| Author |
Topic: Saga Sakura Half-Marathon RR 04/01 |
sfch
Cool Runner |
 posted Apr-02-2007 06:34 AM
   
Race day started with an hour long bus ride with 16 other runners from Sasebo (my home) to Saga. Around 6 of the group were running the 10K and the rest of us were signed up for the HM. The weather was on a lot of our minds. It was cloudy with a weather report calling for rain. Apparently it rained really badly as the race began last year. I kept my fingers crossed and hoped for the best (I hate running in the rain).
We arrived about two hours before race time which gave us plenty of time to check in and get ready for the race. The race starts and ends inside a large soccer/track and field stadium. Outside of the stadium there were tables set up to check in and also to purchase running gear, snacks, and sports drinks. I checked in and received my packet with the three most important things, my number, champion chip, and t-shirt  I was getting kind of hungry but decided against getting any of the snacks. Dried squid and fish is not my thing before a run  I opted for the cliff bar I had brought instead.
As it got closer to the start of the race the inevitable happened........rain. Lucky for us it was coming down at a slight drizzle. It was also warm (around 60) so it wasn't too bad. We lined up on the track (there were 2400 runners) like sardines and waited for the gun. I lined up next to the 1:50-2:00 sign. My goal was to come in under 2. The last HM I ran here in Japan was in Nagasaki and it was really challenging. My time there was 2:09 so I was looking for improvement.
The gun started and we could see (on a large wide screen TV) the racers up front take off. It was a full minute before we reached the start line and then we were off and running. We left the stadium and for about the first 3 miles we ran through the city. I was feeling really strong and had to watch my pace. The rain continued until about the 4 mile mark and then it stopped. By that time we had left the road and entered a side road with rice paddies/farm fields on either side and mountains in the distance. It was really nice and peaceful. It was also around this time that I felt the urge to go (not faster, but go; you know what I mean?) I made a pre-race mistake of drinking one cup of coffee too many It turns out that on this course there was only one port-o-let (around the half-way point) and there were people waiting in line when I went past it. Won't do that again! One pit stop on the road-side a little later and I was good to go (no shame during a race).
Around the 9.5 mark I started to feel like I was losing gas. All of the water stops during the race were exactly that; water. No sports drinks and that is what I usually drink on my long runs. Thankfully, I had brought a Cliff Shot with me just in case. I downed the Cliff Shot and drank some water at the 10 mile mark and that was all I needed to really pick up the pace. It was also around that time that we left the farming area and entered a park lined with sakura (cherry blossom) trees. For about the next two miles we ran on the trail under the sakura. You could smell them and I have to say it was really awesome. I don't know if it was the Cliff Shot or the sakura but I got a real energy boost and was able to really bring it home. We left the park and entered the street for the final leg into the stadium.
I forgot to mention previously that at various points throughout the race there were many Japanese people cheering and waving flags. They would chant "Ganbatte" which means "come on" or "do your best". That was a real motivator!
Right after entering the stadium we entered the track for the last few hundred meters and then I saw my time: 1:54:41. I was really happy I had achieved my goal.
After turning in my chip I hit the showers and about an hour later we took off for home. As soon as we started to pull out of the parking lot it started pouring down rain. We lucked out on the weather for sure! This was only my second race here in Japan and definitely one that I want to do again. Looking forward to next year’s race!
IP: Logged |
hally
Moderator of Boomers and Beyond |
posted Apr-02-2007 07:58 AM
WTG on reaching your goal! How interesting to read about how things are done in a place very foreign not only in distance but in cuisine.
Lucky you are able to buy Clif Bars and shots in flavors that are palatable to you, I can only imagine a dried fish Gu would be enough to turn a westerner's stomach  Barb
IP: Logged |
TMWIP
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 08:06 AM
Dried fish for a pre race snack? I enjoyed reading your RR! It's interesting to read about other countries. You had an awesome race and beat your goal time by a lot!! Congrats!
IP: Logged |
Elaine3112
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 08:13 AM
Interesting report sfch and great result for you. You smashed your goal big time. Well done.
IP: Logged |
SueT48
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 08:23 AM
Very nice race report - thanks for sharing. Congratulations on your time - so nice to exceed your goal. I can't imagine eating dried fish before a race (or after for that matter). ------------------
Sue
IP: Logged |
Spareribs
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 08:26 AM
Good going, and thanks for sharing with us how races are conducted in Japan. I love reports like this. Keep up the good training. Spareribs
IP: Logged |
choover
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 12:15 PM
Really interesting report sfch and congrats on your great finish time! I'm with you on skipping the dried squid and fish. I loved the image of the cherry blossoms. I wish you would've had some photos to include too!Nice running and excellent RR
------------------
choover
IP: Logged |
Ileneforward
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 12:29 PM
Welcome sfch, and thanks for this great report. From a 2:09 to a 1:54, I'll say you Ganbatted! I am also going to guess you are a male since you passed up an opportunity to buy things before a race and you did a roadside potty stop during the race.
Actually I wish they did offer dried squid before races here, yum. (so kidding!)
Congratulations on blasting past your goal!
