GVGV at Japan Fashion Week

It's not all about running. Some recent shots from GVGV at Japan Fashion Week...

Fixed gear bikes in Tokyo

It's been awhile since I loaded up some pics of bikes spotted on the streets of Tokyo. Enjoy...


This is one of the best looking Level's I've ever seen. The Tokyo-based atelier run by Shiko Matsuda has been building frames since 1975 and has been an NJS-approved frame-builder since 1980. He's a nice guy too.



This frame is a smoked grey over chrome, finished off with Sugino 75 cranks, a pretty nazzy Shimano 1/8th inch oval plate chain and, of course, Matsuda-san's signature.

The bars are Nitto RB-021 matched to the very rare Nitto badged stem from 1983 (?)


The Level had an Araya ADX-1 rim on the front. A great rim. Very narrow - just 19mm wide, it weighs 330 grams. This was the rim used by Koichi Nakano for some of his world championship wins.






And on the rear, a Wolber Profil 20. A rare rim in that it's made of a magnesium alloy. These weigh somewhere around the 300 gram mark. They were released in 1985.




This bike is a bit of a mess, but the frame is a killer - a Katakura Silk, handbuilt by Tadashi Arai, one of the gods of the frame-building world.


Sugino Super Mighty cranks - nothing wrong with them.



An old Bridgestone frame, obviously an ex-racer's bike, it's sporting Araya 16B rims laced to Dura-Ace hubs, a drop stem and tubs, but...




It's got a pair of mad Nitto B617AA "moustache" handlebars on it.



Don't know much about this bike - I just liked the chainring


What's this frame? An old San Rensho? A lugged Makino?




Nice chain too - hollow pins?

5 days until the marathon

Actually feeling a bit nervous. Every little pain scares the hell out of me. Can't work out what socks to wear on the day. Don't know what to eat in the morning. Worrying about getting heavy but also about not eating enough. Is that a cold I feel coming on?

Steve, thanks for the comment, I'll be looking for you, please forgive me if I'm capable of little more than a grunt as I pass.

11 days until Tokyo Marathon

I did a track workout today. 1,200; 600; 1,200; 600; 1,200. I tried out a second pair of new shoes and liked them, so they'll be the ones I use on the 22nd.

I'm still not feeling 100%. My first 1,200 felt awful.

I tried to use my new Garmin 405, but it's not at all intuitive, so I had no idea how to even get to stopwatch mode (does it even have one?)

Two months until Tokyo Marathon

I was happy to be able to run 2 hours today. But instead of occasionally being able to run a Long Slow Distance I've got to get in some solid weeks of training. It's only 6 weeks until I need to think about tapering. I just hope my knees and ankle hold out!

Enjoying my running

I'm really enjoying my running at the moment. Losing 1-2 kilograms has made me realise I can go faster with less effort - it's making my track sessions a lot more enjoyable.

I got my time and result for the Okutama ekiden that was held in December, and I was pleased to see I set a new club record, and was among the fastest 25 runners for that stage.

At the track last night we did 4 x 1,600m. Hard mentally, but I ran almost exactly even splits: 5.27, 5.23, 5.25, 5.25.

This Sunday is Shibuya Ekiden, a short and fast race of 2.8km. I'm feeling a little stale, but I hope to feel good on the day - I think we can podium.

Women's keirin

If you want to see some of Japan's best female track riders in Tokyo, head out to the Keio Kaku velodrome on Jan. 3.

More information here: www.girls-keirin.com

Calfman Duathlon - Feb. 8

Well, I've entered the Calfman Duathlon, to be held at Showa Kinen Koen in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, on Feb. 8.

Last year, I did it slowly, because I was not at all sure I could even finish the thing. But this time I think I'll throw caution to the wind and go for it.

I've got a new Zipp 303 front wheel that should save me a bit of time and I'm getting some good tyres (hopefully Veloflex Carbons).

As things stand I now have one race to look forward to each month - January will be Shibuya Ekiden; February is the duathlon; and March is Tokyo Marathon.

I really hope there's no snow for the duathlon like there was for the last one.

Tokyo International Womens Marathon

Results of the 30th and final Tokyo International Womens Marathon

1. Yoshimi Ozaki (2.23.30 - new PB)
2. Yuri Kano 2.24.27
3. Mara Yamauchi (2.25.03 - new PB by 7 seconds)
4. Yoko Shibui 2.25.51 (faded badly near the end)
5. Salina Kosgei 2.30.34

Ozaki came home very strongly, going from 3rd to 1st at about the 38km mark.
Shibui, who led for much of the race, faded badly as she moved from 1st to 4th. At around 38km her pace had dropped from 3.30/km to 3.40/km, but appeared to slow even more.

