Ome Marathon

It was very sunny day at Ome today.
10k Race was started at 10:00am, but the temperature was already 14? or 16 degree celsius.
My start position was about middle of the long line which is made by about 5000 people. After I heard Gun shot, it took me 1 to 2 mins to get to the start line. Even after I passed the startline, there are still lots of people jogging, it was really slow slow jogging. I tried to go forward, but it was not easy.

I passed so many people, guys mostly, I did not understand how the organizers set the bib numbers and start arrangement. There are so many people, obviously slower than me, were far front of my starting point, but this was new experience, so that's okay. Besides, passing people is not so bad compared to being passed by many people. :)

My first 2km was about 5mins pace. I stepped on my pedal after 3K, but by the time I passed 5k point, my watch showed 24mins and something. I would not make my PB today, I thought, but after it, just let myself go and did not look at the watch ever again.

One thing I was surprised was the water point. I expected at least few water points, but as matter of fact, there is only one point and it was around 8K. By that time, I already gave up on having a desire to drink. But I took a sip anyway.

Last 1K was the longest 1000m. It was a long straight and could not see how long this would go. I tried myself keep up, but at some point, I let myself slow down a bit.
I finished with 47min 33sec., according to my stop watch. I set new PB!!! only by few second the one I made several days ago. By all these circumstances, I could not believe, and felt very happy about it.

Overall, I liked this course. The slopes are not too steep, very mild but long slopes, I would say. I like the hilly course, so I don't mind more up & down, but this course did not tire myself too badly. (until last long straight line.)

My favorite part was around 4K. It was slight upward slope, but I could see many top runners on their returning way I saw Mara Yamauchi, too. She was so strong, fit and in enchanting form. I was really glad to see her even at a glance.
So, I was feeling happy during this uphill. (Actually, the fact running uphill was totally out of my mind at this moment.)
I also enjoyed looking for Shoji san, who was much faster than me. I always gets more power to wave to people. :)