Saitama International Marathon Race (The 2nd)

Date: Sunday, November 13, 2016 Weather: Fine

Location: Saitama Super Arena (5 minutes on foot from Saitama-shintoshin Station)


Details of RaceF

Race	Full	Runners	16,000	Time Limit: 6 hours
Entry Fee	Yen 15,000
Organizer	The Japan Association of Athletics Federations, Saitama Pref., Saitama City, Yomiuri Shimbun, Nihon TV.
Gift	T Shirt, Bath Towel, Finisher's medal
Free service	Sport Drink & Foods
Remark	Time Limit: 6 hours

ImagesF

 
T shirt Bath Towel

Finisher's medal

Records

5 km	44 minutes
10 km	1 hour 15 minutes
15 km	1 hour 49 minutes
20 km	2 hours 21 minutes
Middle Point	2 hours 29 minutes
25 km	3 hours
30 km	3 hours 34 minutes
35 km	4 hours 11 minutes
40 km	4 hours 46 minutes
Finish	5 hours 01 minute

Impression

• The entry fee of this race was Yen 15,000. It's so expensive. However, the location of marathon site is very close to my house. It took only one hour to reach there. So I did not need to stay in the hotel previous day and transportation fee was not so expensive. Therefore I decided to join the race.
• Runners had to visit Saitama Super Arena either on Friday or Saturday for registration. I went there on Friday afternoon. The registration started from 13:00. However, there was a long line of runners from the entrance before 13:00.
• The weatherman said it would be fine on Sunday and the temperature would rise to 20 degrees Centigrade. It seemed to be comfortable for marathon race.
• Assuming that the arena would be so crowded, I left home past 6:00 AM. Via Seibu and Musashino and Keihin-tohoku Line, I arrived in Saitama Shintoshin Station around 7:20 AM. A lot of runners got off the station, When I got out of the exit, I saw a long line of runners. I found they were waiting for baggage inspection at the entrance of arena. The inspection was a formal one.
• I entered into the arena for the first time. Thus I did not know where I was. I had to ask the location of baggage deposit to the marathon staff,
• Then I had to look for toilet. There were many toilets in the arena, however, every toilet was filled with runners. I went up to 4th floor toilet and lined up.
• Every floor of arena was full of runners. It was difficult to find the place to change the wears. Finally I found a small space and could change the wears. Since the maximum temperature would be 20 degrees Centigrade, I wore a short-sleeve T-shirt and half pant. It was a good choice.
• After changing the wears, I deposited the baggage. However, it's only 8:30 AM. The start time would be 9:40 AM. I was waiting in the arena until 9:10. It was warm and comfortable in the arena. It seemed that it was cold outside.
• My starting zone was designated as F (The tail end was G). It's almost the end of line. It was fine, but it was still cold outside. I wore vinyl bag before start. It was announced that the temperature was 14 degrees Centigrade before start.
• Runners lined up on the narrow road surrounding arena. The course was filled with runners. I was worrying that it might be dangerous if the race would start under such conditions.
• Anyway, the race started at 9:40 AM. However, the line did not move at all for a while. Shortly after, runners started to walk slowly. I was forced to walk to the start point. It took 14 minutes to the start point! I almost lost my will to fight from the biginning.
• After passing the start point, the course was not so wide and crowded with runners. It was difficult to pass the other runners. The same condition continued to 10 km point.
• The race consisted of representative runners and general runners. The start of representative runners was 9:10 AM.
• When I was running around 10 km point, a top representative runner (black woman runner) was gone like the wind on the opposite course. I was overwhelmed, because she dashed away with big stride like a racehorse. She was a runaway leader. The second-tier was also a black woman runner, but it seemed that it was difficult to catch up with the first runner. I thought that it was impossible for Japanese women runners to compete with them.
• Anyway, I continued to run constantly.
• The course was almost flat. After passing through the downtown, the course was on the highway. Just before 15 km point, the course was directed to Saitama Stadium. When returning from the stadium, 20 km point existed.
• Saitama Stadium was lonely built in the rice field. I wondered why the stadium was built in such an inconvenient location.
• When passing middle point, I felt a little bit tired.
• I saw a lot of female runners in this race. At the initial running stage, I enjoyed seeing female runners. (The roadside scenery was completely monotonous.) However, soon I had to devote myself to run.
• At the first half, only sports drink and water were served at each aid station. At the second half, the foods were served, however, only bananas, candies and cookies were available.
• After passing the third turnaround, it was 25 km point. I planned to enjoy seeing scenery (In addition to female runners), however, the scenery was monotonous and boring.
• I managed to pass 30 km point. The fine weather continued and I started to feel a little bit hot while running.
• I saw a lot of runners started to walk after 30 km point. Several runners jerked and the staffs were taking care of them. I continued to run casting gazes at them.
• Soon a sign "5 km to the finish" appeared. I ate M & M chocolate as energy supplement. Thus I could pass 40 km point.
• The last 2 km seemed to be far away. However, to my joy, the course was very gradual downward slope to the finish.
• I thought I could finish the race within 5 hours, taking both loss time of start point and three toilet-stop-times into consideration. However, actually, finish time was 5 hours 01 minute.
• After finish, I received a large bath towel and finisher's medal. But I don't need finisher's medal. Instead I want to reduce entry fee!!
• I received back baggage and changed the wears. I left the arena in a hurry.
• I dropped in Japanese pub at Akitsu to celebrate the completion of the race by myself. However, I was so tired that I could drink only one bottle of middle-size beer and ate one dish of Sashimi.
• I returned home at 17:00. I took a bath and then drink a glass of white wine and went to bed earlier. I could get a deep sleep.
• Taking a look back of this race, the only merit for me was that the marathon site was very close to my house.
• I will not join this race again!

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