主婦の英語日記

ランニングは続行中

It has been a long time since the last time I wrote a diary. It was partly because I had thought I will be forced to stay at the computer once I start it. But I feel like writing and want to write about daily ordinary life to keep records, even with small posts.

 

Since it snowed last December, though, I have made a point of having a chance of running. I went to city gymnastic hall today. It's for the second days in succession to jog.

 

Today, I ran 45 laps around an oval (45周走った). It took about an hour. Each lap lasts is 200 meters, so I ran 9 kilometers. It's one of my maxium distance as one running.

 

 

To tell the truth, I started the hobby in sports the past January, because I hoped to lose extra weight. At the time, it was okay to keep running for ten minutes. But now, I am pleased running far more than the distance and it's almost an hour without a rest.

 

I wonder how far I can run for each time until the end of this year. I hope it will reach ten kilometers, the distance that I can't run for now. It's one of my resolutions this year.

 

Winning a prize, this time --- gift certificate

Today was a usual day, I think, after doing household chores at night. But this late early-evening, I got registered mail from a postman at home unexpectedly. Inside were two pieces of gift certificate priced at 2,000 yen.

 

Sending for me was a local paper company which publishes booklets for mothers and other people, and a newspaper about local information such as restaurants and so on.

 

I had sent a postcard for the prize long time ago. So this happy news came to me when I least expected.

 

This certificate displayed on the picture is what can be used only in my city, but there are many places available. I was thinking about where to consume during last dinner.

 

I'd like to use them in a public bath, because that's the place where my family can go but not so often. It'll be some luxury. We call it "Petti Zeitaku (small luxury)" in Japan.

 

 

 

-* --* --* --* -

<Running and Jogging>

By the way, about my jogging and swimming life these days. I have kept them on a daily basis. As for running, we have had more rainy days than in summer, so I have fewer times to run, a little bit sad. I swam today, and I ran yesterday about five kilometers, which is a longer distance than usual.

Won a ticket for exhibition

 

　　　　　　　　　　　　

 

 

 

 

　　　　　　　　　　　　

 

 

I applied an application through a postcard for an exhibition last month, and yesterday when I took a look at my mail box, unexpectedly there was an envelope from a free paper company, which gives us local information in my neighborhood. I won tickets for two people of an exhibition named "Kokeshi Pop." It's held in Nagaoka's Tochio Museum. The Japanese term Kokeshi is one kind of traditional dolls in Japan, made of wood, whose face is intriguing and probably "cute." The top-heavy dolls with a flat belly are mostly manufactured in Tohoku region, Japan's northern east area, according to a source on the web.

 

 

 

I scarcely visit museums as I am not as interested as playing grounds for kids. However, I'd like to make best use of this chance and feel the sense of art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

こうやってみると、こけしもかわいいですね。

見に行くのが楽しみです。

Enjoying morning run

Today it's Saturday. I had been thinking of jogging from yesterday if not rain. I brought a camera because I had more time than weekdays.

 

 

Today's course --- a usual one of mine ---- crossing two bridges and coming back to the starting point. One of the reasons I choose was that there is a guiding board for walkers and joggers to measure whether your pace is slow or fast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ran 3.4 kilometers this time, which is like my distance limit. (Course "A" with the blue line on the inserted photo) It took 21 minutes to the goal. The guiding board said that I was faster than "slow-paced" and slower than "fastish." I'm satisfied with that. Though, I was reluctant before I started.

 

 

 

 

Why I am focused on morning jogging? Because we expect snow in the coming months, the time I have to give up to run. Therefore, I'd like to keep the morning routine as long as the sky is clear.

 

 

 

 

 

Nagaoka's iconic bridge : 長生橋　（ちょうせいばし）

 

Visiting a blood donation center

I visited a blood donation center in my neighborhood, along with another reason. Since the room is located in a large shopping center, there are many shoppers, and I came up with the idea of dropping by.

 

For women, it's possible if you're healthy and over the age of a high school student. But this time, different from the past occasions, only 200ml of blood was available for me, as usually I had had 400ml donations before.

 

According to a staff member, the 400ml donation allows for people whose weight are over 50 kilograms.

 

To tell the truth, the last time I had a contribution, I gave 400 ml, which was a default for me all the time.

 

It was the time I realized again that I've lost weight.

 

 

It's my pleasure to donate my blood. I'd like to visit again whenever I have extra time.

 

 

 

 

 

Mascot for Niigata blood donation center