Tateyama Wakashio Marathon Race (The 33rd)

Date: Sunday, January 27, 2013Weather: Fine

Location: Tateyama City, Chiba Pref.


Details of raceRefer to the 21st Tateyama Wakashi Marathon Race.


Image


Towel

Record

5 km	?
10 km	58 minutes
15 km	1 hour 26 minutes
20 minutes	1 hour 54 minutes
Middle point	2 hours 01 minutes
25 km	?
30 km	2 hours 54 minutes
35 km	?
40 km	3 hours 58 minutes
Goal	4 hours 13 minutes

Impression

• As I did last year, I reserved highway bus bound for Tateyama City from Tokyo Station at 6:10 AM.
• I got up before 4:00 AM and took on the first train at 5:09 from Higashi-kurume Station.
• It was still dark and cold in the early morning. No one was walking alongside the street to the station. Only a few passengers were platform.
• I arrived in Tokyo Station before 6:00 AM by subway. The 6:00 AM highway bus was just starting.
• My reserved bus started as scheduled. The bus was going on the Aqua Line via Rainbow Bridge. It was fine and I could see the sunrise on reaching Umihotaru paring area. I could also see Mt. Fuji toward right rear of the bus.
• The bus went on schedule and reached just beside the marathon site before 8:00 AM. Last year, I had to walk almost 20 minutes from the temporal bus stop to the marathon site. I thought I had to walk 20 minutes as I did last year, I was surprised that the bus stopped at marathon site.
• Therefore, I arrived in the marathon site earlier than I expected. After registration, I looked for my running mates, but I couldn't.
• Anyway, I changed wears and looked for my mates again. Runners were coming continuously and the marathon site was getting crowded. However, since my running mate brought a tent, I could find it easily.
• Although it was still cold around 8:00 AM, it was fine and breezing contrary to my expectation.
• We had enough time and thus we went to the place where we could see Mt. Fuji over the sea and took a commemorative photo. Many runners took photos there. Everybody thought the same thing. Almost 70% of Mt. Fuji from the summit was covered with snow.
• Full marathon race would start at 10:00 AM. I went to the start line with my four running mates around 9:30 AM. I joined the race with my running mates after an long interval. It was still fine and breezing and warm. I felt slightly scorching sunlight while waiting for start.
• The full marathon race started as scheduled. The loss time was almost two minutes. Soon I could see Mt. Fuji clearly over the sea to the right side. The sea was calm and I felt salty scent.
• The course was so crowded with runners until 10 km point that I could not pass other runners. Anyway, I was running matter-of-factly.
• It was fine all day and thus I could continue to see Mt. Fuji even when I went out to the open sea course after passing Sunozaki lighthouse.
• It was still breezing while running the open sea course. I felt a little bit hot since I wore thick long-sleeve shirt for cold weather.
• I could also see Ohshima Island clearly over the sea clearly. I even saw a small rice-ball-shaped island named Toshima left side of Ohshima Island.
• I ran under my usual running pace until middle-point. However, after that, I felt a little bit tired, but tried my best to continue to run.
• With an effort, I reached 30 km point. I could manage to slowly run up the following uphill slope.
• As usual, I got a small rice ball and hot tea at privately-operated aid station around 32 km point.
• The course would be alongside the seashore after passing 33 km point. Several gradual slopes continued.
• I was annoyed by strong headwind last year. However, this year, no strong wind was blowing. I could see Mt. Fuji at left side again.
• Owing to repeated slopes, I was getting tired although it was only breezing.
• The last 4 km to the goal was flat.
• I could keep the running pace of 6 minutes per one kilometer until 40 km point, but my running pace drastically slowed down after 40 km point.
• It was so hard to run last 2 km to the goal. I was passed by other runners one by one, however, I could not catch up with them.
• Anyway, I managed to complete the race without walking. But I was exhausted.
• The finish time was 4 hours 13 minutes. The time of last year was 4 hours 12 minutes under the strong headwind. If strong head wind was blowing this time, it would take more time. Anyway, I was satisfied with the result.
• After finish, I found free sweet bean paste soup was served in addition to pork soup. I had a cup of sweet bean paste soup.
• When coming back to the tent, two running mates were already there.
• Weather condition was best for marathon race this time. It was still warm around 14:00. Under the blue sky, we drank beer first. Then we celebrated the completion of race by drinking red wine, which I brought.
• Last year, it took much time to reach the station by shuttle bus owing to traffic jam. We decided to walk to the station, but it took much time than I expected.
• I bought a bottle of one-cup Japanese sake before taking on the highway bus bound for Tokyo station at 17:00. I felt very good after drink in the bus.
• The bus did not move owing to traffic jam even on the highway. Traffic jam finally finished when the bus entered into Aqua line.
• Tokyo town lights at night seen from Rainbow Bridge were very impressive.
• The bus arrived in Tokyo Station at 20:30. We departed there without drink party, because it was too late.
• I came home at 21:45, later than I expected. A long day!
  
  
  Back