Kasumigaura Marathon Race (The 19th)

Date: Sunday, April 19, 2009 Weather: Fine

LocationFTsuchiura City, Ibaraki Pref.


Details of RaceFRefer to the 14th Kasumigaura Marathon Race.




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T Shirt


Record & Impression

• I could not join the full marathon race in March, I participated another race just one week after the previous race in April. Of course, this is my first experience.
• The weatherman said it would be fine and hot.
• I left home at 6:00 AM.
• Since I thought I would not get seat from Nippori Station, I went to Ueno Station. However, the seats bound for Katsuta had been already occupied with runners.
• There were long lines of runners at the platform for next train. Thus I gave up to get seat.
• Every time the train stopped, runners got into the train. The train was finally packed with passengers. It would be safe to say that the train was exclusively for runners.
• The platform of Tsuchiura Station was so crowded with runners.
• It was announced that the participants of this year reached 24,000, which is the third largest marathon race following to Tokyo and Naha! That was the reason why the marathon site was so crowded.
• Anyway, I could meet my running mates there.
• I had enough time and thus I went to the blood-pressure check corner and had my blood-pressure measured.
• However, the measured value by machine was extraordinarily high.
• So I went to the female doctor (considerably pretty!) and had my blood-pressure measured manually. The value lowered slightly, however, still high. She said that you might be nervous before the start of the race. Actually I was not nervous at all --- .
• The number of participants drastically increased, the start time of 10-mile race advanced to 9:35 AM from 9:50 AM this year. The starting point of 10-mile race was so crowded.
• The start time of full marathon race was 10:00 AM as usual. I slipped into the starting point. It was fine and the temperature seemed to be rising. I felt so hot while standing among the runners.
• This time, after hearing a signal gun, it took 3.5 minutes to reach the staring point although I positioned very close to the starting point. I had to walk to the staring point.
• At the starting point, the queen of Miss Japan gave a cheer for runners.
• Anyway, the full marathon race just one week after the previous one for me started. The temperature continued to rise and I tried to drink water at every aid station.
• I found the queen of Miss Japan was serving water at the 5-km aid station. I regretted that I missed to be served by her!
• Around 9 km point, I was passed by the group surrounding 4-hour running pace maker with balloon. I could not catch up with them. I was forced to give up to complete the race within 4 hours.
• My running pace slowed down after 10-km point. It seemed that the fatigue of last week's race still remained.
• Anyway, I continued to catch up with surrounding runners.
• I finally reached to 20 km point. The running pace was 30 minutes per 5 km so far.
• After passing middle point, it was hard for me to run. Anyway, I had to continue to run.
• During the first half stage, the wind was blowing although the sun is shining and I did not felt so hot. However, during the last half stage, owing to the tailwind and lull in the wind, I felt so hot and hard.
• At 25 km point, I took Amino-Vital and painkiller just in case.
• It was the hardest time for me from 25 km point to 30 km point.
• After passing 30 km popint, a lot of runners started to walk. The number increased after 35 km point. Shaking off the temptation for walking, I tried to run as slowly as possible. It was so hard for me.
• I looked forward to having a rice ball at the privately operated aid station around 35 km point. However, to my regret, the rice ball was already out of stock. I was so shocked!!
• My running pace slightly recovered after 30 km. Maybe, Amino-Vital and painkiller became effective although it was still hard to run.
• After 35 km point, I was continuously passed by runners including young gals.
• I was relived when I reached 40 km point without walking. I drank enough water at the last aid station and headed to the goal. Then, I was passed by 4.5 hour pacemaker.A
• During the last 2 km, I tried to run as fast as possible with my last energy.
• Just before the goal, I found one runner fell on the goal. A lot of people aurrounded him. Heat stroke? The emergency cars frequently rushed.
• I could finally complete the race. The goal time was 4 hours 27 minutes as I expected at the start. It was long and hard race like the race of previous one.
• I strongly felt that the two successive full marathon races of an interval of one week were foolhardy for me. I think at least two weeks interval is necessary! One-month interval is ideal.
• When I finished the race, all my running mates already came back.
• Anyway, we celebrated the completion of the race by drinking canned beer and sake.
• Then we went to the Japanese pub in front of the station. (Usually the pub opens at 5:00 PM. However, owing to marathon race, the pub was already open before 5:00 PM and crowded with runners.)
• We drank, chatted and felt good.
• I could get seat in the train and fell into asleep until the train reached Nippori Station.
• I got home around 8:30 PM. I was exhausted this time.
• It's good to see many young gal runners.
  
  Record
  
  

  05 km	33 minutes
  10 km	1 hour 03 minutes
  15 km	*
  20 km	1 hour 59 minutes
  Middle-point	2 hours 03 minutes
  25 minutes	2 hours 37 minutes
  30 km	3 hours 03 minutes
  35 km	*
  40 km	4 hours 12 minutes
  Goal	4 hours 27 minutes

  
  
  

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