Tsukuba Marathon Race (The 33rd)

Date: Sunday, November 24, 2013 Weather: Fine

Location: Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Pref.


Details of RaceRefer to the 20th Tsukuba Marathon Race


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Impression

• Last year, I got a ticket for Osaka Marathon Race and thus I did not join the race. (I gave up Osaka Marathon Race owing to foot injury.)
• This year, the first cold blast came in early November and became cold suddenly. As a result, I carelessly caught a cold. Therefore, I could not train satisfactory for this race.
• I left home at 5:30 AM on Sunday. It was cold outside.
• As usual, I reached Kenkyugakuen Station via Seibu Line, Musashino Line and Tsukuba Express.
• Invariably, there was a long line of runners for shuttle buses to the marathon site in front of the station.
• Anyway, I arrived in the marathon site around 8:00 AM. The site was already so crowded with runners.
• I found a small space in the crowd and changed the wears.
• It was fine and warm even in the early morning. I decided to wear a long-sleeve T-shirt, tights and short pants. My choice was lucky as I discuss later.
• I went to the toilet. However, there were so many runners and long, long lines! I waited by 9:00, however, my turn was far away. Since the start time of full marathon race would be 9:30 AM, I gave up the toilet and went to the start line.
• Different from previous time, it was warm when started. More than 13,000 runners joined the full marathon race.
• The race started at 9:30 AM. The loss time was almost 3 minutes.
• The course was the same as that of 2 years ago. After one turn around in the campus of Tsukuba University, the runners went out to the outside.
• I could run as usual to 10 km point. It was so warm and a little bit hot for running. Two 4-hour pace runners passed me just before 10 km point. I could not follow them.
• After passing 10 km point, a row of gingyo trees appeared. The contrast between yellow leaves and blue sky was wonderful.
• Just before 15 km point, I came across the clear number one runner. He dashed away instantly.
• The course was crowded with runners until 20 km point. I tried to follow two young male runners who ran almost same running pace with me. (In my heart, I wished I could follow young gal!)
• Soon after first turn-around point, there existed middle-point. The passing time was 2 hours 04 minutes, which was the exactly the same as that of 2 years ago.
• I could managed to pass 25 km point. At 29 km point, I could get a cup of sweet bean paste soup as usual.
• Immediately after, I dropped in the toilet. I had to wait for a while. I wasted more than 5 minutes, but I did not care since I already ran almost 30 km.
• My running pace gradually slowed down after passing 30 km point. But I tried to continue to run.
• I could pass 35 km point, but when I saw the sign "5 km to the finish", I suddenly felt exhausted and was losing my energy to run.
• My running speed further slowed down. I was almost walking. A lot of runners passed me. Furthermore, I frequently felt thirsty because of warm weather.
• After a long interval, it was so difficult for me to run last 3 km. I began to feel like crying. I could not run as I thought.
• Before 40 km point, 4 hour and 30 minutes pace runners passed me.
• During last 2 km, I repeated run and walk. Other runners passed me again.
• I finally reached the point 1 km to the finish. However, I was completely exhausted and my energy was lost. But I tried to slowly run to the finish with last energy.
• However, just before entering into the athletic field (just 100 meters to the finish), oh my god! On the moment I staggered, I fell to the ground! It's an instant incident!
• I showed my awkward posture in front of many gallery.
• Actually, I could not think about gallery. When I got up, I was astonished to find that my right fifth finger was bleeding. I felt pain on my hand and foot. However, I had to complete the race.
• Anyway, I stumbled to the finish. I continued to feel pains and did not feel delight for completing the race.
• After getting a certificate, I dropped in the first aid station. I got a first-aid procedure for the wound.
• When I carefully looked the wound, I found a several scratches on my right hand, right arm and right knee and the blood was oozing. The staff sterilized my wound and put Band-Aids on them. I had never visited first-aid station at the race. However, when I visited there, I found a lot of runners with some problems visited there. Anyway, I appreciated a staff that kindly took care of me.
• I dragged along to the place I put my luggage and hurried to change wears. When changing wears, I found my right shoulder was also injured.
• This time, since I wore long-sleeve shirt and tights, I could minimize my wounds. If I wore short sleeve T-shirt and half pants only, my wounds got worse. I was lucky that I did not hit my head when I fell.
• If there was any solace, it was warm and calm all day. Even around 15:00, it was warm and comfortable.
• Again I trudged toward the bus stop to Kenkyugakuen Station. There was a long line of runners. It took almost 20 minutes to get on the bus. I was forced to stand up in the bus. It was hard for me.
• Fortunately, when returning to the home, the connection of each train was so good.
• So far, I have never thought that I injured at the marathon race. However, I got injured actually. I now think I should limit myself, taking my age into consideration.
• The staff of first-aid station told me that I should carefully wash the wound with soup and sterilize. As soon as I got home, I took a shower and washed and sterilized as told. I also put an anti-inflammatory analgesic plaster on my right shoulder. My body was filled with Band-Aids.
• On Monday, I still felt pain on my shoulder. I replaced the plaster with new one and had a painkiller to ease pain. I had no choice but to keep still for a while.
  
  
  Record
  
  

  5 km	31 minutes
  10 km	1 hour 00 minute
  15 km	1 hour 29 minutes
  20 km	1 hour 57 minutes
  Middle-point	2 hours 04 minutes
  25 km	2 hours 26 minutes
  30 km	3 hours 03 minutes
  35 km	3 hours 37 minutes
  40 km	4 hours 14 minutes
  Finish	4 hours 32 minutes

  
  

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