Japanese training system in Fukuoka,

ghost wrote:

Japan is not so expensive - you can find decent little diners where you spend only between 380 yen (yashinoya chain) to 650 yen for a small set meal, of soup, rice and noodles and vegetables.

OUCH! The name of the chain is Yoshinoya... there's one about 100 meters from where I live...

[quote]ghost wrote

Every Sunday there are marathons or Ekidens on national t.v. stations, with the whole events shown from start to finish! This is probably unique. Today was a high class Ekiden female race shown on t.v. Extensive interviews with the female stars after the race.

quote]

And again... I wouldn't say EVERY Sunday... last week there wasn't a race. Today's race was the "All-Japan Industrial Women's Ekiden" run in Gifu Prefecture.

So what if his info is a bit off. It is interesting to get some other info about the Japanese system. Let's not pick nits.

Hey, Runmad... Which team won the women's ekiden champs? I don't seem to be able to find the result anywhere...

Oh, never mind... I got the result. Good on them, Mitsui! Is Daiichi-seimei coached by Sachiko Yamashita? Shiseido sank down to 11th place from last year's win, huh...???

Sorry, my intent was not to imply they >only< ran slow, the post to which I was replying asked about how slow on their "off days".

I've seen them out at the Boulder Res. putting down the hammer and up in Nederland near Eldora ~8000ft blazing along, sporting the "Samurai grimace".

CO-Runner:

I know you knew. I just got the January issue of Running Times myself. There's an excellent article about Japanese runners by Brendan Reily--you know Brendan! If anyone, he knows better about Japanese runners than anybody else.

By the way, if you're who I think you are, we met at Lydiard Foundation's launch last year and again at the XC national this past February. I'm heading to Boulder again next week. Someday, would love to get together with you and talk more abour running over coffee! ;o)

this aggressive and hostile behavior by mayeroff is offensive. fun is fun but we don't need this. what a jerk.

okaay wrote:

Pathetic. When will you consider yourself too old for a "good fight"? 70? 75? Most stopped between the age 10- 18. Be a man, take a long good hard run and think about it. You will feel better.

As far as I'm concerned, it's even more pathetic to bitch about others behind a fake identity, Mr. (or Ms.) okaay. So much for "being a man"...

I am surprised at you Nobby supporting a twig of a man who is threatening to beat up an old man.(Thought the image of Jason and his tiny body trying to be intimidating is humorous) In no way is this acceptable behavior. Just because he is fast doesn't make his behavior acceptable. I have been on these boards for a long time and every couple of years Jason goes off his meds and threatens somebody, whether it is Ghost, Wejo or some random female. You are only enabling him when you support his behavior. We don't have to give up or anonymity to express a viewpoint.

the green hornet wrote:

I am surprised at you Nobby supporting a twig of a man who is threatening to beat up an old man.

Just for the record, when and where did I supported Mayeroff to beat up an old man?

I said I'd buy what Jason says about how Japanese train and I also said I personally wouldn't approve of any chicken $hit bad-mouthing others behind the fake identity--or maybe spreading false idea on someone else for that matter.

Your approval isn`t that important to me.

Why don`t you race each other instead? It hurts just as bad. Please go back to discussing training. Much more interesting.

discussing training with ghost is like discussing human rights with kim jong-il, pol pot or sadaam hussein. he thinks he is an authority based on what he has seen from stalking runners on his bike. and if he hasn't witnessed something first hand, will tell you that you are flat out wrong...

If you have to challenge someone to a fight rather than your opinion standing on it's merits, you are wrong.

I had some appreciation of Mayeroff's messages about training but that is gone now. The same goes for anyone who supports such misguided rantings of someone with no consciousness.

Ghost keep up your posting. Your information has gone way up in my view, and by the way you're the one who started this thread anyway. I'm looking forward to more of your messages.

After reading the workout on the first page, my first question was why has there only been 1 Japanese runner to go under 13:15? I know there's a huge focus on the marathon, but still. If B level runners are running those workouts, then the there must be a buch of A level guys know could run closer to 13 flat.

