The Tonjinbo 62km Ultra
I am just back from taking part in the 2025 Tojinbo 62km ultra, and it has been a great experience. So, at the risk of boring everybody, here is the story, with pictures.
Japan
The Minano 50K Trail Race
I have just had a fantastic weekend participating in the Minano 50K Trail Race (a 52km race in the mountains near Chichibu, Japan). Here is my account of the race.
Enjoying Golden Week
In Japan around the end of April and the start of May is Golden Week. This is a when four public holidays coincide and which has led to a custom of making this a special week, with lots of people going on trips. This week I was lucky enough to be invited by two friends to join them on a four-day, Go
Making the most of opportunities
Compared with most people, I am very lucky in the opportunities I get. One skill I have developed over the years is to grab opportunities when they arise and seek to enjoy the moment. This weekend was a good example of luck and of seizing the moment. I am in Japan for just under a month, a mixture o
A tough, different, and enjoyable half-marathon
On Friday, I landed in Japan (from the UK), met two friends, and travelled to Hakone to a hotel near Lake Ashi (芦ノ湖). Saturday (yesterday), we all took part in the Hakone running festival. I chose the half marathon, which was a hilly out-and-back course. I knew I would be sub-par from the travel, so
The journey to Japan starts
My 24 hour journey (a 13 hour flight to Singapore, a 2 hour layover, a 7 hour flight to Tokyo, and then 2 hours of immigration and travel into Tokyo) starts with breakfast in the Singapore Airlines lounge, a benefit of being a Singapore Airlines regular flyer. Breakfast included a bacon roll, probab
Off to study Japanese
I am on my way to Tokyo to spend a month studying Japanese. I have an apartment booked for one month and I meet my tutor on Thursday. How will it go? Well, my optimism is high, but over the last 57 years I have not shown any aptitude for languages, so my optimism has to be tempered with some realism