Teaching

Classes started this week, and as usual with new classes they take a lot of energy. My junior college classes are part 2 of year long courses, so I know the students. My other three classes are in the university and are oral communication classes. The students are freshman so they are kind of a handful. It always takes a while to train them in the ways of an English class

My biggest impression so far is that I am amazed at how low they are in level. It is hard to tell that they have ever had a university level English class before. They have a hard time following directions in English and of course they are always speaking to each other in Japanese. That might seem natural since they are Japanese, but at this level, after six years of English, they should be able to function in a English class. I have an only English policy in my classes which is difficult for them, but they improve so much faster if they speak only English. So it always takes a lot of effort on my part to break them of their habit of speaking Japanese to each other. But the effort is worth it because they progress so much fast when they switch totally to English.

Last weeks training

Sunday 15. 3 in Sendai

Monday - 0 Traveling in Tokyo

Tuesday 8.6 around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo

Wednesday am 5.45
pm 10- 3 mile tempo, 4 x 1000 and 4 x 200. Ran in torrential downpour on the track in the dark.

Thursday am 5.05
pm 5.45

Friday am 5.55
pm 10.65 incl 3 x 10 minutes and 3 x 30 sec.

Saturday - 5.24

Total 70.75

Sendai scenes

Week ending September 16th

This was a good week. I got two hard workouts in. Wednesday I did the same workout as last week, 3 mile tempo, 4 x 1K and 4 x 200. This week I did it in the dark and pouring rain so it was a little more difficult. But I did it so I felt a sense of accomplishment. The other hard workout was 3 x 10 minute and 3 x 30 seconds in the middle of a 10 mile run. It felt good and smooth. Two weeks until my first race on October 1st. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of shape I am in. I registered for two more 5k's so that will be my fall season. I hope to pr of course.

An off week

I went up north to Sendai last week. I spent a lot of time with old friends so I missed a couple of runs. I finished with 52 miles which is not very good but it could have been worse. Highlights of the week were a workout on the track at Miyaginohara. It was kind of a long workout. 2 miles w/u 3 miles tempo at 7:10 pace. 4 x 1000 at 4:00 pace and then 4 x 200 at 40 sec. It is not so fast but quite long. That is almost 7 miles on the track. The other interesting thing about the workout was the other people on the track. It is a community track so anyone can use it. There were junior high, high school and professional runners all using it at once. The professionals, a womens team looked so good. It is kind of fun to watch really talented runners. They looked so smooth and fast. I was jealous.
I also ran from my hotel out to the ocean along the river. It is a course I used to run all the time when I lived in Sendai. It was about 15 miles.
Other interesting parts of Sendai, seeing old friends, Hide and Toshi. Toshi has become a part-time actor and has done many commercials and some TV dramas. I went to Hide's house, had dinner and watched a video tape of Toshi's performances. Anyway it was nice t return to my home in Japan and see old friends.

August 27th- Sept. 2nd

Summary of last weeks training

Sunday - 16 miles. easy pace. Left at 5:00am

Monday
am - 5 easy

Tuesday
am- 5.1
pm - 10 - last 3 pushed though I felt like crap. It was so humid. I will be glad when I am not soaked at the end of the run

Wednesday
am 5.1
pm -4

Thursday
am - 5
pm- 10 flat bike path around park felt ok

Friday
pm- 6 with Loran. It is getting cooler.

Saturday
am-7 with Loran

Total 73