Gambarimashita! Sakurajima Marathon
Our week has not been full, but definitely eventful (if that makes any sense). On Tuesday, Cristina and I went with Kaz to the Kanoya Wellness Plaza. It is like Ginga Arena (where I work) but on a much larger scale. In order to use the training rooms and equipment, you need to take some sort of exam so that they can gage your abilities and your proper weights. Then, every time you come in they give you a clipboard with your sheet on it and what you need to do to work on your “problem areas”. That way they can keep track of your progress and help you with your fitness needs. So, we are taking the exam on March 19th. Both Cristina and I are really excited about it. You don’t have to pay a membership, you only pay per visit. Since we cannot use the training rooms until after the 19th, we just used the pool facilities. Basically, it has several pools, much like an onsen, but on a larger scale. Since it’s a gym and both women and men use it, you can (have to) keep your bathing suit on. This is neat because then Cristina and I can go to pseudo-onsen together. Then, in the locker rooms they have a proper bathing area with a proper onsen, but I have yet to check that out. However, doesn’t it sound like a nice way to spend the evening? I was telling Cristina that it sounds really pleasant to be able to go workout and then go to the pool or onsen. It beats just staying home and watching TV or just simply going to a restaurant and eating.
On Wednesday, we took some more pictures with Flat Stanley before sending him back to Cristina’s cousin. We made a picture book on www.shutterfly.com that the teacher can show the class. Then, we are sending him back with lots of Japanese goodies. It was a lot of fun working on the project and I think that I will do a similar one to this with my students at the beginning of the school year in April.
On Thursday, March 3rd, it was Hina Matsuri or Doll’s Festival or Girl’s Day. We were invited to Cristina’s neighbor’s house to celebrate. Cristina’s neighbor is her vice principal. He has a lovely wife and a daughter that will be 2-years-old in July. Basically, families with daughters usually celebrate Hina Matsuri by inviting friends and family over for a nice dinner. It is like wishing together for their daughter to marry in the future. In the host’s house, there is usually a very elaborate display set up with 10 porcelain dolls. They are seated at three different levels. At the highest level, there is the king and queen dressed in their elaborate kimonos. Then, there are the three ladies in waiting in elaborate kimonos as well (but not as many layers as the queen). Then, there are five entertainers in kimonos as well holding instruments and sporting funny expressions. The highlight of the evening was when we were teaching Rena, the little girl, ‘Head, shoulders, knees and toes.’ One time Cristina was sitting on her knees when she was teaching her which meant she had to point behind her when she pointed to he toes. Since then, Rena pointed to her butt every time she was supposed to point to her toes.
To say that we have had a full weekend would be an understatement. In all actuality, we have did not do much on the weekend, but Sunday was definitely a full day. Friday night Cristina signed up for the Kushira 10K race with Kaz. Since was to have her 5K run on Sunday, she really wanted to try to do the 10K. While Cristina was signing up for the race, I went on a 7K run. After that, the night was relatively quiet. If I remember correctly, we stayed in and watched the movie I am Sam.
Saturday, I had a list of errands I wanted to do. I was determined to buy indoor sneakers after getting really bad blisters from playing basketball in my socks during recess on Tuesday. It was a little more difficult than I thought it was going to be. I finally found a pair of black and orange New Balance shoes that I would be able to use as my indoor sneakers. It pained me to spend about $90 on them, but I figured I could use them when I play in the gym at schools and when I go to the Arena in Kanoya or Uchinoura. Later that night, we went to Laura’s house for a pre-race pasta party. We ate tons. At least, I ate tons. I would go as far as to say that I ate too much, but when don’t I say that. In any case, while the girls watched the movie Shall We Dance?, I went to the Osaki onsen to relax and warm my muscles the night before the race. It was nice except for I shaved with a disposable razor that left me bleeding and looking really weird after the race on Sunday. That night we slept at Laura’s. We were in bed by 11:00.
The alarm went off at 6:15. It was already Sunday morning and we needed to head off to the Sakurajima ferry port – the start/finish line of the race. We all ate our oatmeal and then packed into my new car. I drove as all the girls French-braided their hair. We arrived at the snow-covered volcano, Sakurajima, at about 8:15 AM and registered. We said hello to those we knew that were there also running the race. Then, we began to stretch with everyone and listen to the opening ceremonies. During the ceremonies, Jill and Laura were going to stretch (for real, not the Japanese version) at the back of the grounds. I decided to go with them in case I get lost and don’t know where to find the 10K start line. So, as we are done stretching, we see Osa (the Nichinan ALT who had cut my hair and come with us to the race) on the jumbo screen TV. I quickly shouted to the others and began to shoot photos of the jumbo screen. I saw that they were handing her something that looked like a giant check. I ran over there to take pictures of her. It turned out that she won an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii for 6 days in December to run a marathon there. It was so exciting. Her picture even came out in today’s newspaper. Apparently, they called out her number from a raffle but she did not know it was her. Suddenly, everybody began to stare at her and a man pulled her toward the front stage. She is extremely lucky. Congrats Osa! After the excitement of that, Cristina and Osa had to head off to the start line because the 5K was about to begin. Before I knew it, they were off. Then, it was our turn to begin. We went n the opposite direction. We don’t know the times yet, but they will be mailed to us soon. What killed me was going to fast in the beginning and then trying to tackle those uphill roads.
After the race, we went to the famous Furusato Onsen. It is a co-ed, outdoor onsen on Sakurajima. It’s famous because it has a small shrine at the spring pool built into the intricate root structure of a tree that looks to be a few hundred years old. The outdoor springs are right on the water, so you get an amazing view of Kinko Bay and Satsuma peninsula while you soak. It was the perfect thing right after the strenuous race.
