#WednesdayBudouzakaPractice is held every week, rain or shine. Some people do time attacks, others just chat while running, and everyone gathers for their own purpose. Looking back, it was Yoshida, the current manager of milestone TERADACHO, who invited me here. It was when I was pacer for Saku (Yoichiro Sakurai) at the 2020 TDT (Tour de Tomo / 100-mile group run organized by Tomokazu Ihara),

I knew there were some people there who spoke Osaka dialect fluently, but I wasn't running as much as I do now, and I didn't have any running buddies. I later found out that these guys were the hardcore runners who gathered for the Wednesday Budouzaka practice. Being shy at the time, I didn't even bother to say anything, so I left. A few days later, I went to MGG, the only group run I went to in Osaka, which starts at 6am on Saturday mornings. Mr. Yoshida was also there running, and invited me to join the Wednesday Budouzaka practice.

Let's get to the point. The Wednesday Grape Hill course is in Kashiwara, Osaka, and starts from the grape picking sign to the gate of Shigisan Nodoka Village, a 5.6km one-way climb of 340m. Participants are free to set their own pace to suit their running ability, but there is one rule: walking is strictly prohibited under any circumstances.

No matter what season you run this course, it's really tough. It feels especially tough if you've taken a break. Today, I set myself a challenge: I'll try to use my "butt" rather than my "legs" when climbing.

In the end, when I ran consciously, it wasn't hard at all. Even in the parts that I usually find tiring and have to slow down, I was able to run comfortably today. Above all, I felt a sense of accomplishment.

I returned to the starting point, stopped my watch and checked it, and saw that I had successfully beaten my personal best. It was my first personal best in several years and I was really happy.

I am so grateful to my fellow runners who are always competing with me and having fun running. I have no doubt that my climbing skills have improved since I started going to Budouzaka, and I am so happy to be able to train in such a great environment.

I think I'll give myself a pat on the back for today. No, I think I'll give myself a pat on the back for today too. Lol. Persistence is power, that's for sure! As Tomo-san said, "The distance you run never betrays you." I'll believe in those words and do my best tomorrow too.