Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Kyu-chan
Last night we had an eisa going-away party for one of our members, Kyu-chan. I’ve had a harmless crush (when was my last harmful crush?) on her for awhile and she was one of the reasons I joined eisa. When I learned the Japanese to ask a girl if she had a boyfriend, I tested the line on her. She answered yes.
The big news of last night is the announcement that she and her boyfriend are getting married. A moment of introspection for me. We both came at the same time and while I caught big fish and ran fast marathons, she met and got engaged to her future husband. I think we know who had a more productive year.
The big news of last night is the announcement that she and her boyfriend are getting married. A moment of introspection for me. We both came at the same time and while I caught big fish and ran fast marathons, she met and got engaged to her future husband. I think we know who had a more productive year.
[I weigh about 85kg. She weighs 42kg. Less than half of me.]
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Running Log 9/30 – 10/5
9/30 5:23am: 13k 1:11.43 (heart rate average: 133)
10/1 4:34am: 21k 1:58.32 (HR: 138)
10/2 6:14am: 5k 27.22 (HR: 123)
10/3 5:21am: 13k 1:09.42 (HR: 131)
10/4 skipped my run for the [canceled]1000m race at Geruma undokai
10/5 4:28am: 32k 2:58.20 (13k: 1:12.32, 13k: 1:11.30, 6k: 34.18) (HR: 139)
Yesterday I returned from Geruma’s undokai to a box waiting at my door from my friend Laura. We were on the college crew team for four years, she as a coxswain, me as a rower. She had since taken a high profile consulting job in Boston and gone to Australia on a six-month assignment for them. When six months were up she quit and took a new job at a university, staying in Australia indefinitely. And doing triathlons. So we compare notes.
Inside the box was a package of Bodyglide. It was a magical gift, perfectly timed for this morning’s 32k run. Thank you, Laura. No chafe today, only a great, smooth, uninterrupted three hours of running. Which wiped me out for the rest of the day. Comforting that my semi-casual pace would have netted a 3:50 marathon.
Running here is for the solitary: on Wednesday I passed another runner, the first of the season.
10/1 4:34am: 21k 1:58.32 (HR: 138)
10/2 6:14am: 5k 27.22 (HR: 123)
10/3 5:21am: 13k 1:09.42 (HR: 131)
10/4 skipped my run for the [canceled]1000m race at Geruma undokai
10/5 4:28am: 32k 2:58.20 (13k: 1:12.32, 13k: 1:11.30, 6k: 34.18) (HR: 139)
Yesterday I returned from Geruma’s undokai to a box waiting at my door from my friend Laura. We were on the college crew team for four years, she as a coxswain, me as a rower. She had since taken a high profile consulting job in Boston and gone to Australia on a six-month assignment for them. When six months were up she quit and took a new job at a university, staying in Australia indefinitely. And doing triathlons. So we compare notes.
Inside the box was a package of Bodyglide. It was a magical gift, perfectly timed for this morning’s 32k run. Thank you, Laura. No chafe today, only a great, smooth, uninterrupted three hours of running. Which wiped me out for the rest of the day. Comforting that my semi-casual pace would have netted a 3:50 marathon.
Running here is for the solitary: on Wednesday I passed another runner, the first of the season.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Zamami Matsuri
Anybody thinking of visiting Zamami, mark this week on your calendar as a good time (that would be assuming I stayed for a third year). Zamami Matsuri (festival) was last night and it's our largest 'cultural' event of the year. All the groups prepare their biggest shows for the night. The groups include hula, taiko drumming, eisa, traditional Okinawan (Ryukyu) dance, and our band, The Mammy's.
It was my second eisa performance, but no less nervy than the first in July. Our music was provided by sanshin player from Naha, which was awesome. A lot more traditional than a cd. Unfortunately I made many mistakes, especially during the fourth song which I co-led with the other guy (we had eight girls and two guys). But.. whatever, it was a lot of fun. At least I didn't put a hole in my drum this time.
Here are some pictures I took of the elementary students, who performed before the sun went down:
It was my second eisa performance, but no less nervy than the first in July. Our music was provided by sanshin player from Naha, which was awesome. A lot more traditional than a cd. Unfortunately I made many mistakes, especially during the fourth song which I co-led with the other guy (we had eight girls and two guys). But.. whatever, it was a lot of fun. At least I didn't put a hole in my drum this time.
Here are some pictures I took of the elementary students, who performed before the sun went down:
Thursday, October 2, 2008
2009 JET Calendar
Yesterday I got this email:
''Dear David Clumpner, Congratulations! After reviewing the photo submissions for the 2009 JET Programme Calendar, we have decided to use one of your photographs. We plan to feature the attached photograph in the Wall Calendar. Thank you for your submissions! Kind regards,''
''Dear David Clumpner, Congratulations! After reviewing the photo submissions for the 2009 JET Programme Calendar, we have decided to use one of your photographs. We plan to feature the attached photograph in the Wall Calendar. Thank you for your submissions! Kind regards,''
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Zamami's Unknown Festival
There's this festival that happens, where there's a "parade" and all the kids play eisa, then there are Hari boat races. At night everybody gathers and drinks a lot. I don't know what the festival is, but I think it has something to do with old people. This year I photographed and raced in a boat (we won, which I publicly attributed to me). Last year I got suckered into going to the evening gathering, but this year I went through my pictures instead.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Running Log 9/22 – 9/28
9/23 5:33am: 13k
9/24 4:48am: 21k 2:04.01
9/25 6:17am: 5k 28.05.9
9/26 6:18am: 5k 28.12.1
9/27 5:25am: 26k 2:24.32 (1:14.30 and 1:10.02)
Total: 70km
Most mornings when I walk towards my starting point I pass a construction worker waking himself up outside the barracks by smoking a cigarette. I can’t help but think that I am adding days to my life while he is doing the opposite.
On Wednesday I probably should have smoked. The humidity was high and there was zero air movement. I was sweating heavily before even leaving my apartment. In the three-hour period from when I woke up until I went to school, I drank six liters of water (just over 1.5 gallons). It was a dreadful, slow 21k and I barely made it to school on time (and even with a/c, didn’t stop sweating until 10am). But there were also lasting effects: for the next three days, whenever I stood up suddenly (or just stood up), my entire torso felt like it was being attacked with glass shards and I became woozy. That run really, really weakened me and I wisely followed it with two 5k's. Saturday's run was both great and it purged the tingliness - a good ending to the week.
Most mornings when I walk towards my starting point I pass a construction worker waking himself up outside the barracks by smoking a cigarette. I can’t help but think that I am adding days to my life while he is doing the opposite.
On Wednesday I probably should have smoked. The humidity was high and there was zero air movement. I was sweating heavily before even leaving my apartment. In the three-hour period from when I woke up until I went to school, I drank six liters of water (just over 1.5 gallons). It was a dreadful, slow 21k and I barely made it to school on time (and even with a/c, didn’t stop sweating until 10am). But there were also lasting effects: for the next three days, whenever I stood up suddenly (or just stood up), my entire torso felt like it was being attacked with glass shards and I became woozy. That run really, really weakened me and I wisely followed it with two 5k's. Saturday's run was both great and it purged the tingliness - a good ending to the week.
[Two cups of sweat wrung out of my shirt at the 13k mark. Did I taste it later? Of course! (it's a little less mild than urine.)]
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