.  If I have some time, I really want to go there one more time, it could be a day trip due to resuming Japanese school this weekend.....