The 16th Grape Hill Marathon Race

Date: Sunday September 17, 2000 Weather: Rainy then cloudy with occasional shower

Location: Makioka-cho, Yamanashi Pref. (15minutes by bus from JR Enzan station---Chuo Line)


Details of race

Race	20 km	Time Limit	2 h 30m	600 runners
	10 km		1h 30m	1200 runners
	5 km		50m	400 runners
Entry Fee	Yen 3,000
Contact	Race Secretariat c/o Makioka-cho town office, 350 kubodaira makioka-cho, Higashi-yamanashi-gun 404-8550 TEL: 0553-35-3111
Gift	Grape [Kyoho](Sweet &Delicious!), Big Towel
Free Service	Barley Tea, Grape, Paste made from the devil's-tongue (Booth for charged food/drinks available)
Remarks	Shuttle bus available (round trip Yen 500!) 20 km course changed from 2 rounds of 10 km course to 20 km round trip course. Gymnasium available for rest/preparation. 7 Water suplly points (Water only) Certificate issued immediately after the finish

ImagesF

 
Entrance Goal
 


Records & Impression

• Saturday was a thundershower day caused by Typhoons 14th and 17th with cold front. It was an abnormal day.
• Thus I could only jog 7 km in the morning, then I was forced to stay in the house.
• Fortunately, the Sydney Olympic Games just started. I could enjoy watching TV. First, I watched the women's triathlon since the newspaper said Japan might get the medal. However, the Japanese top was only 14th. I hate the predict given by the newspaper!
• Well, on Sunday, I woke at 4:00 AM. It was still rainy with lightening and thunder. The condition was the same as that of previous day! I felt uneasiness.
• In fact, I hesitated to go out. Then, I decided to go and left home at 5:30 AM. However, the black sky was becoming bright and the rain stopped when I arrived in the station. I was relieved.
• I could catch up with the 7:43 AM train bound for Kofu at Tachikawa station. I could occupay one box seat! I felt as if I were going on an excursion!
• During the short trip, it rained off and on and I was now glad, now sad.
• I arrived in Enzan station at 8:12 AM. To my regret, it was raining heavily! I felt gloomy.
• Regardless of rain, many runners got off the train. It seemed that they didn't care the rain!
• Anyway, I got on the shuttle bus together with other runners.
• The rain didn't seem to stop. I was already disheartened.
• The bus finally arrived in junior high school at 8:30. The school ground was already flooded! The opening ceremony just started. However, almost all runners were staying in the gymnasium. The gymnasium was not so crowded.
• The 20 km race would start at 9:30. I was reluctant to join the race owing to heavy rain. Anyway, I went out in the rain for the race around 9:20.
• However, unexpectedly, the rain stopped just before the start!
• The course started sharp downward slope, then it becomes uphill road in the vineyards. I was thus forced to run slowly.
• The more I ran up, the more I could get the better view since the rain stopped.
• The up-and down slope repeated and the height gradually increased.
• At the second water supply point, no one could drink the water since it was impure owing to continued rain.
• Just before reaching the 10 km point, the upward slope continued. It was hard for me to run up. In addition, the rain started again!
• When I ran up, my arm was marked with red ink to verify that I certainly pass the 10 km point. This is my first experience! Is there any runner who does dishonest act? It took 58 minutes to pass the 10 km point.
• Then the course became downward almost all the way! The rain was becoming heavy! Owing to the heavy rain, I could not see the front since I wear the eyeglass. That is the another reason why I hate to run in the rain!
• Other runners started to dash on the downward road. I am not good at running the slope, especially downward slope!
• I passed many runners thru the upward slope, but I was passed by them again.
• The rain continued until I arrived in 17-18 km point. The temperature was high and I felt good. However, it might be miserable if the season was winter!
• Anyway, I tried to catch up with the front runner as much as possible so that I was not passed by other runners. I felt that I was overrunning myself----.
• Finally I arrived in the last water supply point, I was told that the remaining distance was 2 km. However, I felt more than 2 km to the goal.
• The last 1 km was upward slope which I didn't expect! I felt exhausted and the pace suddenly slowed down!
• Anyway, I continued to run and before the goal I could pass the last runner of 10 km race.
• I finally arrived in the goal. The time was 1 hour 43 minutes 25 seconds. I could recover the time during the last 10 km. (284th)
• The rain already stopped and it became hot. The canned beer (Yen 250) after the goal was so delicious!
• My running mates came here by car and thus I could not drink with them this time.
• I had to go back by myself. I got on the bus around 12:00. I could get on the train at 12:25.
• I could get one box seat again. I wrote down the records in the train drinking one cup Japanese sake bottles in the train. It was raining again!
• I could return the home at 15:00. Earlier than expected!
• Owing to bad weather, a lot of runners might give up the race. It seemed that the women's runners was not so many.
• Through the race, I feel that I must train to run the up-and-down course. However, in the vicinity, no such a course is available. Does anyone know up-and-down course around here?

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