Just When You Think You Are Done With Japan....

I was completely wrong!!

We sailed from Tokyo a day early to escape the on coming Typhoon again because they were worried about getting battered alongside but once more it came no where near where we were. 

We were due to go on operations once again to enforce the UNSCRs but the ship had other plans and we ended up anchoring off Sasebo to conduct repairs. Unfortunately this wasn't working, so we limped to Yokosuka and put ourselves back alongside in the place were were, throughout July in our Mid Deployment Stand Down Period. 

That was that, back alongside in Japan, after what I thought would be the last time. First night in and I was shore patrol, ie bimbling about in uniform around the Honche (an area popular for drinking by the yanks) outside the gates. They have a strict curfew and we don't so the ship puts a patrol out to with the Yanks to make sure there is no trouble. It's a waste of time, but hey ho ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do and die. 

Out in the fresh air on the coast where I belong

Anyway the first proper opportunity I had and I was out on a run. Again the weather was sunny, very hot (35 degrees) and very humid. There was a little head breeze as some points which made a refreshing change but still sweated profusely. 

I decided to do a route which I covered previously the last time I was here. Through the dockyard, out of one of the gates and through the town then around a little coastal stretch before heading back. 

The sun was beating down, and it was definitely making me work hard, I eventually slowed myself down and tried to make it more comfortable a run. In the park I ran through there was a musical fountain, the spray in the air was refreshing so I had to go stand in in the spray briefly to try and cool for a moment. 

I noticed the Japanese flag was at half mast and it was at that moment it dawned on me that  I was our running on VJ Day. Victory in Japan signified the end of World War 2, the surrender of the Japanese meant it was over. So the fact I was running around the base where the Attack of Pearl Harbour was planned which brought them in to WW2. 

It's a bit surreal to be honest, thinking about it. Here I am enjoying something I do, running around the base and the town of Yokosuka, and it was where, the place that got them into the war and that led to some horrific fighting and torture of allied prisoners imaginable. 

Anyway I digress, I finished my run back at the ship, and chilled a little prior to going back on board for a shower and to get changed. 

The following days run was a run just in and around the base, nothing to difficult just a nice run out and around. I did find though going through the tunnels in the base, my Garmin struggled which surprised me as they're not exactly long and to be fair I never really noticed this in past. No biggy really as I am currently not too fussed about stats right now. 

Flying through one of the tunnels on the base

The weather was a bit blowly which was nice, although it wasn't too strong you still noticed the head wind, which is something I've not been used to recently. I felt pretty good during the run as well, again something that has been lacking recently. Don't get me wrong I've been enjoying every run I've had but I've not been 100% happy with my running itself. 

I've been pretty good, I got out again and smashed another run outside the base along the coast past the civilian port area. It was pretty busy with both people and vehicle traffic, and the route wasn't the most exciting either, it just felt another run done that was it. I did however enjoy it and had fun in the process. Sometimes even the most boring runs can still be enjoyable and fun. 

The weekend arrived and knowing I was going to be duty on the Sunday I wanted to make sure I had a really good run on the Saturday. So I decided to run once more up Mt Ogusu. This time however I wanted to run up it via a different trail. This meant I had to get to the other side of the Mountain. So I bussed it over to the other coast and ran from that coast up to the top and back. 

Once I left the tarmac and hit the trail at the bottom, it was pleasant surprise. There was a river running along the bottom with the trail running along it. This was brill! I loved the running along the stepping stones and having the coolness of the shade. Why didn't I run this route last time?

Soon enough the watery trail ended and the ascent started with plenty of leg burning steps. My thoughts turned straight to the Arc of Attrition next year. This is what I need to be getting in my training. Plenty of steps! 

Stunning view at the top of Mt Ogusu

The steps ended but soon followed by step climb of weathered trail. The path continued up and down rolling but mostly going up. There were plenty of walkers bimbling along the trail as well which nice. All friendly and saying hello as I passed them. 

Eventually I made it to the top once more and this time, the observatory was open so I was able to go up to the top and see over the trees and take in the breathe taking views. Sadly it was too hazy to make out Mt Fuji in the distance but I wasn't disappointed with the view at all. Beautiful scenery makes the effort getting to the top all worth it. 

Then it came to descend once more and it was fun going back down. Luckily I decided to wear trail shoes because there were some greasy sections. My Peregrines were good for the task and some how with out realising at the time, they matched my running attire LOL. 

So much fun!

I hit the bottom of the trail and ran back along the watery section and had fun whilst doing so. It was another hot day hitting 34 degrees during the run but it felt less humid and more of a dry heat this time. What a really enjoyable run that was!

I was duty the following day and to keep my run streak going I did a mile on the treadmill, followed by 20 mins on the bike. Nothing exciting but it did the job. 

Over the last couple of weeks I seemed to have hurt my shoulder, like maybe I slept funny but instead the pain, occasional numbness, pins and needles it hadn't subsided. I've booked an appointment with the Doc on board to find out what damage I've caused. 

Hopefully not too much damage, it probably won't help that during my recent run around the base I thought it'd be cool to do a cart wheel. How wrong I was for two reasons! 1. It bloody hurt 2. I look like an elegant baby elephant trying to walk for the first time. 

Yep so graceful I know!

Anyway, this should be my last time in Japan (I know I said that last time) all things well, my next blog should be from the next country I am visiting. It also means on the way home too, with around 93 days (at the time of this publishing) left to go of this deployment.


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