Tokyo Kita Marathon Race (The 48th)

Date: Sunday, June 5, 2011 Weather: Cloudy occasinally sunny

Location: Kitaku, Tokyo (River terrace of Arakawa River)--- Seven minutes on foot from Adachi Odai Station of Toneri Liner Line


Details of race:Refer to Tokyo Kita Marathon Race (The 46th).



Image

 
Bag


Record & Impression

• Owing to the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, the three full marathon races to be held from March to May 2011, which I entered, had been cancelled.
• Each organizer informed that the part of the entry fee would be donated to the victims of the earthquake. I would be happy if my entry fees would be of some help to them.
• I wondered if the race in June might also be cancelled. I am happy that the race was held as scheduled.
• According to the weather forecast, it would be sunny and then cloudy and that the temperature would be up to 26 degrees Centigrade with humidity. The thunderstorm might be expected in the afternoon.
• I left home at 6:20 AM. I transferred to Toneri Liner from Yamanote Line at Nippori Station. Last year, the train of Toneri Liner was so crowded with runners. However, this year, it was not crowded and I could get seat, because it was very early in the morning.
• The train reached at Adachi Odai Station around 7:30 AM. It was cloudy in the early morning, but when I got off the station and started to walk to the marathon site, the sun appeared and it was getting hot and humid.
• Just before reaching the marathon site, I happened to meet my marathon mate Mr. J, an Englishman. We went to register together and got the bag ( the same as that of last year) for gift.
• It was still around 8:00 AM. We enjoyed chatting for a while. More and more runners were coming just before the race started.
• After radio gymnastic exercises, the full marathon race started at 9:30 AM. My loss time was less than one minute.
• The full marathon race runners had to run twice the course of half marathon race. First, the runners would run 6.2 km to the turn-round point alongside Arakawa River downstream. The course was crowded with runners at the initial stage.
• It was slightly overcast immediately after the start. However, it was already hot. While running downstream, it was breezing and comfortable for run.
• It took 38 minutes to reach the first U-turn point. When coming back, it became dead calm. At around 8 km point, my body was getting hotter and hotter. I was worrying about suffering heat exhaustion and decided to run more slowly. I experienced such a situation a few times while running this time.
• I took enough water at next water supply point. In addition, I took Amino Vital, which I had in my waist porch.
• I was relived for a while, but it was so tough to run under the hot condition. My running pace was so slow that the time at the 10-km point was 1 hour 02 minutes. On the opposite lane, the line of runners of half marathon race continued.
• After passing the start point, I continued to run to the U-turn point of the upstream ( 16.7 km), I felt it was so far to reach the point. Anyway, it was so hot. At each water supply point, the runners scrambled the water cups.
• Finally, I reached the middle point. The time was 2 hours 06 minutes.
• When entering 2 round, the numbers of runners decreased. Different than last year, I could get enough food (Calorie Mate) at the water supply point located just after passing middle-point. I also took enough water.
• It was still hot, but I had to continue to run matter-of-factly. I could see a lot of runners started to walk after passing the downstream U-turn point.
• As I felt at the first round, I felt it was very far to the upstream U-turn point and the goal.
• I continued to run last 2 km with my last energy. The goal time was 4 hours 36 minutes. I think I did my best under the hottest condition.
• Immediately after the goal, the certificate could be issued. According to it, I was the 468th out of 1,802 runners. I was wondering if a lot of runners retired owing to hotness.
• I was given sport drink, apple and banana after the race.
• Mr. J also could complete the race. He arrived around 5 minutes later. We shared our joys.
• I sweated very much and my body was covered with salt. I was also sunburned.
• After the race, we went back to Nishi-Nippori Station. We looked for the restaurant to drink beer for the celebration of completion of the race. Fortunately, we could find Chinese restaurant named "Gyoza no Ohsho". We enjoyed tasting draft beer and delicious Gyoza. Although it was not lunch or dinner time (around 15:00), the restaurant was so crowded and the even the customers were making line outside the restaurant.
• I returned the home before 18:00. I was satisfied to complete the race under such hot condition. This is my 62nd full marathon race.

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