Sweet success!

Shortly after arriving in Akashi I decided that I would take up running once more. While living in London I tried, and consequently failed to continue with the running schedule I had started with my mom in Victoria.

At first I found it difficult in Akashi to run in the hot weather. However, tonight I figured I’d take my chances and headed out. I decided early in my time here in Akashi that my goal for running was to make it to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. When I started out tonight, I didn’t really have an idea of where I was aiming for, but thought I would get halfway to the bridge or so, and turn back. But when I started running along the waterfront and got into a good rhythm and found that I was actually feeling pretty good considering this was only my second run in Japan, I started pondering the idea of going a little further. To make a long story short, roughly 35 minutes later I was standing nearly 5km from my apartment, underneath the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge! I actually laughed out loud when I arrived at the bridge. I would like to chalk this success up to my “excellent physical condition” and a lot of hard work and training, but honestly I’m just bloody stubborn! Once I got it in my head that I was going for the bridge, there was no turning back. And actually, compared to my first run in Akashi (which was painful and gruelling), I was feeling pretty good this time. I also managed to make the return journey and knock about 5 minutes off my original time to make it an even hour for the trip of close to 10km.

I’m still coming down off a runner’s high and feeling pretty great! But I suppose the real test will be whether I can walk tomorrow!

Now that I’ve accomplished my goal, I suppose I will have to find something more to strive for… but I suppose there are worse problems to have :)