Great news!

Been mad busy lately, 14 hour days, but finished my work and got the news today that I'm running in the Tokyo Marathon. Last time I was selected I got injured, so I'm hoping for better luck second time around.

My wife didn't get chosen for the marathon - also for the second time, so I feel a lot of responsibility to do well. I hope to run under 3 hours - and would love to hit 2.50. But just to run in this marathon is a great thing.

One that got away

Today, I ran the Green Ribbon 3km at the National Stadium in Sendagaya, Tokyo. The weather was perfect (for running) and there was a really good turn out.

I lined up with sore glands in my neck from a lingering virus, but felt OK.

At 3pm the 10km runners set off, and at 3.15pm the 3km runners (my group) were to set off. However, as the 10km runners were doing 2.5km loops, it meant that when our gun sounded the 10km runners were already passing us.

I had no idea where the course went, so I tucked in behind what looked like fast guys as we ducked and dived through tired 10km runners. A few guys in T-shirts and long shorts sprinted up the road, but I let them go as I was pretty sure they'd fade later.

My group soon sorted itself out, so I sat behind the second placed guy for a lap. We picked up all but one of the guys who had run ahead and I could see the last one, still about 40 meters up the road.

On the second lap I considered going after the guy up front, we had only made up 20 or so meters on him, but I decided to give it my all on the last lap instead.

With half a lap to go it was now or never, so I moved across the road to pass the second place guy without him noticing. The road was now not only clogged with slow 10km runners but also little kids doing a mini-ekiden. I was getting tired and avoiding runners who only came up to my knees was a scary duty.

I entered the stadium about 20 meters down on first place. It looked impossible, but I thought I had a lap inside the stadium to reel him in. I raced around the 10km runners on the outside of the track, looking for my quarry, but he had gone. And I soon realised why...I was meant to have turned right onto the track on the third lap, not left. My attempt to win was over.

I feel stupid for not realising that I should have gone right. It makes sense now, but at the time - wearied by the running and confused by all the different events being held at the same time - I hadn't considered the third lap might be different.

I can't say that I enjoyed the race. Making fast runners share a narrow course with slow runners, walkers and, most worring of all, small children is dangerous and unnecessary. I heard of other runners that went off course too - some ekiden teams followed the 10km route. I never found a rhythm and on two occasions I had to stop, so this run is pointless if you're after a good time - and that applies to the 3km and the 10km, as the fastest runners lapped the field twice over the longer distance.

I think I'll avoid all runs with the word "ribbon" in the name in the future, as the Run for the Cure Pink Ribbon* run is just as badly organised, with the walkers sent off ahead of the runners, causing mayhem for everyone when the two groups collide.

Sometimes I wonder if these events are planned and put on by runners, because they don't seem to be put on for runners.

EDIT: I've been informed that the Run for the Cure no longer lets the walkers go first. However, the 10km runners are sent off 5 mins before the 5km runners. So the 10km field gets a clear run, but the fast 5km runners catch the back of the 10km field at the halfway mark. An improvement nonetheless.

Fast(ish) 10km

I went for a hit-out around the Palace today. It's been ages since I ran there. My plan was two laps at under 20 minutes per lap - and I wore my heart rate monitor because I've never really known exactly how fast my heart rate is at 4min per km pace.

I was a little surprised that it shot up to 185bpm quite quickly, then edged up to 186. At this point I feel like going any faster is really going to hurt, and I soon found out it does - 188bpm feels awful. I feel glad, however, that the old rule of "220 minus your age" doesn't seem to apply to me when calculating my lactate threshold. I think my lactate threshold is 188/189.

More roadies and fixies in Tokyo

Bridgestone with a Brooks











Sorry for the grainy images of this Gan Well Pro. I took it late at night with my cell phone. But check it out. An old Gan Well Pro tourer in mint condition.






A brand spanking new Panasonic, almost all NJS with new Dura-Ace. Someone's doing well.





















This Levant is pretty badly looked after, but it's got a carbon Corima front rim. A $350 front rim!















This bike was parked near the Dolan. An average looking road bike - but look at that front wheel. Araya Tita-Ace NJS rim.