50k ultra-birthday run、過去最高距離５０キロ

Oh whadda feeling,Toyota! 南蛮連合人たちのおかげで過去最高距離５０キロを５時間以下で無事に完走しました。

スタンザマンと妻美し恵も全部５０キロを楽にでき、感謝します。I completed 50km in my goal of under 5 hours in my 50th year of existence! Huge shouts to all the runners who dragged me along the journey. 

Stan za man was an amazing tour guide along the Kitazawa streets, tirelessly recollecting the slow ones in the group (me) every few clicks. Genki Megumi and Stan did the entire 50k with me and looked fresh as daisies at the finish line. Your humble narrator was running on fumes. 

Tim, Keren, Makiko, Gareth, Rika E, Rika H, Ben, Meeks, Rieko, Satohi, Terry, Jay, Renaud were all there at various points on the course. We started on the in the western suburbs of the Tamagawa river, ran the river to Futago Tamagawa, hung a left up 246, circled Komazawa Park several times, took the Kitazawa streets to Yoyogi Park, and finished with numerous 1.3k short loops in the park. 

Many thanks to all! It was an extreme pleasure to spend the day with so many close friends, doing what we all love to do. 

This completes the 50th festivities for the time being. Now everyone can rest their legs and livers!誕生日の素晴らし１週間祭りはこれまでとりあえず終了です。 

Murakami triathlon, close but no cigar, plus special birthday thoughts..

Murakami triathlon. Always a great way to culminate the triathlon season with so many big hitters making the journey from Tokyo. And a big birthday on the day as well...I got 4th in my AG, just missing the podium due to a mediocre swim. Would have been nice to nail it on my birthday but that's the way the cookie crumbles..

Total 2:21:41

Swim 28:17 What happened? I must have serpentined too much as I felt pretty strong going into September and believed I would swim 25 to 26 minutes. 

Bike 1:09:49 (includes 2 transitions)
Not too shabby. About 1:04:23, 37.1 kph without transitions.

 Run 43:35
Smoking gun. Felt nice, was able to run hard and pick up pace with 3k to go.

Train ride party, and 50th!

The following Friday, it was my extreme pleasure to celebrate my 50th birthday in Tokyo with 50 of my closest friends. Megumi was a superstar, setting up the whole event. These lifetime friendships are like an extension of my body. I could not function without them.

Special thanks to Keren, Bruno, Tamiko, and Dave Mccombs, who were all at my 40th birthday party, and have survived and thrived with me throughout the past decade.

A big shout to Seanny, my oldest friend in Tokyo, who I've known since my teenage years in college.

I also appreciate all the triathlete and marathon friends who came out to this gathering. You have helped me stay in shape over the years. Kudos!

 Most of all, thanks to my gorgeous wife for tremendous execution of the most special party ever!

Meg, you superstar!