I left home at 6:40 AM since the marathon site is a little bit close from my house.
This year, the cherry flowers already started to be in bloom. However, the rain with snow fell all day
yesterday. It was really freezing day late in March.
This morning, it was misty and cold.
However, when I arrived in Ikebukuro, the mist disappeared and the sun started to shine.
Platform of Ukima-funato Station of JR Saikyo Line was so crowded with many runners that
it took almost 10 minutes to pass the exit.
A lot of runners went to marathon site on foot from the station and thus I could easily
get on the shuttle bus.
After the registration, I looked for my running mates, however, it was impossible to
find them among so many people.
Anyway, I changed the wears. It was said that the temperature would be around 13 degrees Centgrade and thus
I wore short-sleeve T-shirt and half pant.
Finally, I found one of my running mates brought a big banner for identification!
I could meet them shortly.
This year, more than 19,000 runners applied to the full marathon race and actually approx. 17,000 runners
joined the race. That is the reason why the marathon site was so crowded.
My registered number was 6,000s. The runners were positioned at the starting point according to the registered number. The smaller the number is, the forer the position is.
Fortunately, my position was considerably forer part of the line.
The race started at 9:00 AM. It was fine and warm. I could scarcely hear the sound of signal gun at 9:00 AM.
Anyway, I could not move for a while after the start since the line was so crowded. I finally passed the starting line 4 minutes 45 seconds after the start.
I wonder how long did it take for the last runners to pass the starting point.
As I said previously, my position was fore part of the line, this year, I did not feel so crowded while running except very initial stage.
It was breezing and a little bit cold. The fair wind was blowing during the first half and a head wind during the latter half.
The temperature was gradually rising and I felt a little bit hotter during the latter half.
Wearing a half-sleeve T-shirt was a good decision.
This time, I could not run almost 10 days owing to business trip to Europe.
Thus my target goal time was within 4 hours.
Anyway, I ran at my own pace this time and I could not recover the loss time of 5 minutes during the initial stage.
I saw the top runner dashingly passing away at the opposite side around 15 km point.
Soon the number of runners at the opposite side was increasing.
My time at the turning point (21.0945 km) was 1 hour 59 minutes and I realized that I could not
achieve my best record this time.
Anyway, while running the latter half, I saw a lot of runners following me.
I could realize that 17,000 people joined the race.
I could have a sherbet at 35 km aid station as usual.
Since the course was completely flat, I could run evenly.
The goal time was 3 hours 56 minutes. I am satisfied with the result.
After the race, we had a drink party under the sun.
We drank a lot of beers and Japanese sake.
Then we went to the Chinese restaurant for the second party. We drank Chinese sake (Shokoshu) there and drunken.
I went home with quite flustered.
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