Niigata Marathon Race (The 29th)

Date: Sunday, October 9, 2011 Weather: Sunny

Location: Niigata City, Niigata Pref.


Details of races:Refer to the 25th Niigata Marathon Race.


Images

 
Towel


Records

5 km	29 minutres
10 km	57 minutes
15 km	1 hour 26 minutes
20 km	1 hour 54 minutes
Middle-point	2 hours 00 minutes
25 km	2 hours 24 minutes
30 km	2 hours 55 minutes
35 km	3 hours 31 minutes
40 km	4 hours 09 minutes
Goal	4 hours 25 minutes

Impression

• Saturday, October 8 Sunny
  
  
  
  • I got on the highway bus at 10:20 from Nerima bus stop. The seats were three rows and my seat was right side. I could enjoy seeing the scenery from the window. The bus was almost occupied.
  • It was three consecutive holidays and sunny. The traffic got heavy and it took much time to get out of Saitama Pref. The bus stopped twice at the service areas. The service areas were filled with people.
  • Owing to traffic jam, the bus arrived in Niigata Station at 15:40. 30 minutes behind the schedule.
  • After checking in the hotel, I headed to Niigata municipal gymnasium for registration. Registration was accepted only on Saturday.
  • This year, free shuttle buses were available from South Exit of Niigata Station on both Saturday and Sunday.
  • I took on the bus to be left at 5:00 PM and reached the marathon site at 5:20 PM. I immediately registered and came back to Niigata Station by bus left at 5:30 PM.
  • As I always did, I bought a few cups of locally brewed Japanese sakes and tasted at hotel room during the night. According to the weather forecast, it would be fine on both Sunday and Monday.
  
  
• Sunday, October 9 Sunny
  
  
  • I got up around 5:00. I had a combination breakfast at beef bowl restaurant.
  • I left the hotel at 6:35 and went to the south exit of the station. The final shuttle bus to the marathon site would leave at 7:00. I could catch up with the bus to be left at 6:50. The bus was full of runners.
  • Different from the previous day, there was no traffic jam and the bus reached the site within 10 minutes.
  • Both full and 10 km races would start at 8:30. It was announced that the weather is sunny and the temperature was 14 degrees of Centigrade. I felt a little bit chilly before start.
  • The race started as scheduled. The loss time was only 30 seconds since I was positioned front part of the line.
  • It was said that the numbers of runners joined this year passed 10,000. This must be brought about positive economic effects to Niigata City.
  • Immediately after the start, runners went out from the athletic field to the broad city road. A lot of runners, especially 10 km-runners, were trying to pass others with high speed. During the initial stage, a several runners touched me and I felt dangerous.
  • When starting, it was cool. However, owing to sunny weather, it was getting hot. I wore no-sleeve T-shirt and it was a correct choice.
  • After running through the inner city and crossing the Bandai Bridge, the course was alongside Shinano River. The water of Shinano River was muddy.
  • The 10km-runners departed us from 6 km point and I could run smoothly.
  • The course of full marathon race was changed from that of last year. The course after 11 km was a back-and-forth one alongside the Sea of Japan. The windbreak pine tree forest extended for a few kilometers.
  • Soon a blue Sea of Japan appeared on the right side. The course continued gradual ups-and-downs. It was almost straight and monotonous. Sado Islands was not visible owing to haze.
  • The cool wind blew until 15 km point, but it stopped afterwards,
  • After passing 15 km point, a top runner ran away on the opposite course.
  • I continued to run in a straightforward manner to the turn-around point (20.6 km). The time at the middle-point was just 2 hours.
  • It became hard for me to run around 25 km point, but I managed to run.
  • Finally I reached 30 km point. I was getting thirsty and wanted to drink water. However, I could not see the aid station in front. The aid station was located around 31 km point. I drank like crazy.
  • I felt thirsty again around 33km point. I remembered that I had a small bottle of water (150 cc) in the waist porch and I drank it and was relieved for a while. (I was forgetting that I had water at 30km point.)
  • However, only 150 cc of water was not enough and I was thirsty shortly. I thought that the next aid station was positioned around 35 km point. I continued to run in patience. But I could not reach the aid station at 35 km point. After all, the aid station was located past 36 km point. I drank water heavily again there.
  • Since I struggled to run regardless of thirst, I suddenly felt exhausted, and my running speed slowed down.
  • I decided to run more slowly, but again I felt thirsty. The last aid station was at 40 km point. I could not stand!
  • Fortunately, I found a vending machine by the roadside around 38 km point. I immediately got a bottle of mineral water. It was so cold that I could be refreshed. (The water at the aid station was lukewarm!)
  • I continued to run with the bottle of water until 40 km point. It was really a "water of life". The running pace was getting more and more slower after 38 km point. I didn't mind the finish time any more.
  • The time at 40 km point was 4 hours 9 minutes. By the way, the time at 35 km was 3 hours 31 minutes. This meant I could run 1 kilometer per 6 minutes on an average.
  • I ran at my own running pace during the last 2 km. It was so hard for me to complete the race, but the goal time was 4 hours 25 minutes. My target was 4 hours 30 minutes and thus the result was satisfactory for me.
  • By the way, I could not catch up with young gal runners lately. What a shame it would be!
  • This time, I got thirsty at brief intervals during the closing stage and drank water only heavily each time. I did not have solids and only bit oranges.
  • After the finish, the certificate was issued and a slip for jumbo rice ball was given.
  • I rested for a while watching runners to the goal. I took on the shuttle bus at 2:00 PM to Niigata Station. On return to the hotel, I took a shower.
  • I was exhausted since I continued to run under the strong sunshine and drank too much water.
  
