It is still November, however, the midwinter coldness has been continuing.
I joined the Ohtawara Marathon Race after an interval of 4 years.
I went to and from Nishi-nasuno Station by local train previously.
It took more than 3 hours and I was tired.
Therefore, I decided to go by Shinkansen this time.
However, the convenient train to be left Tokyo at 7:40 AM was occupied when I tried to book
owing to three consecutive holidays. I was forced to book the train to be left at 6:44.
After all, I had to take on the first train from Higashi-kurume Station.
I left home before 5:00AM. It was fine, but very cold owing to north cold wind.
I arrived in Tokyo Station past 6:00AM. The station was so crowded with passengers since it was the first day
of the consecutive holidays.
I took on the two-storied train "MAX" for the first time, however, I was disappointed that I could not see the view from
the window since my seat was first floor.
Although a lot of seats were empty when started Tokyo, they were full when started Ohmiya Station.
The train reached Nasu-shiobara Station at 8:02AM.
A lot of runners took off. They got on the shuttle buses in front of the station.
It took 20 minutes to reach the athletics track field.
I could see Nasu Mountains covered with snow far away.
It was so cold since the north wind from Mt. Nasu was blowing.
I entered the gymnasium for registration and changing wears.
A lot of runners were already there.
I had still 2-hour time to start. Therefore, I read a novel for a while to spare time.
I went out around 10:00AM wearing long-sleeve shirt and half-pant.
But strong north wind was still blowing and it was freezing. I felt that the temperature was almost zero Centigrade degree!
(The announcement said the temperature was 9 Centigrade degrees. when started.)
I lined at the starting point around 10:30. Finally, I could meet my running mate.
The full marathon race started at 10:40AM. There was almost no loss time since the total number of runners was almost 1,000.
The race turns the same course two times. My target goal time was within 4 hours since the course was almost flat.
I could run as usual until 10km point. However, after passing 15km point,
I had to run against strong north wind. The running pace slowed down owing to wind and I was getting tired around 20 km point.
The passing time at middle-point was 1 hour 55 minutes. It became difficult to complete the race within 4 hours.
Moreover, I started to worry if I could complete the race.
Then my running pace further slowed down. I was passed by other runners one after another.
Only sport drink was available at the aid station. I took out a soft race cake with stuffed with bean jam from my waist porch and took it while walking.
Then I started to run after regaining control of myself.
However, I had to fight with north wind again after 30 km point.
The runners around me were very few and it seemed that I was almost running by myself.
There were no more cheers from galleries. The passing time at 30 km was
2 hours 50 minutes. I tried to run as much as possible so that I could finish the race slightly over 4 hours.
Soon I notice the sign of control gate just before 35 km point.
I did not care about control gate while running, but I found that I should have passed the control gate less than 3 hours 20 minutes.
When I checked the watch, more than 3 hours 20 minutes have passed before reaching the control gate.
To my regret, I reached the control gate after 3 hours 24 minutes. Just 4 minute-delay!!
It was something unexpected.
Several runners have already got into the pick-up bus.
My number cloth was removed by attendant. He said you could continue to run if you wished. However, I already had no intention of
running any more. Some runners continued to run without number clothes.
I was taken to the marathon site by bus. When I took off the bus, I was quaking owing to coldness.
I took free soup with nameko mushroom to warm up.
I changed wears at the gymnasium and met my running mate there.
We took on the bus bound for Nishi-nasuno Station.
We managed to take on the local train bound for Utsunomiya to be left at 3:46 PM.
We cheered with canned beer and Japanese sake in the train.
We had to change the train at Utsunomiya Station. When changing the train, we bought one-cup Japanese sake at Kiosk
and continued to drink in the next train again.
I came home around 7:30 PM.
I was unsatisfied with the result that I could not complete the race.
T-shirt