12 June 2010

Tokyo Island Series Part 2 - Oshima

大島 - Oshima, the big island triathlon was another well organised, enjoyable and fun event on the Tokyo islands.
I took the night ferry from Yokohama, arriving at the other Motomachi soon after 6am and cycled the short distance up to pension Subaru for a tasty breakfast on their vast lawn garden. Nice place, I would recommend staying here if you are on the island. As I arrived early, I was able to check out the cycle course with Jerome, a Frenchman staying at the pension with his family. It was obvious the cycle would be fast, as we were flying along at almost 50kmph with no effort on the flat course due to the strong tail wind. Even better, the return road was protected by trees and inland, so we would not have to pedal so hard on the way back.
The main concern was the swim - the wind was creating quite a sea, and the waves were big enough to redirect the jetfoil, with the other Namban Rengo on board, to Okata port as it is more sheltered. The most important part of the swim is the warm up - get used to being out at sea, the temperature and the current. We could only practise a short distance but it was clear that this swim would be about survival first, having a reasonable finish time second.
I bobbed up and down in the waves, spotting several small blue fish in the clear water below, but on the return to shore crested a wave and smacked straight into an oncoming Japanese man, lucky we were not fast swimmers or we could have been knocked out and the tri would have ended here. Instead, my goggles popped apart on impact at the nose piece and I was left to breast stroke back to the black sandy beach, where I could safely put the goggles back together again. 
I started in group 1, which is ordered by age not speed, and unknown to us the organisers had shortened the course by 300m due to the conditions. Also, we were to swim clockwise, not anticlockwise as in the program again due to wave conditions. It was a struggle to get a sight to the next bouy at times, I really had to wait to be at the top of a wave to take a look ahead to make sure my direction was good. After the first lap, I found myself swimming through the back markers of the 2nd and 3rd groups, and it seemed that many people were in difficulty, being picked up by the lifeguards on their surfboard. Over 20 people failed the swim, no major problems but the choppy water was just too much for them. I was glad to finish this swim, and clamber over the rocks to get up to transition. 

So my next triathlon - I must wear my cycle shirt under my wetsuit. Here, I managed to first put the shirt on backwards, then tear the number off one corner and so have to repin it back on, and some more general fumbling before getting on the road. Every second counts in these standard distance triathlons, so next time I dont need this hassle. 
As expected, the bike was fast, up to 57.5kmph on the mainly flat road out along the coast, nice views across the lava fields and generally I went as fast as possible and managed to catch Phil on the first lap, he is a much better swimmer than me. He asked if this was my second lap, but I wasnt going that fast!

2 water bottles and 2 energy gels are my intake for these Olympic distance events, it seems to work well taking one gel after 5km and 35km of the bike. 

After T2, I felt like I was flying and having a really strong run, but I should have realised that again this was due to the strong tailwind taking me out to the 5km marker. Every aid station I soaked myself in water, it was really hot out there. After rounding the 5km cone, the brutal run home began, and the true strong runners would have made there mark on this section. It is so important to finish with a strong run, you lose so much time when tired on a run, though here I would say the headwind was more of a limiting factor than my tiredness as I ran on the brink of getting a stitch the whole way home. 

The finish area is immediately between 2 onsen, and the open air baths were free to competitors so we took a well deserved soak overlooking the ocean. 

In the end, I was pleased with my time and placing, the main area I could improve is my run time. Oh and the transition. And maybe the swim as well. And concentrate more in the later stages of the bike section.

The after event party involved lots of local seafood, especially サザエSazae, turban shells. Luckily no stinking kusaya dried fish on offer here. After the lively taiko drumming we sat out a lengthy raffle in which none of us won any prizes before drinking some more beer in the foyer of Motozo and Megs hotel.

It proved to be an early night, and an early morning for me as I woke at 3:30am to at first enjoy the England USA world cup match, but of course become increasingly frustrated at the lack of further goals and the goalkeeping blunder of all time.
Jerome and his friend Tanaka san were up for cycling to the top of the mountain at 6am, the 11km climb took us up to the crater and lava fields, and to the base of the cloud layer. Not worth hiking any further today, another day it would be nice to mountain bike down the other side of this volcano. Instead we descend to the east of the island, avoiding a 2m snake on the way down, and loop around the north of the island before breakfast. 

Nice to have breakfast with the others before they leave for the fast jetfoil back to Tokyo, but I still have plenty of time and explore more beaches, the other onsen, and finish up swimming in a very nice pool at Okata. Well worth a swim, there are cold showers above and a nice way to spend the final hour waiting for the ferry back to the mainland.

Sayonara Oshima, mata rainen.


Full Results
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6 June 2010

7th Fuji Hill Climb

After Miyakojima,  Mount Fuji hill climb was one of my main goals for 2010. The race is in its 7th year now and more popular than ever with over 5400 entrants. The main race is 24km long and averages 5.2% gradient, with the steepest section being 7.8% and total ascent of 1270m. An athletes section starts lower down the slopes and covers 28km, ascent 1435m.