  
• Monday, October 10 Sunny occasionally cloudy
  
  
  • I stayed two nights at Niigata. I checked out at 5:40 AM. I took on the local train bound for Shibata from Niigata Station at 6:08 AM. The destination was Murakami City, which is famous for salmon fishery.
  • I changed the train at Shibata and arrived in Murakami City at 7:25 AM. I could enjoy seeing local scenery from the train.
  • It was so early that the tourist information center in front of the station was not open. I decided to visit the ruins of Murakami Castle on the top of the mountain first. I started to walk from the station. No one was walking on the street.
  • I managed to reach the base of the mountain. No one was there. It was a little bit hard for me to climb the upward route to the top since I ran 42 km on previous day. I met a few descending people and exchanged morning greetings.
  • I could have a bird's-eye view of Murakami City from the top (Height 165 m?). I could also see the Sea of Japan and Miomote River, where salmons ascend, far away.
  • After coming back to the city, I visited the Salmon Museum located nearby Miomote River. It is said that the visitors can see the salmons are ascending against the stream for egg laying from the windows installed under the ground. Unfortunately, I could not see salmons since the water was a little bit muddy and it was a little bit earlier for egg laying season.
  • The Salmon House, next to the museum, consists of souvenir shop and restaurant. Visitors can buy a various kind of salmon products and enjoy salmon dishes.
  • I bought several famous salmon products and locally brewed Japanese Sake there. I also enjoy eating salmon caviar bowl together with a glass of beer. The restaurant was crowded with groups of tourists.
  • Then I strolled the streets. The event called "Folding Screen Festival" was held. 67 shops displayed their boasts such as old folding screens, articles of everyday use, etc. for tourists.
  • At the old-established salmon processing company named "Kikkawa", you can see a lot of salted salmons are hung up from the ceiling.
  • The main temple of Jonenji Temple was built like a warehouse with plaster wall. A very big Amitabha Buddha was enshrined inside the temple. It was very impressive.
  • At Local Collection Museum, several big festival floats were displayed. I found a big signboard saying, "Murakami City is a place in connection with crown princess." at city hall. I wondered what it was. Later I found that Murakami City is the hometown of the farther of Crown Princess Masako. A local city makes an appeal whatever they can.
  • I walked around a lot in addition to previous day's running and I felt tired. I returned to the station around 14:30.
  • I drank a canned beer before I got on the train bound for Niigata. The train left at 15:07 and reached Niigata at 16:24.�A
  • I hurried to the Bandai bus stop to catch the highway bus to be left at 17:00.
  • Only a few passengers were on board, but at every bus stop, passengers got in and finally fully occupied.
  • The traffic was not so heavy as I expected and bus arrived in Nerima almost as scheduled. I could get home 22:40.
  • I could enjoy non-daily life after a long interval.
    
     
    Murakami Station Murakami Castle Route to top
    
    
    View from top View of Miomote River Miomote River
    
    
    Salmom Museum Salmon caviar bowl Jounenji Temple
    
    
    Kikkawa Salted Salmons Salted Salmons
    
  
  
  
  

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