The 17th Tazawako-Lake Marathon Race

Date : Sunday September 15, 2002 Weather: Cloudy with shower

Location : Tazawako-cho, Akita Pref. (10 minutes by car from JR Tazawako Station)


Details of Race

Race	Full	Participants	1,100 runners	*
	20 km		1,500 runners	*
	10 km		1,200 runners	*
	3 km		500 runners	Pair
Entry Fee	Yen 3,000
Contact	30 Aza Miyagono, Seihonai, Tazawako-cho, Senhoku-gun 014-1201, Akita Pref. Secretariant of Tazawako-Lake Marathon Race Tel:0187-43-1154
Gift	T-shirt, Towel
Free Service	Miso Soup
Remarks	All races start at the same time. Water supply point every 5 km. Water, sports drink, bananas, etc. are served.

Images

 
Goal Just before goal Opening Ceremony Site

T-shirt Tazawako-Lake near site


Records

5 km	26 minutes
10 km	52 minutes
15 km	1 hour 17 minutes
20 km	1 hour 45 minutes
25 km	?
30 km	2 hours 45 minutes
35 km	?
40 km	3 hours 58 minutes
Goal	4 hours 13 minutes 07 seconds

Impression

• Saturday September 14, 2002
  
  
  
  • It was rainy in the morning in Tokyo area. The maximum temperature was said to be 22 degrees Centigrade. The summer seemed to be gone. It was cold rather than cool.
  • Mr. Y , who particiapated 20 km race, joined me this time. We met at Tokyo station before noon.
  • Owing to three consecutive holidays, the platform of Tokyo station was so crowded. I tried to buy lunch box, however, almost all were sold out!
  • We took on the "Komachi" superexpress bound for Akita station (northern part of Japan) to be left on 12:04. This was my first experience to go furtehr to Sendai station via superexpress.
  • The seats were fully occupied. As soon as we took on the train, we started to drink canned beer and cupped Japanese sake as usual. Note that I was the only person to continue to drink several cups of Japanese sake. Mr. Y did not drink so much.)
  • Owing to so much drink, I fell in asleep on the way. I did not notice when the train stopped at Morioka station. When I noticed, the train was already running slowly on the Tazawako Line.
  • We arrived in Tazawako station around 15:30. The station building was very nice. Maybe, the building was re-built when the superexpress started to operate. However, the area near the station was not so active.
  • We took bus to the Tazawako-Lake. It took around 10 minutes. A lot of runners were in the bus.
  • It was possible to register the race on Saturday and thus we finished registration.
  • Then, we bought souvenirs since there seemed to be no time next day. Of course, I bought local Japanese sake after sampling.Click here!
  • After shopping, we walked to the hotel for 30 minutes and finally arrived there around 17:00.
  • We took a bath and had viking dinner. We drank beer and felt very good.
  • As soon as we came back to the room, we started to drink cupped Japanese sake again! We went to bed around 20:30. In conclusion, it seemed that I drank too much.
  
  
• Sunday September 15, 2002
  
  
  • We got up at 7:00 AM. It was cloudy. We enjoyed viking breakfast, which served various kinds of food.
  • We took on the mini-bus operated by hotel and went to the starting point. A lot of runners were already training for the race on the road.
  • All the races start at the same time. (10:00 AM) Therefore, runners of 10 km race were taken to the starting point by mini-bus.
  • It was cold in the morning, however, the temperature rose up to 22 degrees Centigarde at 9:00 AM. The temperature became 27 degrees Centigrade when started. I did not expected that the temperature rose such a high degrees!
  • When started, I was in the front part of the runners. Thus I was forced to run faster than usual.
  • At the beginning, it was hot and I sweated than I expected. The spilit time at 10 km was 52 minutes and that of 20 km was 52 minutes. Much faster than I expected. It was the time of my half marathon race so far. This pace strongly effected my last half part of the race.
  • Up to 22 km, the course was turned and twisted with slow up-and-downs in the Tazawako-cho. A lot of galleries cheered the runners which encouraged me.
  • After 22 km, the course was the exactly the same of that of 20 km race. The course was around the Tazawako-Lake.
  • However, I felt exhausted just when I passed 22 km point. The running pace started to slow down. I felt my legs very heavy.
  • Obviously, I ran too fast in the first half of the race. I could not afford to enjoy the scenery of Tazawako-Lake any more. It was hard to arrive in 30 km point.
  • Soon, the shower started. Good for running, because it became cooler. However, my running condition was still no good. I strated to worry if I could finish the race.
  • Then, I reached the 10 km starting point. I thought I could finish the race after 10 km running and I relived a little bit.
  • I could manage to pass 35 km point. But immediately, I saw a very severe upward slope in front.
  • I started to walk without hesitation. Almost all runners were also walking. No time difference between walk and run.
  • Finally I reached the top of the slope, then the sharp downward started.
  • Before the 5 km point to the goal, every 1 km display was made. It took much time for me to run.
  • Once I walked, I could not continue to run. I repeated walking and running to the goal.
  • A lot of runners including young/middle-aged ladies passed me during the last 3 km. To my regret, I could not catch up with them.
  • I spent all my saving time in the first half race during the last half race. Anyway, I finally completed the race. The time was 4 hours 13 minutes 07 seconds. Much worse than I expected.
  • This time, I fully prepared for the race and trained very much. Thus I should have completed the race less than 4 hours. I had confidence to run within 4 hours before the race.
  • Causes: (1) High running pace in the first half race. (I fully understood the situation-----) (2) Too much drink during weekday. I had two consecutive drink parties and sit up late! (Usually, I do not do such a thing! Next time, I should refrain from such parties before full marathon race.) (3) Too much drink in the superexpress train althouh I did not drink in the hotel.) Everybody can find out excuses. Anyway, I conclude that I need more trainings/practices!
  • Since the bus was not so often operated between the marathon site and the station, we had to go to the bus stop immediately after I reached the goal. I did not have a time to change the wears. A lot of people were already waiting at the bus stop.
  • Fortunately, we could find a taxi and took on it. We could arrived in the station earlier than we expected.
  • We had a time to drink a beer relaxedly at the small rustic restaurant in front of the station. I could hear the perfect dialect of Tohoku-district spoken by hostess of the restaurant. I felt for the first time that I was now in the Tohoku-district!
  • We took on the train on 15:15 and immediately sttarted to drink Japanese sake! I was completely exhausted this time (not tired!).
  • I arrived in my home around 20:00. It was a whirlwind trip!
  • As to next full marathonn race, I will join the Tsukuba marathon race (November 24, 2002). The day before the race, I have to refrain from drinking!
  
  
  
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