Speaking of grapes🍇, Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures are famous, but Kashiwara in Osaka is also famous as a grape-producing region. Since the end of last year, I have been participating in the "Budouzaka Training" (Grape Hill Training) every Wednesday, where I run past the vineyards to the gate of Shigisan Nodoka Village at the top of the mountain.

The members are, from right to left: Norio, Takennu, Moto, Akacon, Yoshi, Bando, me, and Muramura.

Last night, in addition to regular member Tate-chan, guests Fuji and Hagi came along.

I have learned a lot from these Budou members, and they also taught me about Strava. As readers of this blog may know, Strava is a social networking site for athletes. When, where, with whom, and how did you run? Also, how far, how fast, and what was your heart rate? So you can keep a log, as it were.

Within these segments (defined intervals), participants compete to achieve their best time, a personal best (PB).

This course is by no means easy, and we run it every week, cold or hot, rainy or snowy, panting as we go. However, the road will be closed until February next year due to construction work, so each of us set out to tackle the challenge with our own challenges.

Last night I updated my personal best and, with the help of my seniors, I was able to rank in 10th place. There is no doubt that STRAVA is one of the things that motivates me to run.

So, to express my gratitude to the members who regularly run with me, I made an original T-shirt. It's a "T-shirt for those who run on Budouzaka" that pays homage to the milestone design and features a grape-colored logo.

I think it turned out very well.


By the way, this "Budouzaka" is not a "team" but rather a "place" to run. Comrades who want to try it out (women are welcome too! lol), please come and meet us on Wednesday around 7:35pm under the "Grape Picking" sign in Kashiwara.

582-0018 Osaka Prefecture, Kashiwara City, Ogata 4-18