2016 Kurahashi Aquathon

１７回倉橋アクアスロン大会
2016年7月16日（土）

Strange to be writing a race report for the first time in about two years now. Can`t technically call it a race since was not able to properly train for this, but regardless, want to remember this experience so am writing anyways.

This was my second time participating in the Kurahashi Aquathon and the first time was two years ago when I was living in Kurahashi.

http://jordanlangen.blogspot.jp/2014/08/kurahashi-aquathon.html

Wasn`t able to attend the Matsumura BBQ the day before the race but thankfully after work on Saturday, was able to bike out to Kurahashi and catch the Fireworks at Katsuragahama beach. Saw many people and students for the first time in two years. Felt great to be able to reconnect with everyone. Had a few drinks after arriving to Kurahashi.

Last year was Morimoto Sensei`s first year starting the S Type which is a 3.8KM Swim and 42.195 Run. Wanted to do this despite the deep lack of training and base that I`ve had during normal training times so decided to do the `A Type` instead.

After the Fireworks went onto the Miyahide ship and headed back to wear they had to BBQ again this year. Then when back with Haruka and Ryuuma to Tacchan`s home and watched the recording of the TV I was on. Haha Kinda strange to watch myself but wasn`t as bad as expected.

http://www.tss-tv.co.jp/ikitagarino/20160709_2.html

The next morning Tacchan dropped me off at Katsuragahama and checked in a few minutes late. Organized stuff to put in drop box. This year was using Kashima`s Hiroki`s fisherman wetsuit again.

It`s embarrassing to say, and one of my pet peeves was listening to people talk about their lack of training before races, but I only allowed myself to get into a pool once before this race. Was a little nervous about having to wear the wetsuit again and what swimming in the ocean would be like for the first time of the year, but new for sure was going to finish, just thought it would be a bit uncomfortable.

Waited until last minute to put on the wetsuit and was the last numbered participant in the A Type race at 110. Gathered near the rear of the start and Morimoto Sensei greeted us out into the water.

It actually felt good to get into the water as it became quite warm sitting in the wetsuit for the past 10 minutes or so. The water was refreshing and the wetsuit was surprisingly more buoyant than I remember. Held off on using much energy and just tried to relax as much as possible. Took a minute or so to get out of the hustle and bustle of all the people slapping arms but was able to find a slot next to the buoy rope which was on the right hand side. Kept trying to comfortably cruise and relax. Was taking some time to get out to the first buoy. I remember seeing the first A Type swimmers on their way back and used that as a guidance as to how far ahead they were. Not as far as I expected the first time around. Made it to the turn-around buoy and decided would clear the goggles once arriving back on shore for the next turn-around. On the way back it became even more opened up and enjoyed being by myself and just trying to relax. Kept breathing on just the right side and my right side kneck starting to feel uncomfortable from the rubbing already. Remembered last year was pretty bad too.  Slowly made progress back to the shore-line and again I remember being happy being able to make out the voices of the announcer back on shore. Saw Morimoto-Sensei and Iwashiro-san as I got out of the water to turn-around. Got back in the water quickly and it felt nice to have a couple second break on the chest and to also clear the goggles. Was only half-way done with the swim but the chest felt pretty sore and I remember feeling my legs starting to cramp a little bit. I don`t kick much while swimming but for some reason the hamstrings tighten up a bit and get on the verge of cramping. Was making slow progress out to the turn around buoy and their was starting to be less and less people around me. This allowed me to relax even more and to get a little better swimming form. As was trying to keep head facing the bottom of the sea, started to notice the little jellyfish swimming around. I remembered last year that there was alot and they would occasionally run into your face while swimming. They are small little white ones which are harmless. The ocean is a bit scary to swim in still as you never know what could be under you. Was starting to look forward to that second turn-around buoy more and more. Saw the leaders of the swim and they seemed to be way ahead of me. Actually the people who I saw might not have even been the leaders as they could have made their way back to shore by the time I made my second lap out to sea again. Reached second buoy and after getting away from a few people, cleared the goggles and took a little breather. Felt nice to do that but didn`t want to get used to that feeling and didn`t want to regret not pushing more on the swim. Was trying to find that balance of what the maximum amount of energy I could exert while still having time to the 20KM after. My teleo-anticipation was clearly not as tuned as before due to the lack of strenous runs/races in the last couple years. Was a big guess but knew needed to conserve as much energy as possible. Legs kept getting close to cramping and chest was starting to get extremely sore. `Man I should have swam more leading up to this!` is what I thought to myself probably 50 times during the swim hah. Was getting more and more excited to just get to shore and rip that wetsuit off. The neck was feeling more tender now and new there was gonna be some good marks in the days to follow.  Started seeing the dark sea become more and more green as approached the beach and and kept trying to keep relaxed until got right up to the sand where I could touch.

Hopped out of the water and jogged over to the fresh water pool where I asked the volunteer girl to help with the wetsuit zipper. Got the wetsuit top part off and jogged over to my bucket with running stuff. Felt so top heavy as my tits bobbed up and down on the way to my bucket. Haha

Thankfully Iwashiro-san borrowed me a little towel so was able to use that dry off a bit before putting on the socks. Still ended up being quite wet as I put the shoes on but just wanted to get running.

