主婦の英語日記

ランニングは続行中

Thu, 09 Jan 2014 17:13:46 +0900

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

Fri, 15 Nov 2013 19:57:02 +0900

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

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 13:56:00 +0900

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

Sat, 19 Oct 2013 06:55:00 +0900

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

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 21:02:04 +0900

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

Visiting a big waterfall

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 07:20:24 +0900

This weekend has three days off in my country including a national holiday called Sports Day on Monday. My family visited Myoko City, where many tourists are attracted for natural wonders and winter sports. The mountainous town in our Niigata prefecture is next to Nagano prefecture.

One of our destinations was a big waterfall named Naena-Taki, as the Japanese Taki (滝) means waterfall and Naena is a unique noun. As I had visited there two years before, I had wanted to come again. The waterfall was so big and dynamic. My family including my husband and kids had a walk around it. Some parts of the mountain colored yellow and red of autumn, so it was beautiful.

However, as we stayed overnight at a hotel and ate too much, I gained weight!! Because the dinner was at an all-you-can-eat buffet style restaurant, I ate a lot of pieces of cakes and other sweets as well as grilled meat, all of them were my favorites. I gained staggering 1.5 kilos after returning home. I have to eat less and healthier from today.

新潟県妙高市の苗名（なえな）滝です。

とてもダイナミックで、癒されます。

Running on consecutive days

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 15:32:35 +0900

Recently it appears that I'm addicted to jogging. In the last few days in a row, it turned out I ran early mornings. I love the cool air when running. I always leave home around five thirty and come back before six o'clock, because I have to prepare breakfast for my third-grade son.

So far, the distance to run is about three kilometers or for half an hour, but I hope to run longer and faster. I wish to jog more than five kilometers someday. As I started the physical activity last January, I hope to go beyond my limit.

Though I can't afford, I try saying "Good morning" to as many people as possible who pass each other. Those who cross are mostly seniors, but almost everyone responds to me. I'm happy with that and content to what I did afterward. Greetings is, I think, important, in our culture such as a workplace or other social places. Why don't you say "Good morning" to everyone, even strangers you meet today? It's a nice feeling.

By the way, swimming is still my pastime, too. I visited a public pool this morning after household chores. It seems we can build various muscles in the body. There are many elders, so I say hi. In fact, people who see me also say hello with a smile. Greetings widen the relationship of people.

Running on weekday mornings

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 23:39:42 +0900

Recently it's one of the best times in climate in a year for humans. It's very autumn, and it's not so difficult for me to get up early. I'm not sure whether I enjoy or not, I take jogging more often times than earlier months. As I hardly get sweaty, I feel fresh after running. Though I can only run for two kilometers or around twenty minutes each time, I've got to continue without a rest. I'm happy with the improvement.

This time, this morning I took some pictures. This is one of favorite views to see while I run. The sun was shining above the high-rise buildings in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. The colors of pink and red are beautiful before the sun rises. It's not an exaggeration to say I come here so as to watch the beautiful scenery.

You'll be surprised that more seniors than those younger take a walk vigorously. And I enjoy saying "Good morning" to those who pass on the road. It's a great feeling, more than when without saying anything.

Taken before 6 o'clock, October 8, 2013

Running of Sunday

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 07:03:38 +0900

Scenery in the mornig is beautiful.

It's Sunday today. Even though I went to bed late last night, I had wanted to get up early next morning. Though I was still sleepy, I left home and started jogging about five fifty. This morning, I crossed two bridges, which are close to each other. Chosei bashi (Chosei Bridge) is one of time-honored architectures in the city of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. Because of truss-type, the bridge is loved by locals and give an impression for people who visit.

I ran about 20 minutes this time, crossing Chosei Bridge and later Ote Ohashi (another bridge), to return to the starting point. It was not so sweaty afterward. I felt fresh. Now I feel like starting a new day with my family.

朝のジョギング

Sat, 05 Oct 2013 06:55:44 +0900

最近、めっきり涼しくなり、ジョギングには良い時期になったなぁと思っています。
朝の道路は静かで、空気も良いものです。
そんなことを日記にして書いてみました。

Running in the Morning

I'm dedicated to running these days , because of the coolness in the morning. I find it less to get sweaty. This morning, leaving home about five thirty, I took jogging for three kilometers, which is a usual distance and a limit for me. Now that I turned on a computer, I barely can use my head but am writing what I did. But because I wanted to tell about scenery on the road, I took up my pen along with pictures.

Streets in the morning are very quiet and cool. In my view, it's the best season and timing if you run.

I like crossing a bridge in my neighborhood, named Ote Ohashi. As the Japanese Ohashi means a long-distance bridge, actually this case is 878 meters. I usually cross it and come back.

You'll be surprised that people who cross the bridge are more elders than those younger. Some seniors are even in their 70's but are good walkers. I respect them. In addition, this time I tried saying "Good morning" to strangers. It was a pleasure to hear the same morning exchange.

In my future, I hope to run more than five kilometers in a single run.