IP: Logged |
tselbs
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 01:00 PM
Way to go, sfch. You sure beat your goal and the weather. Congratulations on a well run race.TomS ------------------
My Profile
IP: Logged |
hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 01:26 PM
Dried squid and fish is not my thing before a run I opted for the cliff bar I had brought instead.That would have been my choice, too! What a great race report! Wonderful description - I really felt like I was there with you. How cool to watch the start of your own race on a giant wide screen TV, too. Congrats on a great race and your huge PR!
------------------
Holly
IP: Logged |
fjordrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 01:37 PM
how interesting to read a report from another country - i loved the image of running by rice paddies and under cherry trees. and congratulations on more than meeting your goal!------------------
susan
IP: Logged |
jdmom3
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 01:45 PM
Cool race report sfch! This sounds like a really neat course, what with running by rice paddies and underneath the sakura trees. Congratulations on your new PR too - that is awesome!Meg
IP: Logged |
cajohnson5
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 01:51 PM
Now if the dried fish/squid came AFTER the race, I would have lined up! Glad the rain held off for you and that you exceeded your goal. Congrats. cj
IP: Logged |
Tetsujin30
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 11:04 PM
sfch-san,What a beautiful experience to get to be running under miles of beautiful cherry blossoms. You might have taken too many ClifShots to matter but, at least when you extend out to the fulls, all the minerals in those tiny little, salt-dried, crunchy little sardine morsels not only start tasting good but, at least some of us seem to think, might help prevent cramps too. Maybe mix with some miso next time. Not too much sake though or you might start thinking you're hearing a lot of ganbare'ing from some of the boomers over here too. beautiful run, beautiful rr. .
IP: Logged |
mcsolar99
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 11:13 PM
ganbatte??? hmm i thought it was "cranbarre"? oh well, apologies sfch-san. what a great course under those cherry blossoms! that must have been a big lift and a beautiful section. congrats on blowing your sub-2 goal out of the water, and best wishes for your next race. kon bon wa.
IP: Logged |
FlyingFinn
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 11:20 PM
Congratulations on meeting your goal, sfch. It's a very good sign when you are looking forward to doing it again next year. The peaceful course with a mountain view sounds awesome. So does the smell of the cherry trees. Excellent report and race!
IP: Logged |
Sans Souci
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-02-2007 11:30 PM
sfch, had I been on the west side of this island, I could have cheered for you across the water because the next stop is indeed Japan!Running beneath the sakura is a beautiful experience here; I can imagine it's extra-special in Saga. A little magical too, judging by your time. Congratulations.
IP: Logged |
smpankowski
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 06:05 AM
Thanks for a great RR. Hitting your goals rocks!!!!------------------
Never regret anything that made you smile, SteveP My User Profile
IP: Logged |
bobscamman
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 08:08 AM
Nice race sfch, and great report. I with you and most of the other posters, dried squid and fish as a pre-race snack...I DON'T THINK SO...not for me, not even post race! I really enjoyed reading your report and how the race was managed in Japan, and could smell the cherry blossom's mmmm. Congratulations again on a very nice run. ------------------
My User Profile "Keep on Running"
Bob
IP: Logged |
Econo
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 09:39 AM
mc, "ganbatte" is just another form of the same word "ganbare" -- I think (Tetsujin, help --) the "ganbatte" form is more polite.Cool report! I wish I had been there -- sounds perfect. I have a story about a 10K race in Hyoko-ken in the 1980's...but this wouldn't be the place to tell it. Marvelous PR -- wow!!!
IP: Logged |
Tetsujin30
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 11:14 AM
sfchsan - I guess you can see your first race report has attracted quite an appreciative following. When's next?Keizsai-sensei, doumo. itsu mo totemo kirei, daisuki, . . . I mean seikaku this time about ganbatte being more a more polite, and familiar, form of the verb "ganbaru" for encouragement. I think when we run in Japan, we probably hear, and get used to, the slightly more polite form ganbatte because we're being cheered by people who don't know us, especially housewives who don't get to see half naked men running through their streets very often (but doesn't have to be so polite to use the "kudasai" ending). However, when our running and other friends who actually know us are spurring us on, it seems it will usually be the more familiar form of ganbare Since we're such a tight group though, ganbaaarrrrrghre..,,,,./// will do fine for Eugene! =========
ps - sfchie - your rr makes me hungry.
Keizai-sensei - not as good as oysters at Newport but I'll be bringing plenty of handsful of the niboshi dried fish snacks.
(If you'll tell me about Hyogo-ken, I'll tell you about the post-marathon hot springs in Hokkaido) [This message has been edited by Tetsujin30 (edited Apr-03-2007).]
IP: Logged |
sfch
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 05:15 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Tetsujin30:
sfchsan - I guess you can see your first race report has attracted quite an appreciative following. When's next?
Tetsujin30,
Not sure when I am doing my next race. Nagasaki for sure in the early fall (after the dreaded heat!). I am going back to the states at the end of May for a month so I might try to hit one then.
IP: Logged |
MarkGuy
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 07:04 PM
sfch, nice job on the race and the excellent RR. Running under the cherry trees sounds wonderful.Mark
IP: Logged |
JJJessee
Cool Runner |
posted Apr-03-2007 07:50 PM
That was a nice run sfch. Thanks for and internationally RR. Clif might be missing the boat on the dried squid and fish thing. Don't know if the flavor would work better as a Shot or a Bar.JJJ
IP: Logged |
