CDL with Beveled rims

A black and gold colored reel,

with a black thumb bar, made in 1977.

Yes, it is an ABU Ambassadeur 5600CDL.

Rest

After I ran on the last day of 2012, I've been feeling a strange sensation around my left Achilles tendon, so I now try to take much as rest and not to run so long and fast. I'm unhappy not to run fully, but I know the ache is presumably caused by overuse, so I have to be patient. Another bad event of 2013 was that my LCD monitor was broken on one of the new year days, and I had a hard time to use my main PC. Now, I could replace it with a new one and can read small fonts, too. 

As I don't run often during weekends, I have time enough to take care of my fishing tackle. Today, I received many nice items from a good friend of mine in the US (Thanks, V). I can't wait for the spring and go out for fishing with these cool items.

Mann's old frogs

Snag Proof old frogs

Snag Proof SK frogs

Bass Oreno rainbow trout (Crankbait co)

 

And Big-A (De Luxe)

Last jog

It was the last day of 2012, and I jogged long for the first time after the race of 23 Dec. According to my GPS watch, I ran 18.78 km in 1h46m03s. The course was one of my most familiar paths, and I recalled a lot of running activities of this year. Hot days, chilly nights, steep slope, comfortable wind on the road along a small river, sudden fall and injury, those I passed, those passed me...and so on and on. 

Last fishing

As usual, my last fishing in the year was offshore yellow-tail fishing in the Sea of Japan. I could catch a total of 17 fish, nothing so big but I enjoyed a lot. They're good to eat, and all of my family members also like them very much. 
 

Analysis

Since I ran with my GPS recorder (Garmin 910XT) yesterday, I analyzed my performance during the race after I got home. The recorded distance (each 1 km) included my meandering in the course, so it was always a little shorter than the certified distance displayed on the road. I corrected my pace in accordance with the certified one.
My plan before the race was that keeping 4m50s/km from the start to 35 km, 5m20s/km to 40 km, and 5m40s/km to the end. My actual pace was not too bad, staying constant except for the time loss going to the toilet and slowing down caused by fatigue and bad condition after 35 km. The split time of the first half was 1h40m52s and that of the last half was 1h42m55s. These were much closer than I expected. Anyway, I never walked, and it was the best race I've ever run. 

Finished a marathon, sub 3.5

I finally reached the end. I finished a full marathon today, and I could fully enjoyed it. Just one years ago, I was a drowned mouse at the same race, and I was thinking I'd like to get revenge someday. Then, I seriously started working out for this race in August, and thanks to all the hard training I did (and of course the strong help from my family), I could post a good time at this race (personal best, 3h23m48s NET). I could reduce longer than 20 minutes compared to my previous best record, and I'm a little moved by the fact that I can physically improve myself at this age of life. Yes, please play the theme Rocky for me.

Mentally, I'd like to thank a tall runner running just in front on me after 35 km. His T-shirt says 'Orenai-Kokoro', meaning 'Uncrushable Mind' or 'Hang in there!' in English, on the back. In the abrupt bad condition with strong upwind and sprinkling rain, I decided I would never walk looking at his back more than 100 times. I slowed down after 40 km, but the race was just too good.

 

It's December already

Old Snagproof Frogs

The arrival of winter seems to be earlier than I expected this year, and my bass fishing season is already over. I keep my eyes open to fishing tackle I'm interested in for the next season, and I spare my time to overhaul my reels, rods, and lures. At the same time, I'm feeling excited to imagine how I'll run the marathon race at the end of this month. I ran a total of 300 km in November (I can say it's rigorous for me), and now I'm tapering off the strength of daily training. Today, I ran 2 hours very slowly and felt comfy. I'd like to enjoy the race as much as possible.