Training Log #1: Completing the 3rd Okumusashi Long Trail Race
I participated in the 105K category of the 2nd Oku-Musashi Long Trail Race, held in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, from June 8 to 9, 2024.
Unfortunately, I had to withdraw before reaching the final aid station, which was very disappointing.
Following this, I developed a one-year training plan and practiced diligently throughout the year.
As a result, I successfully completed the 105K category of the 3rd Oku-Musashi Long Trail Race, held from June 14 to June 15, 2024.
In a series of posts, I will share how I trained throughout the year and the factors that contributed to my successful finish.
I hope this information will be helpful to runners aiming to complete their first long trail race or to those who retired from the Oku-Musashi Long Trail Race.
This time, I will share the monthly total running distance, total running time, and elevation gain from before participating in the 2nd Okumusashi Long Trail Race up until the month before completing the 3rd Okumusashi Long Trail Race.
I consistently used the POLAR Vantage V3 for all measurements. All data were obtained from Polar Flow, POLAR’s official application.
Running distance and time over one year
Fig. 1 shows my total monthly running distance and total monthly running time from March, before my second race, to May, just before my third race. Since I live in Japan, December and January correspond to the winter season.
The increasing gap between a longer running distance and a shorter running time indicates that my running pace has improved, allowing me to cover more distance in less time.
Until June 2024, when the 2nd Okumusashi Long Trail Race was held, my monthly running distance remained below 100 km.
In July and August, the summer heat made it difficult to run at a fast pace. From September onward, as the temperature gradually dropped, my running distance increased, reaching 300 km in September.
Between September and November, I maintained approximately 250 km per month.However, as winter approached, it became increasingly difficult to go outside. Additionally, I contracted COVID-19 in December, which significantly reduced my training volume in December 2024 and January 2025.
Even after my fever subsided, inhaling cold air triggered persistent coughing that continued to interfere with my training. During this period, I often felt anxious about whether I would be able to finish the race. As my symptoms gradually improved, I was able to resume more consistent training.
From February to May 2025, I ran approximately 200 km per month.
Regarding running time, I spent many hours running until August 2024. This reflects my initially low fitness level and my deliberate effort to maintain long durations of activity, even at a slower pace.
In contrast, from September to November 2024, my total running time decreased, even though my running distance increased. This trend reflects improvements in endurance from autumn to winter, which allowed me to incorporate short, high-intensity training sessions in addition to regular jogging.
I plan to provide a more detailed description of the one-year training plan I developed in a future article.
Running elevation gain over one year
Fig. 2 illustrates my monthly running elevation gain. Except for August 2024, most spring and winter months show an elevation gain of approximately 1,000 meters.
The higher elevation gains observed in April and May 2025 correspond to my participation in 15 km and 50 km trail races, respectively.
During the hot summer months, I deliberately kept my running distance low while maintaining as much total activity time as possible.
From autumn onward, I gradually increased the frequency of short, high-intensity workouts, which contributed to improvements in both speed and endurance.
Although poor health limited my training volume during the winter of 2024–2025, I was able to maintain a monthly running distance of approximately 200 km from February onward.
We will release information about zones that indicate each training intensity next time!
