Harajuku (原宿 “meadow lodging”) is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan.

Every Sunday, young people dressed in a variety of styles including gothic lolita, visual kei, and decora, as well as cosplayers spend the day in Harajuku socializing. The fashion styles of these youths rarely conform to one particular style and are usually a mesh of many. Most young people gather on Jingu Bridge, which is a pedestrian bridge that connects Harajuku to the neighboring Meiji Shrine area.

Harajuku is also a fashion capital of the world renowned for unique street fashion. Harajuku street style is promoted in Japanese and international publications such as Kera, Tune, Gothic & Lolita Bible and Fruits. Many prominent designers and fashion ideas have sprung from Harajuku and incorporated themselves into other fashions throughout the world.

Harajuku is also a large shopping district that includes luxury international designers, Harajuku native designers, and affordable shops catering to youths.

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The clock showed 1:21:something. It was the clock at the halfway mark on Pulanski bridge. 21 kilometres into the New York City marathon 2009.

Now the clock is showing exactly the same time again. The sad thing – it is the clock above the finish line in Ostia. Strange but true. No improvement in my half marathon performance. Shocking outcome at the 36th edition of the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon. The Cristoforo Colombo road didn’t lead me to a new PB; it leaves me with bad memories on a performance that was far away from what I expected.

The day began perfect. Our hotel was in walking distance from the Palalottomatica, in Rome’s Eur district. Liam, Eugene, Niall and I had only a short journey to reach the start area. I warmed up and had the usual pre-start preparation. My bib number was 49 and that meant that I was assigned to the elite starting section up front. Enough space to get the last stretches and strides in. No waiting in the crowded start sections.

The pre-start hectic was typical for Italy. A pure mess with press and hyper people everywhere. The elite women had a 9 minutes head start (The time difference between the men and women course record). I stood beside the road and watched the girls cruising on towards Ostia. Pretty cool to be in such a close position to the “real” elite field.

Then it was up to the main field and me to get going. I was standing in the second row so it was easy for me to run free straight from the start. After a downhill stretch the road went up again and turned right onto the motorway towards Ostia. Based on the McMilian calculator I should come in with a 1:17 finishing time. Uli and I agreed to shoot for that. I was confident to get the time. Training went well despite a busy week at work.

The first split I got was the one at 2k. It was bang on. So I stuck to that pace and tried to find my rhythm. I couldn’t find it all. Couldn’t hold the group and couldn’t settle with the pace. The first part is a tricky one. I never felt comfortable and relaxed. I couldn’t manage to relax my legs on the downhill sections and the uphill stretches killed me. Beside that the wind caught me all over. As I didn’t have a group to run with I was mainly on my own and the breeze from the sea was a tough one – too tough for me! I suffered badly and couldn’t stick with it mentally. Shortly after the 9k sign I looked up and far, very far, away I could see the sea. Tough going.

The course is not spectacular at all. A straight motorway that leads towards Ostia. A little out and back beside the sea and you are there. I arrived in Ostia as a mentally broken man. The turnaround point at Km19 on the promenade was another crucial one. You’ll get hit by the head wind. And there was some wind. So still tough going. I reached the finish line and was without any energy. I suffered a lot for a disappointing time.

But no time to complain. This race was just another step towards Boston. Let’s Hope the 1:21:something remains – as my split time during the second half of the Marathon!

And once again i´m happy that the bulky triathlon days are over.

Packing today as i have to be out of the bed on Saturday morning at 3.30am to get the 6am Dublin – Rome flight!

Devo andare…

109k with 7 runs
8 weeks & 1 day until Boston Marathon

Monday – Easy 11k
Tuesday – Easy 14k
Wednesday – Moderate 16k (Hill Run Tallaght)
Thursday – Easy 7k
Friday – Easy 13k
Saturday – Easy 12k
Sunday – Easy 36k

Very solid week for me that ended with a good long run today. Went out for 1 hour on my own along the Liffey and then teamed up with Shane for additional 2 hours in the Phoenix Park. I’m feeling comfortable in the long runs these days. Felt relaxed during the complete session.

The overall fitness seems to be good and the weekly Hill run session proofed it for me. This week I ran solid up and downhill. It gives me confidence in my form leading up to Boston.

I’m looking forward to next weekend when i travel to Rome for one of Italy’s biggest half marathons – Roma Ostia. I haven’t made a plan for the race yet. The course should be fast as far as I can see on the profile. Surprisingly nobody ever ran under the hour on the course. Doesn’t really mean it is that fast.

Quote of the week: Believe in yourself, know yourself, deny yourself, and be humble (John Treacy)

That’s how you cover a break – Arturo Barrios versus Simon Chemwoyo at the São Silvestre 1992!

Things happen when you least expect it.

As of today I have to say that’s true. At the end of another high mileage week I had a 10k race scheduled in. My company had the first annual running event set up and the team made the way to the phoenix park for the pre-valentines cupid’s dash. The weather was perfect: 5°C and no wind.

I had absolutely no expectations in that race. I just wanted to go out and enjoy it. Darren put a bit of pre-start pressure on me. He came 2nd last year and tried to convince me to shot for the front. I was a bit skeptic but when I arrived at the start line the only competitive face I knew was Turlough, a training partner for the 2k sessions during the summer.

With the usual delay the race set of and just before the 1k mark we were travelling in a three man leading group. When I increased the tempo just shortly after the marker it was only Turlough and me left up front. We cruised in solid speed around the park. I couldn’t respond when he increased the pace and fell back a bit. Still in sight during the rest of the race I wasn’t able to catch Turlough again.

As always for races in the Phoenix Park the route was wavy and challenging. I felt really good during the complete race and finally the training paid off a bit.
The last hill leading up to the turnaround point at the 9k mark was tough but my 2nd place motivated me not to slow down.

Finally I came home with a 34:54 on an “officially measured AAI 10K route”. The 2nd place was one for the ego but in a “light” field like this nothing special. Let’s file it in the “ego section” of the running brain.

Thanks to Darren and the Racepix.com guys for the pictures.

“All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm“

Some Ryan Hall workout’s filmed by US-Triathlete Chris Lieto.

Just love the soundtrack – Dilated Peoples – No Retreat.

What a tune!

This one is a pure motivator.

The Great Rodney “Rod” Phillip Dixon talks through his inspiring NYC Marathon win in 1983!

Ultimately, however, Rod Dixon was regarded as especially outstanding for the length and versatility of his career as a top-flight runner. He set world class times in all events from 1500 m (3:33.9) to the marathon (2:08:59), won bronze medals in the World Cross Country Championships in 1973 and 1982, and was one of the more successful athletes on the US road racing circuit in the early 80s, including wins at the Falmouth Road Race (1980), Bay to Breakers (1982 & 1983) and the Lynchburg, Virginia 10 miler (1981 & 1983). His gradual move to longer distances was climaxed by his 1983 marathon victory in New York City in one of the most dramatic finishes the event has seen, when he came from behind to catch leader Geoff Smith at the 26 mile mark and won by 9 seconds.

More @ Wikipedia