Tateyama Marathon Race (The 27th)

Date: Sunday, January 28, 2007 Weather: Cloudy

Location: Tateyama City, Chiba Pref.


Details of race�FRefer to the 21st Tateyama Marathon Race


IMAGE


The design of T-shirt (Back)

Records

5 km	27 minutes
10 km	53 minutes
15 km	1 hour 18 minutes
20 km	1 hour 43 minutes
Middle Point	1 hour 49 minutes
25 km	2 hours 13 minutes
30 km	2 hours 37 minutes
35 km	3 hours 07 minutes
40 km	3 hours 37 minutes
Goal	3 hours 50 minutes

Impression

• The weekly weather forecast had been saying that it would be rainy weekend. However, the forecast suddenly changed on Saturday and it would be sunny on Sunday. Thus I was relieved.
• It was abnormally warm on Saturday in late January. The temperature rose up to 15 degree Centigrade. I jogged 10 km with half-sleeve T-shirt and sweated.
• I left home before 5:00 AM on Sunday morning to get on the first train. It was cloudy and not so cold.
• I took on the limited express train to be let at 6:45 AM from Tokyo Station and met my running mate there. It was said that the reserved seats were all occupied. Almost all passengers might be runners.
• I could see a beautiful sunrise from the train after the start. It seemed that the weather would be fine.
• We arrived in Tateyama Station at 8:34 AM. We immediately got on the free shuttle bus in front of the station.
• The driver said it would take only 5 minutes to the marathon site, but actually it took 15 minutes to reach there owing to traffic jam.
• After the registration, I prepared for start. It was not cold and no wind. I decided to wear half-pant and long-sleeve T-shirt.
• I got two bundles of rape blossoms given free of charge as present before the marathon started.
• I took breakfast so early this morning and thus I felt hungry before start and I took two soft rice cakes stuffed with bean jam. I believe this resulted in good race time.
• The full marathon race started qt 10:00 AM. Before the start, I felt the burning sun. Thus I wondered if I should wear half-sleeve T-shirt.
• I was positioned very close to the starting point and the loss time was less than one minute.
• The sun disappeared shortly and it was cloudy, but not so cold without wind. It was best condition for marathon race at the initial stage. However, the temperature went down during last half. My judgment to wear long-sleeve T-shirt proved to be correct.
• Anyway, I could run in good condition until 25 km point.
• After 25 km point, I felt a little bit tired, but tried to maintain the same running pace.
• The passing time at 30 km was 2 hours 37 minutes. Good for me!
• The long slope appeared after 30 km point, but I could run up without problem.
• But then I felt tired again and my running pace started to slow down.
• I could get two small rice balls at the privately operated aid-station. I could refresh.
• After 33 km point, the course was the return road of the way to the turning point. The gradual slopes continued. The wind started to blow.
• It was hard for me to run after 35 km. I tried to catch up with the front-runner as much as possible.
• I felt it was far away to the goal after the indication of the "5 km to the goal". My running pace slowed down again.
• But the passing time at 40 km was 3 hours 37 minutes. Still good for me!!
• Running last 2 km to the goal was hardest for me. My running pace further slowed down. I felt I could not reach the goal though I tried to run as fast as possible.
• Finally I reached the goal. The goal time was 3 hours 50 minutes. I could finish the race within 4 hours after a long interval. I was fully satisfied.
• I tasted free-served vegetable soup with pork after the race.
• After the race, we went back to Tateyama Station by shuttle bus.
• In the bus, I could hear the conversation between a member of a "Group of runners who aim to complete full marathon race more than 100 times" and other runner. The member seemed to be in his early seventies and he said he had joined more than 300 full marathon races. He also said that there were more members who joined the race more than 400. I cannot believe it!!
• When getting off the bus, free "Amazake" was served.
• We made a toast with beer at the cafe in front of the station.
• We got on the limited express train to be left at 4:11 PM. We drank sake, which I brought in the train.
• I got home after 7:00 AM. I was exhausted since I tried to run fast as much as possible this time.

Back