All Japan triathlon, Strongman.
Finally,one of my dreams came true, I went to Japan. After Ironman Florida last year I was invited to Japan to do the race, Strongman. I heard about this event from our team mate in past, Andrey Yastrebov several years ago and since when I wanted to do this race one year. So, I was really excited about this coming opurtunity. 
A first race of the season always makes me nervous. 3 months of winter preparation are back and I went to Japan, still couldn't beleive in it. But I was there and I've done the first race of my 2009 season. It was a wonderful week on a beautiful Island, Miyako, which reminded me a bit of Kona with it's green plants and tropical climate. Even with a rainy and windy, most of the time, weather I've got just warm memories about nice and welcome people, unbeleivably tasty Japanese food and of course about an atmosphere of the this, very importent for Miyako people event. I think Strongman triathlon is in my Top 5 best organised triathlons. That just describes one more time how well Japanese people work. 
The weather at the race morning was windy and worm with some clouds, but the water was flat. It was one loop swim course, one and a half loop bike course around Miyako (Miyako is a small Island) and one loop for marathon run, not really a loop, just the way out and back. The swim came out as I planed, time wise, I plan to do it around 45 min (it's 3 km), I felt pretty good on the bike, espacially first 40 km with a tail wind;) But at the beginning of marathon I felt that wind took some energy from me on the bike. I was confused in bike-run transition area about my place, so I thought I have to catch girls ahead of me: 5 and 10 min (it's a big gap). 
But I was ready to chase them. I didn't know that I am already leading after 70th km on the bike and I have a gap on them 5 and 10 min. I have to learn some Japanese words if I want to come back again :) All way out on the run was a head wind and first 10 km I thought that I am not going to make it, but I started feel better after turn around and I save my lead till the finish line. Even with all attention to me and inteviews after finish I still wasn't sure that I won, so I kept asking a translator: What place am I? They thought it's a joke. :) It was a good beginning of 2009 season. Hope to continue as I started. 
A first race of the season always makes me nervous. 3 months of winter preparation are back and I went to Japan, still couldn't beleive in it. But I was there and I've done the first race of my 2009 season. It was a wonderful week on a beautiful Island, Miyako, which reminded me a bit of Kona with it's green plants and tropical climate. Even with a rainy and windy, most of the time, weather I've got just warm memories about nice and welcome people, unbeleivably tasty Japanese food and of course about an atmosphere of the this, very importent for Miyako people event. I think Strongman triathlon is in my Top 5 best organised triathlons. That just describes one more time how well Japanese people work. 
The weather at the race morning was windy and worm with some clouds, but the water was flat. It was one loop swim course, one and a half loop bike course around Miyako (Miyako is a small Island) and one loop for marathon run, not really a loop, just the way out and back. The swim came out as I planed, time wise, I plan to do it around 45 min (it's 3 km), I felt pretty good on the bike, espacially first 40 km with a tail wind;) But at the beginning of marathon I felt that wind took some energy from me on the bike. I was confused in bike-run transition area about my place, so I thought I have to catch girls ahead of me: 5 and 10 min (it's a big gap). 
But I was ready to chase them. I didn't know that I am already leading after 70th km on the bike and I have a gap on them 5 and 10 min. I have to learn some Japanese words if I want to come back again :) All way out on the run was a head wind and first 10 km I thought that I am not going to make it, but I started feel better after turn around and I save my lead till the finish line. Even with all attention to me and inteviews after finish I still wasn't sure that I won, so I kept asking a translator: What place am I? They thought it's a joke. :) It was a good beginning of 2009 season. Hope to continue as I started. 
6 comments:
Hey Toma!
Great job in the Strongman race. This was a very good story and I laughed at the humor. I can imagine you not knowing that you won. How funny! I hope the rest of your season goes well. We're off to a very slow start around here, of course...
Clay
Toma,
Finally I am writing to you. We miss you here in Los Alamos. Congrats on your win in Japan. I am so impressed with you. Way to go! That must have been so exciting!
I promise to e-mail you some photos of Heidi and Nora!
Susie
HOLY CRAP, TOMA! Awesome race and great race report!! I particularly like that you didnt know what place you were in - that must've been stressful!! :) We miss you, our first spring without any visits from you or Viktor! Check out our link to Mila pictures and the triatomics photo link - there are recent pictures of Heidi and Nora there too (from June 6th).
Toma is the best in thriatlon:)))))))))))
Hello. I am Sawako from Okinawa Index. We are currently making new English web pages of Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB).
(http://www.ocvb.or.jp/en/)
The new web pages will include a special feature about various sport events held in Okinawa. In that section, we would like to quote your coment about Miyako Island Triathlon. I didn’t know how I could contact you except for leaving a comment here. Could you please contact me via email? I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you.
email: sawako@okinawaindex.com
Hello, I am Sawako from Okinawa Index. I would greatly appreciate if you could email me at sawako@okinawaindex.com. I would like to explain you about the OCVB project better. Thank you.
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