Sano Marathon Race (The 8th)

Date: Sunday, December 9, 2012 Weather: Fine

Location: Sano City, Tochigi Pref.


Details of Race:Refer to the fourth Sano Marathon Race


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T-shirt Records

5 km	29 minutes
10 km	56 minutes
15 km	1 hour 24 minutes
20 km	1 hour 53 minutes
Middle Point	2 hours 00 minutes
25 km	?
30 km	2 hours 58 minutes
35 km	3 hours 35 minutes
40 km	4 hours 13 minutes
Finish	4 hours 32 minutes

Impression

• I was scheduled to join Osaka marathon race on November 23, 2012. However, to my regret, I injured my left when I visited and walked to the temples in Kyoto immediately after completing the Iizaka Marathon race. The pain was so intense and it was hard to walk for a while. I was forced to stop jogging for 3 weeks after a long interval.
• Owing to 3-week suspension, the pain was relived and I could run again. I decided to join the race after one-month interval.
• It has been severely cold in Kanto District in December. According to the weather forecast, it would be fine and cold on Sunday. (It was mild on Saturday.)
• Anyway, I got up at 4:00AM. I left home at 5:20AM. It was dark out side and cold.
• I arrived in Sano Station around 8:00AM via Seibu Line, Musashino Line and Tobu Line.
• Since I got off the train very close to the stair steps, I could smoothly get out of the exit. I could got on the second shuttle bus.
• Every time the shuttle bus was a deluxe sightseeing car with bus conductress. All passengers could get seat.
• The bus went smoothly and reached around 8:15AM. I registered and went to the marathon site to change wears. It was fine but not so warm as it was lat year. I decided to wear long T-shirt and long pant. It was a good choice.
• The full marathon race started at 10:AM. The start position was outside of the athletic field.
• The course of this year was quite different from that of last year. Soon the course became only a left lane of two-lane section. Since the course was narrow and crowded, it was hard to pass the other runners. The same situation continued after passing 5 km point.
• It was calm and warm until 15 km point and I could run smoothly. I managed to reach 20 km point.
• However, after passing 20 km point, the course became upward. The uphill slope continued to the tunnel named "Koetsuji". I felt suddenly tired.
• After running through the tunnel, the long downhill way continued. I thought about return trip and I felt a little depressed since I had to run up the uphill road again.
• After descending the slope, the flat course endlessly (!) continued. I was getting tired of monotonous way and started to feel tired. The running pace started to slow. I also felt hungry. ( I took a big rice ball before start.) I took a few caramels and recovered a little. I continued to run.
• I missed the 25 km indication and could not know the distance from the start for a while. Anyway, I finally reached the place where the uphill slope started to the tunnel. I struggled to run up the slope.
• It was so hard to run through the tunnel since cold and strong head wind was blowing.
• After passing the tunnel, the down slope started. I finally reached 30 km point. I felt it took much time to reach 30 km point from 20 km point. I had to run 12 km more.
• After 30 km point, I had to run against strong head wind. I struggled to run, but the running pace was slowing down owing to strong wind. I was getting tired.
• I continued to run and managed to reach 35 km point.
• Soon the indication "5 km to the goal" appeared.
• However, suddenly my running pace stopped. My concentration power to run slipped.
• I started to walk since I felt it might be possible to complete the race within 5 hours without running.
• Once started to walk, I repeated walk and run. I did not experience the walk in the recent marathon race. The 3-week blank might affect the running.
• The time at 40 km point was 4 hours 13 minutes. It took 38 minutes from 35 km to 40 km.
• During the last 2 km, the sun was in shade and it was getting very cold. I still continued to run and walk.
• Finally I reached the athletic field, but the running pace to the goal was very slow. I could not rush to the finish since I was so tired.
• Anyway, my finish time was 4 hours 32 minutes in spite of occasional walking at the final stage. I could have finished the race around 4 hours.
• After the finish, I took a cup of free pork soup. I could warm up with hot soup although the taste was not so good.
• I rushed to the shuttle bus stop to the station. It was so warm in the bus and I almost felt into sleep before reaching the station.
• The bus arrived in the station around 15:30. The train of Tobu Line just left and I had to wait almost on hour until next train. Thus I took on the JR train of Ryomo Line to be left at 15:53. It was so cold while waiting the train on the platform.
• The connection of train at Oyama Station was so good and I could get home before 19:00.
• I was annoyed with strong head wind at the last half stage. I came as a fresh reminder that the constant training was very important to complete the full marathon race. I also felt the deterioration owing to old age. It is getting harder and harder to complete the race within 4 hours.
  
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