Niigata Marathon Race (The 25th)

Date: Sunday, October 7, 2007 Weather: Sunny

Location: Niigata City, Niigata Pref. (8 minutes on foot from Hakusan Station of JR Echigo Line)


Details of Race

Race	Full	Number of runners	1,500	*
	Half		1,700	*
	10 km		2,300	*
Fee	Yen 5,000
Contact	620-1, 1 bancho, Gakko-cho-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City 951-8550 Secretariat of Niigata Marathon Race Tel: 025-226-2595
Gift	Towel
Free service	Drink, Jumbo rice ball
Remarks	Distancre display: every 5 km, Water supply point: every 5 km, Time limit is changed from 4 hours to 5 hours this year.

Images

 
Niigata Station Welcome pole Shinano River

Japan Sea Marinepea


 
Yaichi Memorial Hall Hakusan Shrine

Start point Exit of stadium


Record

5 km	25 minutes
10 km	51 minutes
15 km	1 hour 18 minutes
20 km	1 hour 45 minutes
25 km	2 hours 17 minutes
30 km	2 hours 53 minutes
35 km	3 hours 18 minutes
40 km	3 hours 52 minutes
Goal	4 hours 07 minutes

Records & Impression

• Saturday, October 6
  
  
  
  • On Friday night, I took on the overnight bus bound for Niigata from Ikebukuro Station. Seibu bus station was crowded with passengers.
  • A lot of climbers with large climbing daypack went into the bus bound for Toyama to be left at 23:05. I found that they used overnight bus since overnight trains were not available lately.
  • Five buses were operated to Niigata. Of these, one was exclusively for lady passengers. I wondered why so many people went to Niigata.
  • The seat of bus was 4-lines. The shoulder of each passenger may touch when seated. The fat passenger bothers the passenger of next seat. To my relief, the bus was equipped with toilet.
  • The bus stopped at two rest areas for 30 minutes.
  • Of course, it was not comfortable to ride in and thus I could sleep only a couple of hours.
  • Next morning, the bus arrived in Niigata Station at 5:00 AM. It was chilly outside the bus.
  • I thought it was more than 30 years when I came to Niigata previously. The tall building of Toyoko Inn was outstanding in front of the station. Anyway, I looked for the restaurant for breakfast.
  • I found the Royal Host in front of the station. I ordered Japanese breakfast set. Thinly sliced baked salmon was served. The taste was more delicious than that of Matsuya restaurant since it was expensive.
  • The restaurant was crowded with guests who arrived in early morning. A young gal was sitting next to me. I was surprised to find that big draft beer mug was served to the gal. It was still 5:00 AM!! She drank up the beer and went out sedately. I was struck dumb.
  • After breakfast, I deposited the baggage to the coin locker. I headed to the Japan Sea.
  • After a short walk, I reached the foot of the Bandai Bridge, which crosses Shinano River. The water of Shinano River flowed affluently.
  • I hit on the idea of drinking beer while watching the Japan sea. I dropped in the convenience store to buy a canned beer and rice balls. I could see the Japan see over the pine trees after passing The Aizu Yaichi Memorial Hall. I wondered how many years ago I saw the Japan Sea.
  • Although it was sunny in the early morning, it became cloudy after 8:00 AM. Thus the color of sea was grey. It was breezing and the sea was calm.
  • Drinking beer in the morning, I had a blissful moment at seashore. ( I couldn't blame for young gal who were drinking draft beer at the restaurant? Pee in the same pot!)
  • Then I walked to the Marinepea Japan Sea (Niigata City Aquarium). A lot of families visited there. I was surprised to find that the lion seal was so big. I could also see the scene that the keeper gave fishes to see otters. I could also touch the sample of see-otter skin. It was so supple.
  • I return the route and dropped in the Aizu Yaichi Memorial Hall. Aizu Yaichi was a famous poet, art historian and chirographer native to Niigata pref. At the memorial hall, the exhibition relating to the comparison of personality makeup and art between Aizu Yaichi and Takamura Kotaro was held. Fortunately, when I visited, a lady museum attendant just started to give commentary. I could have her polite and comprehensive comments. I could have a very useful and academic 1-hour lecture.
  • When leaving the hall, it was almost noon. Since I had an extra time, I decided to register the marathon race on Saturday. So I headed to the Niigata athletic field. Before the registration, I worshipped Hakusan Shirine very close to the athletic field.
  • I completed registration immediately after the registration started at 13:00. Then I walked alongside Shinano River to return to Niigata Station.
  • I checked in the hotel at 15:00. I was finally relieved. I walked more than 10 km today. It was a good exercise for tomorrow's race.
  • At dinner, I went to Italian restaurant in front of the station and drank 200 ml of red wine. Then I took a double portion of spaghetti for carbohydrate loading.
  • As soon as I returned to the hotel, I felt asleep and went to bed at 19:00!
  
