2700
marathoners had registered, 430 of whom were in my age group. Registration, expo
and the finishing line were all neatly grouped together in large marquees on
parkland near a large reservoir. Race bib and t-shirt pick-up was straightforward, and the changing facilities were well organised. Friendly fellow
Japanese runners helpfully offered guidance to this (seemingly only) western
participant pausing to figure out kanji signposts.Fast and slow runners mingled together in the narrow lane on the lakeside that served as a starting corral for the Champion Chip timing mat. The gun was fired at 9:30 and the race began. Initial crowding ensured that sprinting away too fast was impossible – a bad habit anyway.
The traffic-free course of 2 circuits through open lake and riverside parkland made a pleasant contrast to the cityscape of central Tokyo. The bright sun lit up the golden yellows and reds of the Autumn foliage. Innumerable zigzags across the adjacent 7 metre high flood barrier that bordered the riverside section of the route was proof that even flat courses can seem hilly, especially when calm hot air magnifies the temperature of the sweltering sun. Even the spectators were dressed in short sleeves and seeking refuge in the shade.
Despite the thankfully frequent refreshment stations, the field slowed as the temperatures rose. Numerous runners were walking and stopping, apparently with exhaustion. My own pace slowed right down as the endless final stretch slowly got nearer, and I crossed the finishing line in 6th place of my age group, and a surprising clock time of 3:17:00 (chip time 3:16:28 – the quest for that sub 3:15 automatic NY qualifier continues)
PS:
Although trouble-free both during and after the race, I awoke the following morning with an ankle joint badly swollen, refusing to take any weight and otherwise mimicking a red party balloon. Cold poultices are helping somewhat, but it's causing concern …