Hi, welcome to Trifuel. Nice to have people from Japan here.

Please let us know how your training goes and most of all the race. Would be nice to see how the Tri scene is in Japan.

Hi Kyille & Tikal Dog:

I just finished my 2nd 51.5k at Oshima Island on June 9th. It is a small island 45 minutes by ferry from Atami. Mt. Mihara is an active volcano that is located on the center of the island. The ocean is a deep emerald green color. I had great time and esp. enjoyed the ocean swim. It was my second tri at the same site, so I could really relax this time. I placed 15/25 women, and my times significantly improved. The entire race was just 226 participants. Hard work and lots of training seem to make the biggest difference. As usual, I was the only gaijin (foreigner) at the race, but all the Japanese were so eager to practice their English. At the end of the race, we could enjoy sitting in the hot springs with a beautiful ocean view. Later that evening, the organizers held a buffet party for all the race participants. We could enjoy free drinks, sashimi, sandwiches and a live dance and drum performance by the islanders. My three male friends placed #2, #4 and #12 at the race, all 3 in their 40's, so we were pretty excited.

I was a runner since 35, first marathon at 42, have finished 3 now. I started to learn how to swim at 41 and was absolutely terrified of deep water, especially the ocean my whole life. Now I can't imagine my life without swimming. I enjoy the solitude of tri training. I can go where I want to, do what I want to, and go home when I feel like it. Having a planned race ahead is what keeps me going, also memories of those finished races are what keep me motivated as well. It beat Disneyland that's for sure!

The tri scene, also marathon scene is wonderful here in Japan. I join a triathlon group on Saturdays and we practicing ocean swimming for 1.5 hrs at a beach that's about 8k from where I live. The Asian side of the Pacific Ocean is very warm, but we are still wearing wetsuits until mid-July.

My two friends just finished the IM Japan this past Sunday. The time limit is just 15hr and the bike course is one of the toughest. Another IM friend heads to France this week for the race in Nice, that bike course is maybe tougher! All my tri, IM friends are Japanese. I haven't had a chance to meet any non-Japanese yet.

I am headed for Sado Island to do a (2k S, 105k B, 20k R) race on September 2nd. They also have a race that is almost a full IM on the same date. The perimeter of the whole island is about 200k, making it perfect for long distance racing. There is also another long distance race at Miyakojima, Okinawa in March. I have not been there yet, but I heard that the ocean water there is absolutely beautiful.

I have 2 ocean swim races this summer, 1.5k and 2.5k, then Sado Tri 127k in September, then I hope to do a sub-4 time at the Lake Kawaguchi-ko Marathon in November.

I plan to head to IM Arizona, but the location might change since new sites are being added to IM. Most Japanese only head to the IM races that have arranged tours - Korea, Canada, NZ, Hawaii, Malaysia, Singapore, France. Not being able to speak English really puts a limit on your possiblities for world travel. I want to take my time building my endurance and strength to complete a full IM, and not finish the race struggling or in pain. I really have so much more to learn.

Right now, my swimming and running skills seem to be satisfactory. I am running about 40k to 70k per week, swimming 4k-5k per week right now). It's the biking that I need to practice! I should be out riding at least 3 times a week since this is my weakest area. Biking in Japan is pretty scary due to the narrow roads and traffic. I went to the Pyrenees to bike for 3 days last summer and I had no problems -- no cars, no intersection lights, no traffic! Maybe once I have more confidence when I'm on my bike, I will be able to bike more easily here in Japan.

If you want to know anything about Japan, just ask me. I have been living here for about 26 years now. I thought I might join this site so that I could meet some new people and communicate in English. Up until now I have been using Running Ahead for my training log, but almost all the members of that site only run, few are doing tris.

Hope that I can ask you some questions in the future if I need to. I will let you know how my training goes, and will consider starting a blog in English. Kyille, your blog looks wonderful.

I have been traveling in Mexico, close to Guatemala about 18 yrs ago, looks like a fascinating place to live!

Happy training to you both!

I look forward to having a Japanese tri friend :)
I've only been to Japan once, and it was only the airport. Maybe someday...