According to weekly weather forecast, it would be rainy on Sunday.
However, it suddenly changed to be cloudy and occasionally sunny.
It had been cold and rainy on Saturday. I took on the JR local train from Ikebukuro Station with heavy bag.
I changed the train three times and arrived in Shizuoka Station around 16:00. It was still raining and cold even in Shizuoka City.
After checking in the hotel, I shopped in the mall of the station for dinner.
I had nothing to do after the dinner alone and I went to bed in the early evening.
I slept well all night and got up around 5:00 AM next morning.
I checked out the hotel at 6:30 and got on the train at 6:50 bound for Hamamatsu.
It grazed over and almost started to rain. I wondered if it would be sunny as forecasted.
However, to my joy, as the train were approaching Kakegawa Station, the blue sky appeared and I could see beautiful sunrise in the east sky. I was confident that "I am a man of sunny weather!"
I reached Aino Station around 7:40 AM. It was fine and warm like Indian summer. I couldn't believe it was December.
I arrived in the Shizuoka Stadium where the marathon race was held at 8:00 AM. After the registration, I went to change room for men, where a lot of runners already gathered.
It was warm and comfortable.
This is my second participation to the race in addition to the race 2 years ago.
Although I entered the race last year, I was forced to cancel the race owing to my sudden my eye injury.
The weatherman said the temperature would rise to 16 degrees Centigrade, but I wore long-sleeved shirt and half-pant for the race just in case of coldness.
The opening ceremony started from 8:30 at the stadium. I joined the ceremony when the aerobic dance-exercise started.
It was good for warming-up.
The full marathon race started at 9:30 AM. It was announced that 1,127 runners joined the race this year.
The former part of the course was almost the same as that of 2 years ago.
I passed 10 km point at 50 minutes. Not so bad for me.
As the sun rose, the temperature also rose. The wind was not cold. It was too warm to run. I should have worn a half-sleeve shirt.
My running pace slowed down after 15 km point owing to unexpected warmth.
However, I tried to restore the pace after 20 km point.
The latter half part of the course was a little bit different from that of 2 years ago.
Time at 20 km point was 1 hour 45 minutes. (Middle point: 1 hour 51 minutes) I drank sport drink and ate sponge cake at each water supply point.
I passed 30 km point at 2 hours 42 minutes. Luckily my running pace did not suddenly slowed down as I did one month ago at Tsukuba Marathon Race.
A long slope appeared just before 35 km point. Runners had to run up the slope to reach the 35 km point.
It was very hard for me to run up the slope under the warm sunbeam. I slowly ran up the slope. After I climbed up the slope, I was confident
that I could complete the race anyway.
However, after passing 35 km point, I suddenly felt thirsty and hungry. I tried to reach the next water supply point as early as possible, but I could not see it in front.
My running pace suddenly dropped again!
I just remembered I put "Daifukumochi: bean-jam rice-dumpling" in the waist porch just in need. I took Daifukumochi into my stomach, then I felt refreshed and finally reached the water supply
point at 38 km.
I took two cup of water and tried to finish the last 4 km to the goal.
There was one more slope just before arriving in the stadium.
I passed 40 km point at 3 hours 48 minutes. Only 12 minutes remained to complete the race within 4 hours. Since then, I tried to run as fast as possible to the goal.
I finally arrived in the field of the stadium and I could pass one runner in the field. However, my goal time was 4 hours 01 minute 03 seconds!
After the race, I found "all-you-can-eat melon corner" for runners. I enjoyed eating delicious melons.
To my regret, I didn't notice 2 years ago!
I bought one melon for souvenior at the booth (@Yen 2,500).
I hurried to Aino Station and took on the train at 14:13. I changed to the bullet train at Kakegawa Station.
I met many Chinese toursts at the platform of Kakegawa Station. They were bubbling over to see the bullet train "Nozomi" passing at full speed through the station.
I got home around 18:00. I was satisfied that I could complete the race almost 4 hours.
I did not felt exhausted this time.
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