Got laced up (Addidas Adios orange) and took off quickly.

Passed a few people crawling along on the first road stretch heading out of Katsuragahama beach area and was getting excited to see Shirai-san at the Gas station turn-off. I told him the day before I would be the last out of the water but the first to return so I made sure to reassure him I would be the first coming back (well knowing this was far from true) but wanted to have some fun with him. Felt good to be running and passing people but after about a mile realized the beginning pace was way to quick and needed to pace myself a little bit more. Knew I wasn`t able to accurately judge how quick I could run for the remainder of the race but from experience, I knew I wasn`t able to hold what I had been up until then. A GPS would have been helpful but in hindsight it was fun to not use that and just listen to what pace my body felt was right. It`s fun to look at the splits and stuff after the race but think listening to your body can be the most efficient way at keeping things in check.

Kept seeing people in the distance and would take them over. Remember coming up on a guy who was moving pretty quickly with little chop chop steps and a body frame about half the size as me. Couldn`t help but wish of having to carry around 30kg (70lbs) less than I but would remind myself that those little bodies didn`t have much muscle.

Have been working out recently and am stronger than have been the rest of my life I think but was regretting the larger frame while running.

Saw many people I knew on the way out including Tomohiro, Miho`s boyfriend, other Morimoto staff and many other people who I didn`t know were cheering my by my name. hah.

Due to the lack of energy from swimming, my legs felt flat and biceps for some reason were already starting to cramp. For some reason when my body gets tired the biceps start to cramp while running. I guess I do use those little things while running.

The hills were pretty tough and body was warm. Would slow down considerably on the hills but still was making ground on the people ahead of me. Saw the first couple leaders on their way back from the turn-around and they were cruising! Kept seeing more and more people and eventually saw the little skinny guy whom I had re-overtaken me. He was still chirpin along with his put-put steps. Made it to the turn-around and was surprised there wasn`t as many people ahead of me as I thought.

The legs were very well fatigued but kept trying to grind despite the body feeling very warm. Thankfully it started to mist rain a bit during the way back and was a little worried about if the cellphone in mesh backpack pocket was being exposed to the rain.

Kept chugging along and was passing less and less people. The hills were much harder on the way home and even walked a couple seconds on one of them to stretch the legs out a little and change up the muscle use.

Legs were pretty sore and body was too. Thought should not have biked all the way out to Kurahashi and saved the energy a little bit more.

Slowly made it through the grueling hills and was getting closer to the return phase of the race. I remember seeing a sign that said 35km S type meaning there was 7km left to the finish. Kept up the maximum pace that I could but it was slowly but surely starting to fade.

The put-put guy was outta site now and picked off a couple other slower runners.

At the first couple aid stations just had Aquarius Sports Drink then started to have bananas and the Aquarius pouches to try and get more nutrition. Think this seemed to help but was a apprehensive while taking in nutrition because of not having much experience doing that at such a high exertion level recently.

Made it back to the gas station and asked Shirai-san if I was in first place. He didn`t make out my question but cheered enthusiastly as I went past. Now was the last road stretch back to the beach and was pushing pretty hard and on the verge of cramping both in the arms and the legs. Kept trying to speed up while relaxing and made way through the trees leading to the beach and crossed the finish line to shake Morimoto-Sensei`s hand again just like two years ago.

Was so exausted!

Was handed an Aquarius and slammed it and headed to the beach. Took off shoes and shirt and went into the ocean for a couple minutes to cool off. Helped alot and went back and got Yakisoba nobbles and watched the participants finish. It was cool to see the first place finisher for the S type come in. Next year! hah.

Had some shaved ice, curry rice, and chilled out for a bit at the finish line.

The ankle didn`t bother me much during the race but still didn`t feel good.

It was much more painful than expected but should I have expected it to be an easier with the way I went into it? No should be the answer.

Decided to head back on bicycle not too long after the race as if I waited any longer, would of just became more and more tired. Said goodbye to everyone and hopped on my bike off to Hiroshima. Legs were fried and it was starting to get warmer outside as the sun came out. Stopped a few times on the way back and drank a ton of fluids.

Made it back to Ozu Ryo and took a long shower and napped before meeting friends in Hiroshima city that night.

Crazy to think I did this race two years ago with a bum ankle. Probably should not have participated two years ago or this year, but hopefully everything will be alright after getting surgery.

As I`m sitting here typing this, the ankle nerves are uncomfortably twitching now and then and whenever I move my ankle after a while of sitting in the same position, it pops and doesn`t feel right.

God I want to run.

Happy was able to participate in the event to the level that I did and upon looking at the results today, was surprised to see that his year was 5 minutes faster than two years ago. Pretty strange because two years ago it was a month and a half after my ankle injury and this year was two years after the injury.

2016
Swim: 53:48
Run: 1:28:11(7:06 Pace)
Total: 2:21:59

2014
Swim: 54.17
Run: 1:31:57 (7:24 Pace)
Total: 2:26:14

A few more months until surgery! 楽しみ！