コース図
- One of running members who works at Kure City municipal government of Hiroshima Pref. informed that Kure Marathon Race would newly add full marathon race in 2015. I immediately decided to join the full marathon race.
- Finally 7 members including me would go to Kure City from Tokyo to join the race.
- The weekly weather forecast of Kure City had been rainy on Sunday. I was worrying about running in the cold rain.
- Anyway, on Saturday morning, I got into the Super Express "Nozomi" bound for Hakata from Tokyo to be left at 9:30 AM after a long interval. I could enjoy seeing Mt. Fuji at Shizuoka. On arrival at Hiroshima, I changed to JR Kure Line and reached Kure Station past 14:00. The City of Kure was much larger than I expected. However, according to city worker, the population was once 400,000, but now it decreased to 250,000.
- I walked to the hotel for 15 minutes and checked in around 14:30.
- At night, we had a drink party with runners in Kure City. I enjoyed drinking Japanese sake "Senpuku" patronized by Kure navy. I had been drinking since I got on Super express. I wondered if I would be OK next day.
- Since I went to bed earlier than usual with drunken, I waked up at 4:00 AM.
- I ate rice ball as breakfast. The weatherman said it would be rainy and the maximum temperature would be 12 degrees Centigrade.
- Two city workers came to the hotel to take us to the marathon site by their cars past 6:00 AM. It was drizzling.
- We went to the parking lot of the island after crossing "Akinada Bridge" and changed to the shuttle bus. The bus reached "Prefecture Beach". It took much time to reach there owing to traffic jam.
- The rain stopped when we arrived, but we went to the gymnasium to change the wear there. It was already crowded with runners. Anyway we managed to keep our positions.
- After registration, we changed wears. I was considering about running shirt and finally I decided to wear thick long sleeve shirt. My decision was almost right.
- The sun appeared for a moment when I was in the gym. I expected good weather, however, the rain started and stopped again and again.
- Originally, the start of full marathon race was 9:00 AM. Therefore, we went to the start point where it was a little bit far away from the gym around 8:40. However, we were told that the staring time was changed to 9:20 AM.
- We were surprised to hear it since we had never experienced such a change. ( Actually I experienced once at Frostbite race in Yokota Air Base.)
- The reason was that the arrival of shuttle buses delayed owing to traffic jam and that the arrival of many runners delayed. Surely the buses still arrived around 9:00 AM.
- However, for us, the rain started before 9:00 AM and it was cold and the start of race delayed. The motivation decreased.
- I was worrying that the start of 9:20 was again delayed. But full marathon race started at 9:20. Approx. 2,000 runners started from narrow course. My loss time was almost one minute. The rain stopped when started.
- It was cold and I started with vinyl bag worn.
- There was a long tunnel before reaching Toyoshima Bridge. After passing the bridge, a long downward slope continued. I was thinking that I had to run up when returned and I worried.
- I felt hot with vinyl bag and I took off it around 10 km point.
- However, as soon as I took off the bag, it started to rain! I was fearing that I was wet to the skin, but fortunately, the rain stopped shortly.
- Since then, the rain repeatedly started and stopped. The temperature also varied. Luckily the wind was not strong while running.
- After passing Toyoshima Bridge, runners ran halfway on Toyoshima island alongside the seashore counterclockwise. Then they crossed Toyohama Bridge to Ohsaki Shimo island. On Ohsaki Shimo island, runners ran around clockwise, then returned to Toyohama Bridge.
- Runners continued to run viewing sea left side on Ohsaki Shimo island, however, the weather was not so good and thus both sea and sky were grey color. I could not enjoy seeing the scenery. There were only several small villages. It was a little bit painful to continue to run the uninhabited and winding course. I could enhance my mood if it was fine weather.
- There was no indication of 20 km point. When I noticed, it was a middle-point. The passing time was 2 hours 03 minutes.
- At the small village on the islands, many old people cheered me. It encouraged me.
- Only water and sport-drink were served at each water supply point. I could not get food there and I was getting hungry.
- I finally got two small chocolate breads at one water supply point. I could get energy.
- After the race, I told to city worker to prepare more food. However, he said the city did not have enough budged.
- The future runners must prepare some food by themselves. Since the brochure said there was not enough food at aid station, runners had to prepare some food, I put candies and caramels in my waist-bag this time. I should have chocolate also.
- Until 30 km point, I could run with my own pace. However, after 30 km, I felt got tired. My running pace slowed down and I felt hungry again. I took some caramels for energy.
- Soon I wanted to get a wash. I stopped at the portable toilet. However, two runners were already waiting.
- I waited there for a while, but a runner in the toilet did not get out. Therefore, I gave up and started to run again.
- I could use toilet at next water-supply point and refreshed.
- I passed Toyohama Bridge again and returned to Toyoshima island. This time, runners had to run counterclockwize to Toyoshima Bridge. The distance was not so long, but I felt the distance to the bridge was so far. I could not reach the bridge easily although I could see the bridge. I lost almost all energy to run up the long slope to the bridge when I arrived in the edge of the slope.
- Eventually I walked on the slope to the bridge. Many other runners were also walking. I drastically wasted the time here.
- It was also hard to run the last 5-km to the finish from the bridge. The only relief was the course after passing the tunnel was downward.
- My running pace was the slowest while running the last short slope to the finish.
- My finish time was 4 hours 37 minutes.
- When returned to the gym, all other members had already come back and finished changing wears. I rushed to change wears and aimed shuttle bus stop.
- We returned to the parking lot and city worker dispatched us to the hotel. I could be relieved after taking a shower at the hotel.
- At night, we enjoyed having thin and flat pancake cooked on a hot plate with bits of meat, seafood, noodles and chopped cabbages with "Senpuku".
- I visited Yamato Museum with my running mate.
- Yamato Museum would open at 9:00 AM. We wandered around before 9:00 AM. I was overwhelmed when I saw a big submarine displayed near Yamato Museum.
- At 9:00 AM, we entered into the museum. We were told that the entrance fee might be discounted if we show the racing number of Kure marathon race at the entrance. However, we were told that the discount was effective only on Sunday! Actually it is impossible to visit the museum after completing the race on Sunday. Anyway, I could see many exhibits including 1/10 miniature of warship Yamato. I was much impressed by them.
- Additionally, I visited Maritime Self-Defense Force Museum. The entrance fee was free! I could enter into the submarine and see the inside. I could also look into the periscope made by Nikon.
- As a souvenir, I bought some famous steamed bread and melon-shaped bread. I was surprised that the melon-shaped bread contained bean jam.
- I took on "Nozomi" from Hiroshima Station bound for Tokyo to be left at 12:32. The bullet reached
Tokyo at 16:33. I could come home around 18:00.
Yamato Museum
Maritime Self-Defense Force Museum
Melon-shaped bread (Hal cut)
Melon-shaped bread (Inside)