  
• Sunday, October 7
  
  
  • Since I went to bed so early in the evening, I waked up around 5:00 AM.
  • The weatherman said it would be fine. I could run under fine weather! However, I was a little bit worrying since the maximum temperature was to be 25 Centigrade degrees. It was a little bit higher temperature for marathon race.
  • I took breakfast at the beef bowl restaurant in the first floor of the hotel. I ordered the breakfast set with extra-large rice. (Yen 30 extra charges) To my regret, the rice was not so delicious as I expected.
  • I checked out at 7:00 AM. I took on the local train of JR Echigo Line to be left at 7:21 AM. A lot of runners got off at Hakusan Station.
  • I reached the marathon site past 7:30. I changed the wears at the stand of the stadium. The air is dry and refreshed., but I felt a little bit hotness.
  • The opening ceremony started from 8:30 AM. The time limit is extended from 4 hours to five hours this year. As a result, the total participants exceed 5,000.
  • Full marathon race started at 9:00 AM under the sunny sky. Almost no loss time for me. After running almost one turn around the athletic field, runners went out.
  • Running through the downtown almost 5 km, I could see the pine trees and Japan Sea in the right. Today's sea was blue. The Sado Island could be seen vacuously on horizon.
  • The autumn wind was blowing and I felt more refreshed than expected, but when the wind stopped, it was hot.
  • After 10 km, the course was in the settlement. The galleries cheered on. It could encourage me.
  • The course was almost straight, but slight up-and-down repeated.
  • After 15 km, I felt tired owing to hotness. My running pace slowed down and runners passed me one right after the other. Even young gals passed me! What a shame it would be! I felt it was so far to the turning point of 20 km. However, the time at 20 km was 1 hour 45 minutes. Not so bad!
  • I changed the mood and I took out a soft rice cake stuffed with bean jam from my waist porch and ate it after passing the middle-point (Passing time: 1 hour 52 minutes) I could then refresh. By the way, only water and sport drink were available at the water supply point until 20 km point.
  • It was hard to reach 25 km. I could finally get food (banana, orange, cake) at the water supply point I took a lot to supplement the energy.
  • I was worrying around 20 km point that I might fail to complete the race. But after 25 km, my running pace recovered and I continued to run as usual.
  • It became cloudy after 30 km point and was getting cool. But I was frequently getting thirsty.
  • I drank water heavily at 35 km water supply point and also drank amino-vital to supplment the mineral.
  • The course became alongside Shinano River from the 5 km point to the goal. A lot of runners started to walk around there. I continued to run at my own pace passing them. However, I couldn't afford to enjoy seeing the scenery.
  • I drank last water at 40 km. Judging from the passing time, I thought I would not be able to complete the race within 4 hours. Anyway, I decided to complete the race as close as 4 hours.
  • After entering the athletic field, I ran almost one turn on the track to finish. The goal time was 4 hours 07 minutes. I could hold on after 35 km this time.
  • It was 13:07. I reserved the bus to be left at 17:00. However, I decided to change the bus to be left earlier. So I immediately changed the wears and headed Hakusan Station.
  • Before leaving the stadium, I got a jumbo rice ball for runner. I could catch up with the train to be left at 13:51.
  • At Niigata Station, I hastily bought dumpling cake made of rice covered with bamboo leaf and locally brewed Japanese sake. Since Niigata Pref. is famous for locally brewed Japanese sake, there were many brand of sake and I was wondering which one was best. But I did not have enough time to determine. I had to buy the brand, which the sales personnel recommended. It was the "Koshi no maboroshi no sake" (720 ml Yen 2,100) Then I hastened to Bandai Bus Center.
  • As soon as I reached the bus center, I asked a young pretty gal at the highway bus center to changed the reservation of the bus ticket. Fortunately, I could get the bus ticket of 15:00.
  • Until the bus arrived, I took jumbo rice ball and canned beer. I finally got relived.
  • The ratio of occupancy of the bus was almost 50%. I could relax in the bus. I could enjoy the scenery from the bus until it got dark outside. The harvest of "Koshihikari", famous brand of rice of Niigata Pref., had already finished.
  • The bus driver said the bus would reach Nerima bus stop around 19:55. However, the traffic jam started before the bus reached to Takasaki City contrary to my expectation. The bus stopped at service area in Saitama Pref. It was so crowded with passengers and cars. To much people and cars in Japan!
  • The bus was around Kumagaya area at 19:55. The bus finally reach Nerima past 21:00. More than 1-hour delay!
  • I took on the train of Seibu Line from Nerima Station and I reached home] before 22:00. I was tired a little bit this time.
  
  
  
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