After the onsen, we went back to the ferry port to spend the day in Kagoshima City. Specifically, we spent the rest of the day in Amu Plaza. We enjoyed some Starbucks upon arrival and some KFC upon departure. The hours in between we spent people watching and window shopping. Some of us did buy a few trinkets here and there. I bought a pack of peanut butter M&Ms. The day ended with a long journey home.
Cristina and I are getting really into this race thing. Already we are going to do races the first 2 weekends of April – one in Kushira (10K) and one on the other peninsula in Fukiage (7K, shorter but part of it is on the beach).
On Wednesday, we took some more pictures with Flat Stanley before sending him back to Cristina’s cousin. We made a picture book on www.shutterfly.com that the teacher can show the class. Then, we are sending him back with lots of Japanese goodies. It was a lot of fun working on the project and I think that I will do a similar one to this with my students at the beginning of the school year in April.
On Thursday, March 3rd, it was Hina Matsuri or Doll’s Festival or Girl’s Day. We were invited to Cristina’s neighbor’s house to celebrate. Cristina’s neighbor is her vice principal. He has a lovely wife and a daughter that will be 2-years-old in July. Basically, families with daughters usually celebrate Hina Matsuri by inviting friends and family over for a nice dinner. It is like wishing together for their daughter to marry in the future. In the host’s house, there is usually a very elaborate display set up with 10 porcelain dolls. They are seated at three different levels. At the highest level, there is the king and queen dressed in their elaborate kimonos. Then, there are the three ladies in waiting in elaborate kimonos as well (but not as many layers as the queen). Then, there are five entertainers in kimonos as well holding instruments and sporting funny expressions. The highlight of the evening was when we were teaching Rena, the little girl, ‘Head, shoulders, knees and toes.’ One time Cristina was sitting on her knees when she was teaching her which meant she had to point behind her when she pointed to he toes. Since then, Rena pointed to her butt every time she was supposed to point to her toes.
To say that we have had a full weekend would be an understatement. In all actuality, we have did not do much on the weekend, but Sunday was definitely a full day. Friday night Cristina signed up for the Kushira 10K race with Kaz. Since was to have her 5K run on Sunday, she really wanted to try to do the 10K. While Cristina was signing up for the race, I went on a 7K run. After that, the night was relatively quiet. If I remember correctly, we stayed in and watched the movie I am Sam.
Saturday, I had a list of errands I wanted to do. I was determined to buy indoor sneakers after getting really bad blisters from playing basketball in my socks during recess on Tuesday. It was a little more difficult than I thought it was going to be. I finally found a pair of black and orange New Balance shoes that I would be able to use as my indoor sneakers. It pained me to spend about $90 on them, but I figured I could use them when I play in the gym at schools and when I go to the Arena in Kanoya or Uchinoura. Later that night, we went to Laura’s house for a pre-race pasta party. We ate tons. At least, I ate tons. I would go as far as to say that I ate too much, but when don’t I say that. In any case, while the girls watched the movie Shall We Dance?, I went to the Osaki onsen to relax and warm my muscles the night before the race. It was nice except for I shaved with a disposable razor that left me bleeding and looking really weird after the race on Sunday. That night we slept at Laura’s. We were in bed by 11:00.
The alarm went off at 6:15. It was already Sunday morning and we needed to head off to the Sakurajima ferry port – the start/finish line of the race. We all ate our oatmeal and then packed into my new car. I drove as all the girls French-braided their hair. We arrived at the snow-covered volcano, Sakurajima, at about 8:15 AM and registered. We said hello to those we knew that were there also running the race. Then, we began to stretch with everyone and listen to the opening ceremonies. During the ceremonies, Jill and Laura were going to stretch (for real, not the Japanese version) at the back of the grounds. I decided to go with them in case I get lost and don’t know where to find the 10K start line. So, as we are done stretching, we see Osa (the Nichinan ALT who had cut my hair and come with us to the race) on the jumbo screen TV. I quickly shouted to the others and began to shoot photos of the jumbo screen. I saw that they were handing her something that looked like a giant check. I ran over there to take pictures of her. It turned out that she won an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii for 6 days in December to run a marathon there. It was so exciting. Her picture even came out in today’s newspaper. Apparently, they called out her number from a raffle but she did not know it was her. Suddenly, everybody began to stare at her and a man pulled her toward the front stage. She is extremely lucky. Congrats Osa! After the excitement of that, Cristina and Osa had to head off to the start line because the 5K was about to begin. Before I knew it, they were off. Then, it was our turn to begin. We went n the opposite direction. We don’t know the times yet, but they will be mailed to us soon. What killed me was going to fast in the beginning and then trying to tackle those uphill roads.
After the race, we went to the famous Furusato Onsen. It is a co-ed, outdoor onsen on Sakurajima. It’s famous because it has a small shrine at the spring pool built into the intricate root structure of a tree that looks to be a few hundred years old. The outdoor springs are right on the water, so you get an amazing view of Kinko Bay and Satsuma peninsula while you soak. It was the perfect thing right after the strenuous race.
After the onsen, we went back to the ferry port to spend the day in Kagoshima City. Specifically, we spent the rest of the day in Amu Plaza. We enjoyed some Starbucks upon arrival and some KFC upon departure. The hours in between we spent people watching and window shopping. Some of us did buy a few trinkets here and there. I bought a pack of peanut butter M&Ms. The day ended with a long journey home.
Cristina and I are getting really into this race thing. Already we are going to do races the first 2 weekends of April – one in Kushira (10K) and one on the other peninsula in Fukiage (7K, shorter but part of it is on the beach).
posted by Jesse Montano at
11:16 AM
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