Ueno Park Running

Today, the wife and I took the dog to Ueno . After a walk, I had a longish run of 1:30 planned. Wore the Nike air zoom speed light. They are 6.3 oz w/o my orthotics. It is a nice shoe, but collects small rocks etc. and today was making a convenient click each time my right foot struck the ground. Anyway, it was certainly helpful seeing that it was a Sunday, so all the tourists and families were out in the park and I could warn them that I was coming with my click-click-clicking.

Outside the Keisei Line going away from the park is a McDonalds, which I hit up for their 120-yen coffee. I'll take that price over a Starbucks any day and the quality and taste have really improved. That and the slight inspiration sparked by the Women's Olympic mogel. It was the first event of this year's games that I watched and US women won gold and bronze, followed by the cute and friendly Japanese skier Aiko Uemura who just missed a medal in 4th position.

There is a public bathroom conveniently placed right outside the east exit of the Keisei Ueno station where I changed. Across the street is a coin-locker for 200-yen. After depositing my change of clothes, etc. I headed out around the Shinobazu pond. There are some beautiful mallards swimming amongst the dead reeds of water lilies there. After winding around the pond, the Ueno Zoo is to your front and center. You can take a right here for smaller loops around the pond, but today, I was doing the 2.8mi/4.5km loop, so I continued out the park to the left.

Here is a map of the course. Basically, it is an easy loop to remember. You just keep the park to your right. There is a nice short hill at 1 mi. You pass a few high schools and universities. At the first T, take a right. Head down 200m to the next T where you take a left(at the Tokyo National Museum Heisei building). At the next T, there is a temple on your left, but you take a right here. The sidewalk is cobbled, but fairly even. You'll continue with the museum grounds to your right. At the line of taxis, take a right and the grounds are still in sight. At the T at the National Science Museum of Japan, cross the street and take a left. Go about 100m and take a right at the light. This is the western border of Ueno Park. Follow it until you see the station on your right and instead of continuing in the park, head down the one-way street with traffic facing you(very little traffic). Continue with the station to your right and down the hill. At the intersection turn right and you'll see the Keisei station on your right. Turn a right after the station and follow the road to the first entrance to the park(Shinobazu pond) west entrance. Where I started.

It was overcast and about 45F during the run today. Didn't go that great. Ran 5+ loops to make a total of 1:30:21. Was averaging about 18:00 per lap. Picked up the last 1km at 3:45, but didn't feel great. The right hammy and calf were really tight, but averaged 4 min/km. Did 23 km total to finish off my down week after 3 straight weeks of around 180 km/wk.

You can extend the length of the course/loop, by continuing onto and through cemeteries to the North near the Nippori and Uguisudani JR stations. I always love running in cemeteries in Japan and I'll highlight some of the other spooky courses in later blogs.

This is a great running loop for travelers looking to get one last run in prior to their flight out of Japan. The Keisei Line is a departure point/terminus to and from Narita Intl' Airport. You can take either the Narita Skyliner or the Keisei Express train there. I suggest the express option as there is only a 10 min difference, but a 1000-yen cost difference. Since it is the start, you can sit on either option, but you are guaranteed one on the Skyliner. The other difference is a toilet, which can be a big one if you've been loading up on green tea.

I'll follow up this blog with a look at the Ueno area running shops, of which there are a plethora. Stay tuned.