Running > Report

2003 Nov 23 - Japan, Ohtawara Marathon #10. Time 3:18

Around 20 Namban Rengo runners headed 100 miles north of Tokyo to Ohtawara, to participate in the marathon and 10k events. A total of 900 men and 100 women took part in the marathon. 600 men and women in the 10k.

Thanks to Mark, Maki-san and Atsuko-san for organising Friday night's stay at the minshuku "Saito" (Japanese private Inn) and Shoji-san for arranging Sunday night's stay at the hot spring ryokan "Seikinro" in Shiobara. Thanks also to Colin for the lift to Ohtawara, and to Shoji-san for the lift back to Tokyo (and especially for the laptop power source in his car, enabling this to be written during the journey!)

The attentive Japanese hospitality and culinary delights for dinner and breakfast, sleeping in tatami rooms on futons (with the hard makura pillows), made the whole weekend a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

The Ohtawara race day was extremely well organised. Number pick-up was on the morning of the race itself at the starting location, the municipal sports track. The spacious, warm gymnastics hall with plenty of bathroom and showering facilities was available for use by the runners. The race bag consisted of a complete list of starters, a packet of rice and an "ema" board, traditionally used for writing one's hopes and aspirations on, to be hung in a shrine for good luck. (If, after some time, your wishes come true, you return to the shrine to give thanks ....)

It was a sunny, coolish 50°F, no wind - perfect running weather. The flat course was 2 circuits of 13 miles each around the countryside roads on the edge of Ohtawara. Energy drink (in 250ml very handy foil squeezy sachets - great idea), water, Champion chip mats provided every 5 km. The roads in the town areas were partially cordoned off, with a large number of race officials and traffic police at every driveway and intersection, ensuring that the runners' path was unhindered.

The starting gun went off at 10:40 and the runners got off to a slowish start around the race track. The absence of chip mats at the start made it important to position oneself at the head of the starting field.

The enthusiastic support of the Nanbaners throughout the hot and humid Tokyo summer, the Wednesday night speedwork and long Sunday runs had all contributed to maintaining the running condition that I had upon arrival in Japan. Armed with some gel and my trusty mp3 player, I was set for an enjoyable race.

Surprisingly, the first dozen miles were quite sluggish. The clock at the halfway point showed 1:39 - nine minutes behind the PB time at Disney this January. If my pace slowed (as it usually does) towards the end the marathon, today's performance was destined to be quite unspectacular. After an unplanned (and annoying) 5 minute stop for nature in a roadside wood, my running suddenly picked up, and the second half of the race was spent sailing past numerous other participants. As km 35 loomed up, the clock showed 2:45... omg - a PB? On rapidly jellifying legs, I "sprinted" the last 7 km, passing more runners and crossed the finishing line with the clock showing 3:18:10 - less than a minute over PB. (argh!)

At the finishing line there were warm blankets, hot namekojiru soup, drink and a race t-shirt in exchange for the champion chip. Congratulations to the numerous Nanbaners for their PBs! Great job!

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