The 15th Narita POP Run

Date: Sunday November 4, 2001 Weather: Fine

Location: Narita City, Chiba Pref.


Details of Race: Refer to the 14th Narita POP Run


Images

 
Stand Start of Half-marathon Race T-shirt



Record & Impression

• When I awaked in the dawn, it was still raining since it had started around the noon on Saturaday.
• According to the weather forecast, it would be fine on Sunday.
• I fiinally got out of bed at 4:30 AM, however, it was still rainy! I couldn't trust weatherman!
• Finally, the rain stopped when I left home at 5:30 AM. The blue sky started to appear in the cloud.
• It was cold in the morning of November. I hurried to Higashi-kurume station by bicycle in the dark.
• It takes much time (almost 3 hours) from my home to Narita City due to the fact that the trains from JR Tokyo to Narita are very limited.
• Anyway, I arrived in Narita station at 8:30 AM as I did so far. It took 10 minutes to the site from the station on foot.
• Three my running mates were to join me. However, to my regret, only one joined.
• So far, every year, I have joined half-marathon race. However, 3 years ago, I joined half-marathon race on two consecutive Sunday. As a result, I hurted my left knee and was instructed by doctor to stop running for three months.
• This is my bad memory and thus I decided to join 10 km race this time since I joined Teganuma Half Marathon Race just 1 week ago.
• The 10 km race started at 10:15. Approx. 800 runners joined.
• It was fine and the sun was shining strongly as if it were summer. The weatherman said the temperature might be up to 20 degrees Centigrade.
• I joined the 10 km race after a long interval. Surely, the running pace of 10 km race seemd to be faster than that of half marathon race.
• Gradual upward road continued at the first half of the course.
• Since I usually train at flat course, it was hard for me to run even a short upward course.
• On the contrary, the last half of the course became downward. (The part of start/last courses duplicate those of half marathon race.)
• Just 40 minutes passed when I arrived in 8 km point.
• I thought I might finish within 50 minutes and I started to rush to the goal.
• It took more than 45 minutes when I passed 9 km point and I guessed it might be impossible to run within 50 minutes.
• Anyway, I tried my best to run as fast as possible , which was very hard for me.
• The goal time was 49 minutes 59 seconds!
• It seemed that more ladies and gals joined the 10 km race in comparison with half marathon race since the distance is reasonable.
• At the initial stage, I was running in the last part of the runners and thus I could run among the ladies for a while!
• Even after the goal, the sun was strongly shining. It seems that it was a little bit hotter for marathon race.
• After the race, we went to the eel restaurant and had a drink party as usual.
• I also met other my running mates there who joined 3 km race. We make it a rule to meet the restaurant every year after the race. We drank, chatted and had a very good time.
• It's good to meet and drink with running mates after the race!

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