Yokota Striders Frostbite Foot Race

Date: Sunday January 7, 2001 Weather: Cloudy

Location: Fussa city, Tokyo (15 minutes on foot from JR Oume Line Ushihama station)


Details of Race:

Race	Half	Time Limit	3 hours	4,000 runners
	5 km		*	2,500 runners
	2 km		*	*
Entry Fee	4,000 Yen
Contact	3-10-9 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0042 Frostbite Road Race Entry Center TEL:03-5459-3686
Gift	Long-sleeve T-shirt, Memorial Coin
Free Service	Water, Banana & Orange
Remarks	The course is set in the Yokota US Air Base. ID should be indicated when entering the base.

Images

 
Entrance Reception

Start Design of long-sleeve T-shirt



Record & Impression

• It was a freezing day becoming to "frostbite foot race".
• I left home at 7:00 AM. Only a few people could be seen in the street to the Higashi-kurume station at that time.
• The train from JR Tachikawa station was so crowded with runners as if it were commuters' train.
• It took much time to pass the exit of small JR Ushihama station. From the station, a lot of runners were walking to the Yokata Air Base.
• Less than 15 minutes, I arrived in the entrance of the base. Everyone was asked to indicate the ID to enter the base.
• I arrived there around 8:30 AM since I was told that the registration would finish at 9:00 AM. However, actually, the registration continued until 9:30 AM. It was so crowded around 9:00 AM.
• I met my running mates at the reception and waited until start. I went to provisional toilts before start. However, I found a lot of runners were waiting there. I had to wait for 20 minutes to accomplish my purpose! (There were many toilets, but more runners gathered there because of freezing temperature.)
• The half-marathon race would start at 9:25 AM. However, since the staring point was so narrow and a lot of runners joined, it took much time to line there. Besides, a runner of the wheelchair race who started just before the half-marathon race had an accident. As a result, the start time was delayed for 20 minutes and set at 9:45 AM. I was much impressed that the Americans did not care about the time.
• At the initial stage, we had to run mazy course in a built-up area, then we made a round trip alongside the extensive runway. Finally, we ran the same course of the initial stage to reach the goal. You can see all site of the air base by running!
• When running the course alongside the runway, I could see Mt. Fuji far away.
• It was breezing, but freezing. I did not sweat very much.
• There were several water supply points (only water available). I only drank one time due to coldness.
• Split time: 5 km .... 28 minutes, 10 km ... 53 minutes, 15 km ... 1 hour 19 minutes.
• I tried to run as fast as possible during the last 3 km. The goal time was 1 hour 49 minutes 14 seconds. I could run within 1 hour 50 minutes.
• It took much time to enter at Ushihama station since it was again crowded. Thus you had better buy return ticket when you first arrive the station or had better have a prepaid card.
• I and my running mates got off at Tachikawa station to have an after-race party at the pub restaurant near the station. It was so cold and thus the hot Japanese sake was very delicious.
• When leaving the restaurant, it started snowing! The first snowfall of the season!( We had much snow next day!)

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