Japanese slow jogging in honour of Prof Tanaka... - Couch to 5K

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Japanese slow jogging in honour of Prof Tanaka (& my longest+furthest run to date)

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate
34 Replies

I’m still marking my 6 months of starting this amazing journey with some nice long runs. A few months ago Julia187 posted that last year 18th May was International Japanese Slow Jogging day, so I did mark that day with a lovely 45 min run in prep for today’s longer one. Yesterday though, via Realfoodieclub (who slow ran a HM on Sunday) discovered that Professor Hiroaki Tankara has passed from cancer last April. So today’s run was for him, and as he called his running style nico nico (smile) I did it with a broad smile, and marvelled at how this man has changed my life along with c25k, and all the many other’s lives too.

This was my longest run 6.1km (info gleaned from a map my run image) starting from Chiswick, running towards Hammersmith Bridge, over and round, along the other side of the Thames to Barnes Bridge, and looping back. Actually did it in an 1:07 (was expecting 1:20 ish), and total distance with walking through Chiswick House grounds 8.6km. Absolutely lovely riverside run, saw three herons, & lots of other birds & water fowl.

And it all felt good! I can see that 10k is not a far off dream, but nearer, and I learned last night while checking my route, that if I add a figure of 8 around Chiswick Bridge to this run that’s 10k. So I have a route, I just now need to work on adding duration as I think this will be about an 1:30.

Posting it here, rather than Bridge to 10k just so those just starting out, of struggling just know - that if I can do this, we all can. I think this is all about finding a pace that suits you, that makes you feel good while doing the actual running. And that running is for all of us.

And because I always do - why not again - here’s to you Professor Tanaka

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2...

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DiscoRunner
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34 Replies
Nannyto2 profile image
Nannyto2Graduate

Slow running

Nannyto2 profile image
Nannyto2Graduate

Well done and thanks for posting about slow running.

I've no desire to be a fast runner. Just a runner who enjoys getting ouutside so i'm going to give this a go on hill training runs!

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to Nannyto2

Its really good for hills! Only just started on hills myself and this way with even smaller stride than usual got me up some pretty serious Cornish hills!

Nannyto2 profile image
Nannyto2Graduate in reply to DiscoRunner

I'll let you know how i get on, I'm completely happy with my pace on the flat so this the way to go for dreaded hills!

notquiteretired profile image
notquiteretiredGraduate

thanks DiscoRunner , I read one of your posts early on in my joining the programme regarding this and have used it since. I am 🐢but steady thanks to it and nearly finished week6- not bad considering I havent ran for 40 years 😊

thanks for the advice👍

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to notquiteretired

So glad to have helped! Keep spreading the word!

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate in reply to notquiteretired

Here’s to the 🐢🐢s of the running world! 👏🏼

Debston profile image
DebstonGraduate

Aw, lovely post. And how brilliant to be running along the Thames, I used to love walking down there when I lived in London, watching the rowers and the water.

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to Debston

It was magical - the birds at the moment are stunning!

SeeJillRun profile image
SeeJillRunGraduate

Sounds like a great run! I often struggle between my natural pace n my slow running pace but yesterday’s run was all slow running n felt fantastic. Sorry to hear Professor Tanaka is no longer with us but his legacy lives on in all of us slow runners 🏃‍♀️ 🏃🏻‍♂️ 🐢

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to SeeJillRun

Exactly!

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate

I passed the video on to my physio as well as he says he has a few patients it will help in the recovery phase. He watched me on the treadmill and did a full gait analysis of my running and I got a gold star for form 😀. It really is a lovely way to slow run. Glad you had a nice run. I often go for walks along the Thames path, there are some great sections.

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to Realfoodieclub

I think even if you don’t need it all the time it’s very useful to have I your running belt - just to help you finish, or get back out there. Many congratulations on you HM x

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Keep running, keep nico nicoing!

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

I’ve so fallen for this running malarky - makes me nico nico so much !

MuddledGardener profile image
MuddledGardenerGraduate

Thank you for introducing me to the Prof. I’m so sad he’s gone. He really inspired me. RIP Prof. Slow jogging in heaven. ❤️

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to MuddledGardener

Yes! Plodding along those clouds x

Sophia1712 profile image
Sophia1712Graduate

I wish I saw some other slow runners near me! EVERYBODY is faster than me 😂

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to Sophia1712

Everyone over takes me - but I’m the one smiling (and spotting herons!) x

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate in reply to Sophia1712

Anywhere near the New Forest? We could have an “I’m the slowest runner!” Competition! Keep smiling as we run. 😄🐢

Zippy17726 profile image
Zippy17726 in reply to Sophia1712

Me too, a lady pelted past me today and was off in the distance. I know it shouldn’t knock my confidence but I suddenly felt like I wasn’t a runner but I AM! lol!

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to Zippy17726

You are! And her knees!!!

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate

This was lovely to read - I am a confirmed slow runner!! And we used to live at Kingston on Thames, so Barnes & the Thames were just across Richmond Park. Used to love walking along there and I would love to (slow) run it some day.

I’m sure Prof Tanaka will live on with many, many smiling runners. 🏃🏼‍♀️🤒

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to Granspeed

He’s opened up a world to us x

Stevieplink profile image
StevieplinkGraduate

You have been such an inspiration to me since I started my journey 7 weeks ago and although I don't think I slow run Japanese style watching the video certainly taught me to go slower shop I could achieve more.

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to Stevieplink

That’s so sweet. I think it’s great for everyone to know it - you do t need to run this way all the time (although I do) but such a useful thing to help all of us finish that last few yards!

Stevieplink profile image
StevieplinkGraduate

My first girlfriend came from Barnes and I lived in Staines. I now live on the coast

Headmaster5 profile image
Headmaster5

Completely wonderful post, thank you. You gave me encouragement some time ago. I had to go easy as I hurt my knee, but that’s fixed and I managed 5k for the first time yesterday.

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to Headmaster5

That’s fantastic! I’m not sure I’d be doing the distances I’m working on without this lovely slow technique. So glad to have been of some help!

2Tired2Run profile image
2Tired2RunGraduate

Very inspiring thread, thanks

2Tired2Run profile image
2Tired2RunGraduate

P.s. you linked the video onto my first- very lacking confidence - posting, I watched it and it sank in .... and having completed 4 runs now, I can so relate to the joy of going slow, taking in the surroundings and enjoying all things fresh air .... 😀

DiscoRunner profile image
DiscoRunnerGraduate in reply to 2Tired2Run

That’s exactly it - the running is pleasurable as it’s nice and slow and we get to appreciate where we’re running and the changes to the seasons. And it works! We don’t need to be out of breath and panting to get fit and strong!

Arrived profile image
ArrivedGraduate

Hi,

Just started C25K (I'm on my week 2 at the moment) and wanted to say thank you for sharing this video.

Will apply tomorrow and see how it goes! :)

Hope you're still enjoying the running.

Take care

Sparki123 profile image
Sparki123

I saw this post a few days ago at the start of week 4 of cto5k and have started to use the slow jogging technique. It's massively increased my enjoyment of running which is now pleasurable rather than something to be endured. Such a great discovery - thank you!

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