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TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
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“I managed not to vom everywhere at the end of it all!” |
On Saturday we took part in the YMCA Charity Run which was held in Yoyogi park. Myself and the other 5 trainees were recruited even before we made it to Tokyo and I had been engaging in some intensive training courtsey of Coach Pedro prior to my departure.
The race was a relay with 6 members in each team, each completing one lap of the circuit which was about 1.8km (just over 1 mile). For some absurd reason, Spence-desu and Cooper-san had been selected for the “Elite Team” based on their People Picker photo (a work database full of mugshots used for our work passes in London). The remainder of us (who hadn’t made this arbitrary grade) were in another team with some fellow Japanese colleagues. So my team (Team 18) led with Karen, followed by me, then Taqvi and Peter – with the Japanese girls bringing up the rear.
We all had different ways of preparing for the race in advance: Karen – passed out the night before due to too many drinks at the drinky trolley, Cooper – by eating 3 large steak sticks about 5 mins prior to the start time and Taqvi – by spending the night on a massage table as he couldn’t make it back to the hotel in time. After Karen kicked of our first lap, it wasn't long before she came powering back round the athletics track with the sash in hand. I took hold of the sash, got overtaken by almost everyone, but made good time (about 8 minutes) I think and I managed not to vom everywhere at the end of it all! It is a wonder that any of us made it round in the sweltering heat, but made it we did with the Elite team coming 6th overall and retaining some naff trophy & Team 18 coming a respectable 59th. Yes, I know it sounds crap but bearing in mind that most of the 50 teams in front of us consisted of 5 males and 1 female who hadn’t been lashed the night before – we did pretty well!
Post-race I had a wander round the local area and visited the Meiji Jingu Shrine. An old Japanese shrine dating back to the 1920’s which provided an area of peace and quiet in the otherwise manic city surrounding it. On the way home, I stumbled across a mini showroom which happened to be exhibiting Jarno Trulli’s actual Toyota F1 race car. I even managed to get inside the car and get a snapshot taken before having a go on a F1 simulator game round the Suzuka circuit. Great preparation for next week’s Japanese Grand Prix!
previous travel blog entry
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