Kasumigaura Marathon Race (The 14th)

Date : Sunday April 18, 2004 Weather : Fine

Location : Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Pref. (Five minites on foot from Tsuchiura Station of JR Joban Line)


Details of Races

Race	Full	Runners	5,000	*
	10 mile		5,000	*
Entry Fee	Yen 3,200
Contact	2-7-36 Shimotakatsu, Tsuchiura City 300 0812 Ibaraki Pref. Secretariat of Kasumigaura Marathon Race TEL : 029-826-3457
Gift	T-Shirt
Free Service	Water, Sport Drink, Banana
Remarks	Lime Limit : 6 hours (Full)

IMAGES

 
T-shirt


Impression & Record

• I left home at 6:30AM. It was fine.
• I took on the train bound for Tsuchiura at Nippori Station, The train left at 7:39AM and reached Tsuchiura at 8:42AM.
• The platform was so crowded with runners that it took time to go through the exit.
• The line of runners continued to the marathon site. The guide book says it takes only five minutes on foot from the station, but actually it took more than 10 minutes.
• Since I promised to meet with my running mates at 9:00AM, I had to rush. Anyway, I managed to reach at 9:00AM to the reception.
• I could meet my Japanese friends, however, I could not meet my foreign E-mail friend, Mr. G with whom I would meet there for the first time.
• Before the start of full marathon race, the 10 mile race started at 9:50AM. More than 5,000 runners (I guess) passed away in front of us.
• So far, I have joined 10 mile race twice, however, it was my first entry to the full marathon race. It was still fine and the expected maximum temperature was 22 degrees Centigarde. To run the full marathon race under the temperature of more than 20 degrees Centgrade was also my first experience.
• The full marathon race started at 10:00AM. I could position in the front part of the line and thus I could pass the start line one minutes fifteen seconds later.
• When started, although it was comparatively hot, the humidity was low and the wind was blowing and thus I felt fresh.
• Soon I could see a little bit hazed Mr. Tsukuba faraway.
• The course is the same as that of 10 mile race until 9 km, shortly I could catch up with the runners of 10 mile race.
• After separating the runners of 10 mile race, the course was on the hill and thus the gallery suddenly decreased.
• At the initial stage, only water and sport drinks were available at the water supply points. When passing 10 km point, I felt hungry and thus I took chocolate from my waist bag.
• I could hear Japanese bush warbler singing in the forest and also skylark singing on the field. Spring was in full swing!
• After passing 20km point, the course suddenly descended and reached the Kasumigaura Lake.
• Rice planting was being prepared at the rice fields near Kasumigaura Lake. Rice planting was already made at some rice fields.
• Until 30km point, I could run as usual. However, since the temperture was rising and the wind was stopping, my running speed started to slow down. A lot of runners started to walk.
• Anyway, I continued to run with spirits and selflessness.
• It was so hard to run the last 5km, but I endured.
• At the latter half of the course, I could have bananas, candies, lemons, etc. at the water supply points. I wished to have bread.
• There were steamed potates at one water supply point. I tried to eat two potates, but I was almost choked without water.
• There were several aid stations operated privately. There were rice balls! I was happy to eat it. The rice ball is best for Japanese runners!
• It was a hard race. My goal time was 3 hours 46 minutes, which is the tie in my best.
• During the intial half, I could see many young gal runners, however, later, all I could see were all male runners! I could have run faster if there were young gals in front of me!
• It had been fine and thus I sweated so much and my face and legs were whitened with salt. I also was sunburned.
• After the race, I borrowed cellular phone from my friend (My policy is not to have cellular phone.) and call Mr. G to catch him. He joined 10 mile race and already came back. I found he and his three friends near the goal line. We chatted for a while. I had a plan to have a drink party with them, however, canned beers were not available there. Also they already got reserved JR tickets to return to Tokyo around 3:00PM. Therefore, we promised to meet again in the near future and separated.
• As mentioned above, no alcoholic drinks were sold. Since I wanted to drink beer with my friends anyway, I tried to find the convenience store near the marathon site. Fortunately I could find one shop. However, I regret to learn that no beers were available there!
• Finally, we decided to drink Japanese Sake which I brought from my home. We felt good with small amount of Sake since we had exhausted with hot weather.
• Then we went to Chinese restaurant where we once visted to have an after-the-race party. We had beers and hot Japanese sakes with Chinese dishes. The first glass of beer was so delicious! We missed four foreign runners!
• We occupied one box seat in the train and had canned beer there.
• Soon we fell into asleep. When awaked, the train just reached Nippori Station. We were almost carried the station.
• I could come home around 7:00PM.
• My full marathon races of this season was over. My next target is Saroma 100km ultra marathon race in June.
  
  Record
  
  

  05 km	27 minutes
  10 km	53 minutes
  15 km	1 hour 18 minutes
  20 km	1 hour 48 minutes
  Middle	1 hour 51 minutes
  25 km	2 hours 14 minutes
  30 km	2 hopurs 38 minutes
  35 km	3 hours 06 minutes
  40 km	3 hours 34 minutes
  Goal	3 hours 46 minutes 41 seconds

  
  
  

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