On the very same day, Mount Fuji International Hill climb is taking place - on the Azami line road, its half the distance, same ascent and so twice the gradient! Make sure you know which race you're applying for if you want to enter one of these races next year. Not sure why they're both on the same date, I can only guess it is an agreement with Fuji national park.

Kimm from the running group Namban Rengo had found a nice hotel/onsen to on the southern side of Kawaguchiko for 7 athletes and Phils family from Australia who are over visiting. But Kimm, Keren and Tim had made a big mistake - cycling from Tokyo west along the Doushi road, (long, steady climb) over 150km on the Saturday, lead by the Sergey who was out for a day ride and never cycles at a leisurely pace.

Instead I enjoyed a relaxing train journey, no express trains just reading the paper and listening to podcasts in preparation for the big race. After arriving at Fujiyoshida station, I cycled up through the torii to Sengen-jinja. In the past, climbing Mount Fuji was a pilgrimage and climbers would visit this shrine before starting the ascent. So it was a good place for me to visit the day before the event. Very atmospheric, huge cedar trees and attractive setting, it always seems like you're stepping back in time or to a different world when visiting temples and shrines in Japan.


After leaving the shrine I cycled up to Fujihokuroku park for registration, which was quickly done as I could see heavy rain clouds forming in the warm late afternoon. I had to wait in Fuji visitors center for some heavy showers to pass, then cycled over to the hotel, took and onsen and had some tasty local food in nearby restaurant.



And so the alarms were set for 4.15am. This was essential, as we had to cycle to the start before 6am when the buses carrying bags depart for the finish line. Crossing the lake, Tim got a flat - bad news, we all had to carry on as we had no time to spare at this point, but in the end Tim repaired the flat and got to the start in time.

Misty start to the day, no sign of the big mountain as we share coffee shotz and people drink Red Bull, energy gels and other products with caffeine. A real Floyd Landis breakfast for all. I was happy with water and the shotz, no point carrying extra weight up the hill in my stomach.

We were all in the 3rd group, 7:05am start after the mountain bikers and womens groups set off. It will mean we will be cycling past them all later, but at least if they start early, they'll be up and down sooner and the event will take less time. We roll out for 1.5km and this works very well in steadying everyone and sorting out the group before we roll across the startline after turning left onto the Subaru line road. From here its up all the way !

The gradient of this climb is very gentle, even though its up for 24km. With this in mind I knew drafting would be a possibility, but I was surprised at just how much drafting was possible and how significant this would be for my final time. We climbed on, the air cooled but I was sweating all the way up. Great views across and above the cloud layer to the snow covered southern alps.

The steepest kilometer of the course, 19km-20km has a prize for the fastest to complete this section so a small prize for the winner. I wonder if anyone purposely tries to win this prize? Everyone around seems to plod on at their comfortable speed.

22km-23km feels like its downhill, but its still up yet the speed accelerates and I find Im doing 39kmph, working well with a Japanese rider and we continue to fly past many racers through the final snow tunnels before the final kick of the climb up the the finish line, and I pay for the high speed here as Im out of breath, and crossing the line in 1hr 12min 21s I starting gasping for breath in the thin air.

Theres a special award for times, I might be receiving a silver spacer for my headset in the post next week - (gold 1hr 5, silver 1hr 15, bronze 1hr 30). Also 1hr 15min is the time to register as athletes class in next years event!

Kimm was several minutes behind me, and on training rides I havent been able to keep up with him, so I think the ride out yesterday had to have affected his and Kerens times.

Did I mention James and Tim were riding fixed gear bikes? Very impressive, but how about descending 24km on a fixie! James was wondering why there were no other fixed gear bikes on the climb, well for me, Im sticking with my 11 speed compact.

Then followed the amazing 24km descent, which this week was pleasantly warm compared to last week. In the rule book, we were supposed to be going less than 20kmph starting in controlled groups and not overtaking the lead vehicle, but the lead vehicle must have been moving as we sailed down the mountain. Otherwise, this would have been slower going down than on the way up!

Tasty udon was served at the finish, and I met Steve who had started in the 8th group along with the Positivo Espresso team members. They had made this trip in style with a  team bus to take them to Fuji Highland resort hotel and even designed a special team jersey for the climb. 4 of them were up for cycling back to Tokyo and we eventually left the hotel, after posting the towel/clothes/event junk back home rather than carrying it.

Between Fujikyu and Yamanako is heavy traffic, and not pleasant but once you're at the lake you get the final perfect view of Mount Fuji for the day across the water. A short climb follows (very short, almost didnt notice this one) then the Doushi road is one huge roller coaster road all the way back to Tokyo. Except this roller coaster is mainly downhill and very fast, its such a great road and we are quickly back in the outskirts of Hashimoto, where James takes us on an interesting alternative route to the more direct road I am familiar with, over what is known as the "tank road." This is a hilly area with a bike/running track which was used by Mitsubishi to test tanks many years ago. Today its a great break from the traffic, the build up starts around Sagamiko, before we hit the One kai and roll down to the Tamagawa. In total, its 170km for the day, but the main mileage is downhill, but oh yes there was one significant climb this morning wasn't there?



Results later............


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