Sakura Marathon Race (The 31st)

Date: Sunday, March 25, 2010 Weather: Sunny then cloudy

Location: Sakura City, Chiba Pref.

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Impression

• Last year, the race was cancelled owing to the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. Thus the race would be held after one year blank.
• I ran 18 km on Saturday with my running mates in Higashi-kurume and then went to Japanese pub to have after-run party with free-flowing drinks. I drank too much Japanese Sake and thus I was a little bit handicapped.
• Anyway, I left home around 5:45 AM. It was fine and I could see sunrise while I went to the station after a long interval. It was cold in the early morning.
• I took on the train at 6:04 at Higashi-kurume Station. Then I took on the limited express of Keisei Line from Nippori Station.
• The train was not so crowded since I took on the rear cargo.
• I arrived in Keisei-Sakura Station at 7:40 AM. It took much time to get out of the exit.
• There was a long line of runners in front of the shuttle bus stop as usual. I gave up the bus and started to walk. It was breezing and warmer than expected.
• It took 20 minutes to reach the reception area. (Reception area was re-located this year.)
• After registration, I changed the wears at Ball Park. It was still fine and breezing. I selected half pant and long-sleeve T-shirt.
• I was waiting my running mate who joined 10 km race, but I could not meet him before the start.
• I went to the start line around 9:15 AM. It was warm! The full marathon race started at 9:30 AM.
• It was so crowded, but the loss time was around 2 minutes. The exit from the athletic field was so narrow that it was dangerous to run with crowded runners.
• After the start, wind was not blowing and the sun was shining. I felt a little bit hot. I regretted that I selected long-sleeve T-shirt for a while.
• The time at 5 km point was 31 minutes. I was late than expected.
• While running through the course in the rice field, the course was so narrow that I could not pass the others. I was forced to run with the same running pace with others.
• I felt hot immediately after the start, but moderate cold wind was blowing and I felt comfortable with long-sleeve T-shirt.
• Every year, gale force wind attacked the runners when I passing the bridges over the Imbanuma Lake. However, this year, it was unbelievably calm.
• After passing 20 km point, I felt a little bit tired. But I tried to pace up as much as possible with renewed vigor after the middle point.
• After passing 30 km point, suddenly, the dark clouds loomed overhead with the threat of rain. The strong wind started to blow and it was getting cold. In addition, the rain shower started. Fortunately, the wind was tailwind.
• I managed to reach 35 km point. However, it was so hard to run from here to the goal every year.
• Anyway, I continue to run in patience. I could pass 40 km point within 4 hours.
• I could run last 2 km in a straightforward manner. However, as usual, it was so hard to run up the last slope to the athletic filed.
• To my delight, I received cheers from my three old friends who belonged Wander Vogel Club at the University just before the finish.
• Finished time was 4 hours 10 minutes as I expected.
• After the finish, I chatted with three friends for a while.
• After separating with them, I met with my running mate. I cheered with a canned beer. It was fine again and so warm that I wished I could sleep on the grass after drinking beer.
• The shuttle bus to the station was also crowded and thus we decided to walk. But it was hard after completing the race.
• The limited express of Keisei Line to Ueno was crowded with young gals with souvenir of overseas trip. After all, we got off at Nippori Station and drank at Japanese Pub.
• I got home around 7:30 OM.
• I ran totally 60 km at weekend and thus I felt a little bit pain on the foot. on Monday.
  
  
  
  Record
  

  5 km	31 minutes
  10 km	59 minutes
  15 km	1 hour 28 minutes
  20 km	1 hour 56 minutes
  Middle-point	2 hours 02 minutes
  25 km	2 hours 25 minutes
  30 km	2 hours 54 minutes
  35 km	3 hours 24 minutes
  40 km	3 hours 56 minutes
  Goal	4 hours 10 minutes

  
  

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