Tazawako Marathon Race (The 29th)

Date�FSunday, September 21, 2014 Weather: Fine

Location: Senboku City, Akita Pref. (15 min. by bus from JR Tazawako Station)


Details of raceRefer to 22nd Tazawako Marathon Race.


Image�F

 
T Shirt


Impression

• Saturday, September 20
  
  
  
  • I took on the highway night bus bound for Akita at 21:50 from Tokyo Station on September 19. The bus was fully occupied.
  • The bus arrived in Akita Station at 6:35 as scheduled. I had a breakfast at Lotteria in front of the station.
  • I took on the bus from West Exit of the station to visit "Seitai Hoshikai", where famous "Statue of Our Lady of Akita" is enshrined. It is said that the wood sculpture shed tears 101 times from 1975 to 1981. The phenomenon was witnessed by 2,000 people.
  • It took about 20 minutes by bus. I met nun at the bus stop and asked her how to reach the convent. I could find guide plate to the convent. The route became upward slope in the Japanese cedar. I saw a plate saying "Be careful for bears" and got intimidated a little bit. Then the flat hill appeared and I saw a big Japanese style convent. It took only 10 minutes on foot from bus stop.
  • Visitors can see inside freely. There was a register book. According to it, I was the first visitor this day.
  • I sat face to face with Our Lady of Akita for a while alone. By the way, I could not see tears on the face of Lady.
  • Then I strolled around the garden of the lamb. It was calm and fine day.
  • I came back to Akita Station by bus and visited Akita Museum of Art. The purpose was to see Tsuguharu Foujita�fs works. The Events of Akita, a mural measuring more than 20 meters wide that depicts various traditional events in Akita is most famous. I was overwhelmed by the large scaled mural. I recommend to see the mural from the terrace of the third floor.
  • I moved from Akita to Ohmagari by train in the afternoon and checked in the hotel.
    
    
    Convent Garden Caution for bears
    
    
    Museum of Art
    
    
    
  
  
• Sunday, September 21
  
  
  • The weatherman said it would be sunny and the maximum temperature would be 23 degrees Centigrade on Sunday.
  • It was cool in the early morning. I got on the local train at 6:57. The seats were filled with runners.
  • The train reached Tazawako Station at 7:37. I missed the first shuttle bus by a hair. I had to wait the second bus to be left around 8:00. It was fine and I felt a little bit hot under sunny sky. The bus reached the marathon site within 10 minutes.
  • After registration, I went to the summerhouse near the lake and changed the wears. It was still cool in a shaded area. The lake water level was high than that of last year owing to abundant rainfall of this year.
  • The race started at 10:00. The loss time was tens of seconds. It was sunny.
  • There was no wind immediately after the start. I felt hot and the sweat started to stain my shirt. I saw an LCD showing the temperature as 22 degrees Centigrade on the roadside.
  • After 5 km point, it became completely fine and crisp. The freshening breeze started to blow.
  • Therefore, I could run smoothly until 10 km point.
  • In the area around JR Tazawako Station, every year, a lot of spectators cheered runners along the course, which encouraged me. This year, a runner dressed in Ampamman costume was running near me. He specially received massive cheers.
  • Before 20 km point, moms were delivering bean-jam buns to runners. I also got one and had it gratefully. I could get energy.
  • After passing the middle-point, I could reach the lakeside after running up the slope.
  • So far, the weather of Tazawako marathon race was always bad. I experienced the nice weather after a long interval. Therefore, I could see the scenery of the opposite shore and enjoyed seeing beautiful lake surface while running around the lake.
  • There were many shaded areas around the lake. The air was dry and I did not sweat so much. I did not felt tired very much until 30 km point.
  • I managed to pass 35 km point. I could also slowly run up the slope after 35 km point.
  • I felt a little bit tired after 35 km point, but I continued to run.
  • Soon I saw a display saying "5 km to the finish".
  • Finally I passed 40 km point. The passing time was 4 hours 13 minutes. I might complete the race within 4 hours 30 minutes.
  • I got a rice ball and pickled plum at the last aid station. I could run the last 2 km smoothly.
  • I tried to run as fast as possible during the last 1 km so that I could finish the race within 4 hours 30 minutes.
  • The finish time was 4 hours 30 minutes 31 seconds, with which I was satisfied.
  • Owing to good weather condition, this time, I could run smoothly. I had no damage after the race.
  • After completing the race, I changed wears and hurried to the shuttle bus stop.
  • From Tazawako Station, I took on the "Komachi" train bound for Akita Station at 16:07.
    
    Records
    
    

    05 km	29 minutes
    10 km	58 minutes
    15 km	1 hour 28 minutes
    20 km	1 hour 57 minutes
    Middle-point	2 hours 04 minutes
    25 km	2 hours 29 minutes
    30 km	3 hours 02 minutes
    35 km	3 hours 37 minutes
    40 km	4 hours 13 minutes
    Finish	4 hours 30 minutes

    
    
  
  
• Monday, September 22
  
  
  
  
  • I reserved the half-day sightseeing bus tour of Oga Peninsula (Fee Yen 4,000). The bus left Akita Station at 12:45.
  • It was sunny day. The 11 passengers on the bus. First, the bus arrived in Mt. Kanpuzan (Height 355 m above sea level).
  • On the way to the mountain, we could see large statues of "Namahage", kind of devil.
  • On the top of Mt. Kanpuzan, we could enjoy 360-degree view. Blue of the Sea of Japan and golden rice field of Hachirogata Lake were impressive.
  • Then we worshipped Mayama Shrine and visited the museum of Namahage. At the Namahage heritage house, we saw a demonstration show of Namahage.
  • The bus returned to Akita Station past 18:00.
  • I went to Japanese pub to have dinner and tasted delicious locally brewed Japanese sake.
  • I got on the night bus at 21:20. My travel completed as scheduled. I was lucky since the weather had been nice.
    
    
    Distant view of Oga Statue of Namahage
    
    
    Sea of Japan Hachiro-gata
    
    
    Mayama Shrine Namahage
  
  

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