.................... wrote:

After reading the workout on the first page, my first question was why has there only been 1 Japanese runner to go under 13:15? I know there's a huge focus on the marathon, but still. If B level runners are running those workouts, then the there must be a buch of A level guys know could run closer to 13 flat.

Wrong training and wrong workout design.

Their training doesn't seem at all geared towards anything shorter than a 15k. Obviously with their great fitness they can put on a good show over 5k and 10k, but not a 13:00 kind of show.

Also MAYEROFF, I don't honestly care what individual teams in Japan are doing, but I also don't know ANYTHING about the Japanese method of training. They seem to fare pretty well when it comes to 15k through marathon. As I am interested in being competitive over those distances, I like hearing about how different people train for it. I don't give a rats ass about how the Nintetsu team is doing, so why don't you tell us how the best teams train? I'd much rather hear successful training systems. You are fairly knowledgeable on the subject, counter ignorance with information!

The focus on road running and Ekidens from an early age diminishes speed for the track.

Tuesday December 18

Murume district of Fukuoka:

I was invited to observe a workout for the local running club. All youth in the 12-15 age group.

One boy (Fukuda) is only 12 years old, and has run 9:40 for track 3000, which is at the top level for his age group in Japan.

Training: One week, will be 6 days training, and the next week will be 4 days of training.

Mixture of training, from 5km to 8km in distance. Slow recovery runs, and timed intervals over 1km on the road, circling the stadium.

Also 200m sprints (on the road!) outside the stadium.

Then stepping up and down onto a low wall for about 10 minutes - intense work, simulating running upstairs.

Although there are soft paths and green places, the Japanese focus on timing everything, leads to coaches feeling more comfortable having their athltes doing loops around road or park courses.

Also saw the female elite high school team running their basic run　around Ohori, with their coach following by bike, shouting out splits for every circuit.

They end the session by doing fast strides (200m) on the dirt path in the park. Short fast, rapid strides. They all seem to have the same style. Short strides, low knee lift, and rapid turnover.

You may shout `gambate` to them as they run, but they will not acknowledge you, such is the focus and intesity,

The future of the young runner, Fukuda (12 years), is a question mark, because he may burn out by the time he reaches 18. Too much hard surface running cannot be good for the lower limbs. Also everyone here seems to prefer wearing light flats,which resemble racing flats, or similar. You do not see many heavy training shoes being used here.

Tonight, some of the athletes will go to the Onsen, to recover for the muscles. Cost - 700 yen. Good deal.

Ghost in Fukuoka

The focus on road running and Ekidens from an early age diminishes speed for the track.

Tuesday December 18

Murume district of Fukuoka:

I was invited to observe a workout for the local running club. All youth in the 12-15 age group.

One boy (Fukuda) is only 12 years old, and has run 9:40 for track 3000, which is at the top level for his age group in Japan.

Training: One week, will be 6 days training, and the next week will be 4 days of training.

Mixture of training, from 5km to 8km in distance. Slow recovery runs, and timed intervals over 1km on the road, circling the stadium.

Also 200m sprints (on the road!) outside the stadium.

Then stepping up and down onto a low wall for about 10 minutes - intense work, simulating running upstairs.

Although there are soft paths and green places, the Japanese focus on timing everything, leads to coaches feeling more comfortable having their athltes doing loops around road or park courses.

Also saw the female elite high school team running their basic run　around Ohori, with their coach following by bike, shouting out splits for every circuit.

They end the session by doing fast strides (200m) on the dirt path in the park. Short fast, rapid strides. They all seem to have the same style. Short strides, low knee lift, and rapid turnover.

You may shout `gambate` to them as they run, but they will not acknowledge you, such is the focus and intesity,

The future of the young runner, Fukuda (12 years), is a question mark, because he may burn out by the time he reaches 18. Too much hard surface running cannot be good for the lower limbs. Also everyone here seems to prefer wearing light flats,which resemble racing flats, or similar. You do not see many heavy training shoes being used here.

Tonight, some of the athletes will go to the Onsen, to recover for the muscles. Cost - 700 yen. Good deal.

Ghost in Fukuoka