A Run Around the Imperial Palace

I went for a run around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo this morning.  The Palace used be the castle of Tokugawa Shogun until 1867.

The trail by Sakurada Moat.

Sakuradamon Gate - going into the Palace Ground.  There was a historical assassination of a Shogunate Government Officer in 1860.

The main bridge to the Palace.

Tatsumi Turret - close from Tokyo Station.

Otemon Gate.

A bridge to Hirakawamon Gate - close from Takebashi Station.

 Kitahanegashi Gate.

The gate itself was not yet open that morning.

Inuimon  Gate.

An entrance to Shuto Expressway.

The Crafts Gallery of the National Museum of Modern Art.

A trail close from Chidorigafuchi and British Embassy.

Hanzomon Gate - named after a famous samurai.

Taipei - Some of the Parks Run

I had a bit of time yesterday morning in Taipei, so went for a nice run.  Used my trusty Smartphone Map to plan a run route.

Commuters in motor bikes.

An old steam locomotive in front of Taipei Station.

Two-two-eight Peace Park map.

A statue of a Chinese noble.

A nice pond.

Pagodas of the 228 Park.

Jieshow Park.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

Looking at the National Theater and the National Concert Hall viewed from the Memorial Hall.

A Map of Daan Park.

An India Laurel Fig tree.

Ladies exercising in the park.

A man walking in the park.

 An lion head statue in an educational institution.

A little market.

A little open space by an expressway.

Bondi and Other Beaches Run

I had a trip to Australia and had a wonderful run yesterday morning in Sydney's beautiful coast.
My one night's stay in the city was at Bondi Beach, so I started from there and went down south.

Sunrise over Bondi Beach - already many surfers.

Nice trails along the coast.

Tamarama Beach

National Flag of Australia.

Bronte Beach - there are many nice beach communities.

Nice steps/trail by Waverley Cemetery.

Clovelly Beach

My shadow on the rocky area south of Clovelly Beach.

Gordon's Bay - this is where I turned around.

A reader on a cliff a bit south of Bronte Beach.

Surfers at Tamarama Beach.

A beautiful trail by Mackenzie's Bay.

Back at Bondi Beach.

Panoramic view of Bondi Beach from the eastern edge.

Beautiful sandy beach.

I truly wish I had more time to explore for I enjoyed it so much despite such a short time.  Next time, I need to go there for a vacation!

My First 20K Race

Until this morning, I have never done a 20K race before.  It was called "Korya Tama Run" (Japanese play-on-words "Korya Tamaran" meaning "Wow this is amazing!" with a run along Tama River).

The run started at a river bank close from Keio Tamagawa Station and went upstream for 10K then came back the same way.

It was a small run and here's the briefing of the run 15 min. before the start.

Lining up for the start - the train line is Keio Sagamihara Lline.

Runners coming in for the finish.

The route of the run on Google Map.

There used to be raft ferries that took passengers across the river until the bridge was built.

Byakue Kannon Temple by the river.

There was a Keirin Race Track near by.

The weather was sunny and a got a bit hot towards the end, but overall, it was a very nice race.