Kurobe Famous Water Marathon Race (The 34th)

Date: Sunday, June 4, 2017 Weather: Cloudy then Sunny

Location: Kurobe City, Toyama Pref. (20 minutes by bus from JR Kurobe-unazukionsen Station)


Details of RaceF

Race	Full	Runners	5,500	*
	10 km		2,000	*
	5 km		1,400	*
	3 km		600	*
Entry Fee	Yen 7,000
Contact	§938-0041 1142 Horikiri Kurobe City, Secretariat of Kurobe Famous Water Marathon Race TELF0765-57-2300
Gift	T Shirt, Towel, Medal
Free Service	Drinks
Remark	Time Limit of Full Race: 6 hours

ImagesF

 
T Shirt Towel

Medal

Records

5 km	32 minutes
10 km	1 hour 03 minutes
15 km	1 hour 36 minutes
20 km	2 hours 09 minutes
Middle-point	2 hours 16 minutes
25 km	2 hours 44 minutes
30 km	3 hours 18 minutes
35 km	3 hours 55 minutes
40 km	4 hours 33 minutes
Finish	4 hours 48 minutes

Impression

• Saturday, June 3
  
  
  
  • After work in the morning, I got on the superexpress train "Hakutaka 565" from Ohmiya Station to be left at 13:50. I took on the train of Hokuriku-Shinkansen for the first time. There were lots of tunnels and thus it was difficult to enjoy the scenery from the train window.
  • I drank one canned beer and one packed Japanese sake and felt comfortable.
  • The train reached Toyama Station at 15:22. It took only 2 hours to arrive in Hokuriku District. I was much impressed by the power of Shinkansen. Toyama Station was crowded with tourists.
  • I bought "MasunoSushi; Trout Sushi" at Kiosk, which is the specialty of Toyama. The price was Yen 1,400.
  • I checked in the hotel located 10-minute walk from the station. I saw only a few people walking. I realized a deteriorating local city.
  • After check-in, I returned to the station and bought drinks and rice ball at convenience store.
  • As usual, I drank red wine and ate Masu-zushi, then went to bed earlier.
  
  
• Sunday, June 4
  
  
  • I waked up at 4:45. It was cloudy. The weatherman said it would be cloudy and then sunny.
  • First, I took rice balls. At that time, I noticed it was raining. No rain weather-forecast!
  • Anyway, I checked out the hotel at 5:45. It was still drizzling and cooler than expected.
  • ‚UI took on the superexpress "Hakutaka 552" to be left Toyama at 6:37.
  • The rain shortly stopped. I could get seat at non-reserved No.1 car. The train would reach Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station at 6:49. Only 12-minutes trip! The transportation fee was Yen 1,440!
  • At Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station, a lot of runners got off. The station was located in the middle of paddle field. Nothing was there around the station!
  • I took on the free shuttle bus from the station. It took almost 20 minutes to reach Kurobe City General Park. The building named Athletic Center was gorgeous. Many runners were already there. It was getting sunny.
  • I received T-shirt and number card at reception, then went to the arena to change wears and put the bag.
  • The pain in my left knee had not been completely cured and thus I applied plaster and put supported on the knee while running.
  • I went outside around 8:00. It was sunny and brisk wind was blowing. Best conditions for marathon race!
  • I could see the range of peaks of Mt. Shirouma covered with snow far away. However, unfortunately, the top of the mountain was clouded over.
  • Full marathon race would start at 9:00. 5,500 runners joined the full race. It was said total number of runners was almost 10,000.
  • Looking at so many runners gathered in the small local town, I thought the marathon race with 10,000 runners would bring about positive economic effects. Not only the host town, but also JR and neighboring hotels could be benefited.
  • The start point was in the middle of the paddle field. The road was narrow and thus it was so crowded that I felt a little bit dangerous to run at the biginning. Loss time was 2 minutes.
  • The weather was fine and cool at the start.
  • Just before 10 km point, I passed in front of JR Kurobe Station of former Hokuriku Line. I ran the long main street from the station, but I could not see so many people in the street. The street seemed to be a so-called "Shutter Street" !
  • As named famous water marathon race, there were 22 water-supply points. I could enjoy drinking cold water at each point,
  • I was impressed that the Owing to plaster, I could pass the middle-point without feeling pain on left knee.
  • The course was almost in the paddle field. I was impressed that the irrigation water from Kurobe River flashed at each irrigation ditch.
  • During the second half, I started to get worried about my left knee. I did a stretching exercise every time I stopped at aid station to continue to run.
  • From 30 km to 35 km point, the course was on the bank of Kurobe River. I could enjoy seeing the flow of milky-blue water of Kurobe River.
  • When reached around 38 km point, I could see the Sea of Japan to the right side. The combination of scenery of River and Sea was terrific! I ran alongside the Sea of Japan for a while.
  • It was getting hot while running the last 5 km to the finish, but I could continue to run.
  • It was not as hot as that of the previous race in May, I could complete the race without fatigue. The time was 4 hours 48 minutes. Fortunately, I did not feel pain on my left knee after finish.
  • I received both finisher towel and finisher medal at finish point. I don't need finisher medal. I want to reduce the entry fee without finisher medal!!
  • I could enjoy the foods at several water-supply point such as bananas, petit tomatoes, rice balls, candies, oranges, pickled plums, etc.
  • At 35 km point (?), I was given an ice-cream. It was so delicious and I ate while running.
  • I could not see the peaks of the range of Mt. Shirouma until the last minute.
  • I could finish the race earlier than I expected. I immediately changed the wears and got on the shuttle bus to the station,
  • I could reach the station at 14:30. I could catch the train "Hakutaka 580" to be left at 14:56. I got a reserved seat. But I found 4 no-reserved cars were almost empty when the train arrived.
  • I was relieved when I got on the train with canned beer. The seat was window side and I tried to enjoy seeing the scenery, but lots of tunnels prevented from seeing scenery.
  • I arrived in Ohmiya at 15:54. I could return to Higashi-kurume Station at 18:00 with good connection. I could return with only 3 hours trip from Hokuriku District. Hokuriku is now very close!
  • To my joy, many ladies joined the race this time. I could enjoy viewing various gals while running.
  • The only problem is that the schedule was always tight and thus I could not go sightseeing in a leisurely pace owing to work.
  
  
  
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