Tama River Memorial 50 km Running Race for Mr. Toshizo Hijikata (The 7th)

Date: Sunday, May 12, 2013 Weather: Sunny occasionally cloudy

Location: Hino City, Tokyo (JR Chuo Line Hino Station)


Details of Race:Refer to Tama River Memorial 50 km Running Race for Mr. Toshizo Hijikata (The 4th)




Images

 
Headband Headband


Records

5 km	?
10 km	1 hour 01 minute
15 km	1 hour 31 minutes
20 km	2 hours 01 minute
25 km	2 hours 34 minutes
30 km	3 hours 16 minutes
35 km	3 hours 50 minutes
40 km	4 hours 27 minutes
45 km	5 hours 11 minutes
50 km	5 hours 48 minutes

Impression

• According to weekly weather forecast, it would be rainy on Sunday. I had been got depressed a little bit.
• However, it proved that the rain would stop in the early morning on Sunday and that the temperature would be 26 degrees Centigrade and it would be muggy.
• Anyway, I left home around 6:15 in the morning after the rain.
• I reached Hino Station around 7:30 AM via Seibu Line, JR Musashino Line and JR Chuo Line. I saw a lot of energetic middle-aged ladies who were going mountaineering in each train.
• I arrived in the marathon site before 8:00 AM and finished registration.
• I received a fine full-color pamphlet explaining marathon course this year. Furthermore, the measurement of race time would be done by chip. Much improvement than ever!
• The number of runners of 50 km race was around 200. Almost the same as that of last year.
• Opening ceremony was done at 8:30 AM. It was getting sunny and hot.
• The start of 50 km race (20 km race would start from 10:00 AM.) was 9:00 AM. The course was completely the same as that of last year.
• First, the runners ran almost 10 km upstream along side Tama River to Fussa South Park and turned down.
• It was already sunny, but I did not feel so hot owing to cool breeze. However, just before 10 km, I felt that my body was getting too hot. I was afraid of heat stroke for just a moment.
• Anyway, I drank a lot of water at the aid of first turn-around point.
• The distance between runners was getting wider. I was running my own pace. Then I found one runner was running just behind me. I tried not to be passed by him and continued to run as fast as possible obstinately.
• I could talk with him at next aid station located at 15 km point. He was the same age as of me.
• However, after passing 15 km point, I started to feel pain on the right ankle.
• It seemed that I twisted my right ankle while running at excessive pace.
• Anyway, I continued to run bearing with pain.
• After passing 20 km, the pain continued and my running pace slowed down.
• Soon the course was alongside Asakawa River. I did not like the course after 20 km point.
• I managed to reach the fourth aid station, where I drank and ate a few rice balls.
• Then I crossed the bridge. I saw many young boys and girls were enjoying barbecue at riverside as I saw last year.
• I continued to run upstream. I saw a five-story pagoda of Takahata-Fudo temple at left.
• Then I crossed another bridge and ran to Komagata Park, where the 5th aid station was prepared. I drank a lot of water. There were various kinds of food. I ate fried bean-curd stuffed with boiled rice, orange, pickles and pickled Ume and I got full stomach.
• However, from there, I had to run to the 6th aid station and come back again. The distance was almost 10 km. I was getting disgusted.
• Anyway, I started to run from the 5th aid station and soon passed 30 km point. I had to run 20 km more!
• The pain of my right ankle was getting calmed. However, it pained immediately after the start of running. Just in case, I took my own painkiller.
• I felt too long to reach the 6th aid station. I finally reached there, but I was disgusted that I had to return to the 5th aid station. The course should be changed next time!
• At the 6th aid station, I met an old lady runner who had been assisted by her daughter during running. Her daughter was escorting by bicycle. She was getting water and pain relief spray from her daughter. Her daughter was so adorable! To my regret, shortly after, they passed me and disappeared from my view.
• My running pace more slowed down, but finally I passed 40 km point just before arriving the 5th aid station again. I had a break at 5th aid station for a while. My stomach was full and I just ate orange and pickled Ume.
• Soon I restart to run to finish last 10 km. I felt pain on my right ankle again.
• Just before arriving the bank of Tama River, I found a display of 45 km point. Only 5 km remained.
• While running on the bank of Tama River, I found a young running gal walking. When passing her, I cheered her saying "Go for it!"
• Soon I saw a display saying "3 km to the finish". The breeze stopped and my body was getting hot again, but I continued to run. I did not feel the pain on my right ankle at that time.
• I got water at last aid station, located 1.5 km to the finish. I ran with my last energy to the finish.
• Just before the finish, I passed one runner. Thereafter, no one was there before me.
• Finally I reached athletic field. Finish time was 5 hours 48 minutes 53 seconds. Owing to chip measurement, I could get the certificate immediately after the finish. According to the certificate, I was 67th.
• I was covered with salt after finish. I wiped out the salt and changed wears and went to the station.
• The stand-up bar at Akitsu station was full as usual even at 4:00 PM. I decided to drop in Japanese pub open daytime just in front of Akitsu Station.
• The pub was not so crowded. I could enjoy drinking beer and sake and celebrate the 80th completion of full marathon races by myself.
• This time, I got pain on my right ankle unexpectedly around 20 km point. I was worried if I had to give up the completion of the race. However, I managed to finish the race and was relived.
• However, the cost came expensive. I found my right ankle inframed when I awaked this morning. I put an antiinflammatory analgesic plaster on my ankle. I had to refrain from running for a while. Furthermore, I am burning today owing to sunburn. I should have put sun-block cleam before running yesterday.

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