Iizaka-Spa & Moekko-lake Marathon Race (The 5th)

Date: Sunday, November 4, 2012 Weather: Fair & Cloudy

Location: Iizaka-cho, Fukushima Pref. (Iizaka-Spa Station of Iizaka Line of Fukushima Transportation)


Details of Race

Race	Full	Time Limit	6 hours	740 Runners
	10 km		1 hour 30 minutes	200 runners
Entry Fee	Yen 5,000
Organizer	Secretariant of Iizaka-Spa & Moekko-lake Marathon Race
Gift	Bath Towel
Free Service	Mushroom soup
Remarks	*

Images

 
Iizaka Spa Station Yahata Spa Race Headquarters

Baggage Deposit Tasting Mushroom Soup

Records

5 km	28 minutes
10 km	56 minutes
15 km	1 hour 28 minutes
20 km	??
Middle Point	2 hours 07 minutes
25 km	??
30 km	3 hours 02 minutes
35 km	3 hours 34 minutes
40 km	4 hours 07 minutes
Finish	4 hours 21 minutes

Impression

• Saturday, November 3
  
  
  
  • I got on the JR highway bus from Shinjuku Station to be left at 8:00 AM bound for Fukushima Station. I got on the bus from Shinjuku after a long interval. The bus station was moved. I found it took almost 10 minutes on foot from the exit of JR Shinjuku Station.
  • The bus started on time. All seats were occupied. It was announced that the highway was jammed because of national holiday.
  • Owing to traffic accident, the bus reached Fukushima Station at 15:30. It was 2 hours 30 minutes behind schedule.
  • On arrival, I checked in the hotel and immediately got on the train of Iizaka line of Fukushima Transportation to Iizaka Spa.
  • It took almost 20 minutes from Fukushima Station to Iizaka Spa. I could buy discount round-trip ticket (Yen 500) for marathon race.
  • First I visited town hall to register the marathon race.
  • I heard there were nine public spahouses. I had a plan to visit a few of them on Saturday. However, owing to the delay of bus, my plan was upset.
  • Anyway, I decided to visit one of them. I asked the location of the public spahouse to the staff of marathon race. Fortunately, the location of Yahata Spa was very close to the assembly hall.
  • The cottage of Yahata Spa was small and rustic. The bathing fee was Yen 200. The hot spring was blasting out in the middle of small square bathtub. Only one other bather was there. I try to have a bath, however, the hot water was too hot! It was impossible for me to soak in one minute! After all, I finished after repeating several short bathes.
  • Then I came back to the hotel and had a dinner.
  
  
• Sunday, November 4
  
  
  • I got up at 6:00 AM. It seemed to be fine weather. I took three rice balls for breakfast and checked out the hotel at 7:30 AM.
  • It was colder outside than expected. Again I took on the train of Iizaka Line of Fukushima Transportation to be left at 7:52 AM.
  • The shuttle bus started from the town hall, where I visited previous day, to the marathon site. There was a long line of runners waiting for bus.
  • I was forced to wait for a while. I could get on the third bus.
  • The bus ran into the heart of the mountain. The marathon site was set at the base of Surikami River Dam, located 13 km away from the center of Iizaka Spa. It took almost 20 minutes.
  • The bus reached past 9:00 AM. The opening ceremony already started.
  • When arrived, cold north wind was blowing. The speed of movement of a cloud was fast.
  • I was pondering whether I had to wear long-sleeve T-shirt or not. I decided to wear a half-sleeve T-shirt together with sleeveless shirt. However, I felt cold until starting time.
  • Both full and 10 km races started at 10:00 AM. It was a small marathon race. The total runners were almost 1,000. Thus no loss time.
  • At first, runners ran 5 km down the stream alongside Suriage River and went back to the start line. When started, it was a little bit cold. However, while running the initial 5 km, I could run before the wind under warm and sunny weather. When coming back, it was against the wind, but I didn't feel so clod.
  • Soon after passing 10 km point, a long slope to the Suriage River dam started. It was so hard to run up the slope against the wind.
  • I passed the dam and continued to run alongside the dammed lake until I reached the second turn-round point. (18.8 km point). I enjoyed looking for the scenery of the dammed lake, but I was annoyed with strong and cold head-on wind.
  • Carelessly I did not make sure the marathon course this time. I found that I had to run twice the same course from the dam to the second turn-round point and I felt a little bit depressed.
  • I felt it took time to reach 20 km point.
  • The return road from the second turn-round point was downward with following wind and thus it was easy to run.
  • After reaching the dam, runners had to shuttle on the dam. The scenery from the dam was wonderful, but strong wind was blowing.
  • I was getting depressed since I had to return to the second turn-round point again, but I was forced to run.
  • I had to run single-mindedly. The strong and cold wind was still blowing.
  • I managed to pass 30 km point. I was again annoyed with strong head wind. I finally reached the second turn-round point.
  • I was relived since I could run with back wind afterward.
  • After passing 35 km point, I felt a pain on my foot, but continued to run.
  • I took one fried chicken at the aid station of dam and refreshed a little.
  • The end of the dam was 40 km point. Then the course was long down slope to the goal.
  • It was lucky to run the down slope to the goal. However, runners has to be careful not to damage the foot. Anyway, I ran with my own pace.
  • The last 300 meters was flat, but it was hard to run.
  • I finally finish the race. The senior high school student handed me a large bath towel.
  • The finish time was 4 hours 21 minutes 05 seconds.
  • After finish, I tasted free mushroom soup. To my regret, the taste was not so good.
  • I wanted to take a bath in the hot spring. However, I had to get on the highway bus at Fukushima Station to be left at 17:00. I had to get on the shuttle bus to be left at 15:00 from the marathon site.
  • I took on the highway bus bound for Shinjuku as scheduled.
  • Owing to traffic jam, the bus reached at Ikebukuro at 22:40, 45 minutes behind the schedule. A long day! I wanted to soak in a hot spring leisurely.
  
  
  
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