Sasayama Marathon 2008
I just got home from Sasasyama a little while ago. Good news and bad news.
Alright, so remember last year (or earlier this year) when I explained the differences between marathons in Japan and abroad, citing advantages (such as food stations along the way) and disadvantages (such as the time limits). Well, the bad news is that we got caught in one of the time limits* (at the end!!!) and had to take the bus back. I was really, really upset about it at first because our pace was great at first, I wasn't tired by this point and I had no knee problems. We stopped at a checkpoint to get lunch and use the bathroom. When we started again, I was fine and my partner was getting tired, but I just wasn't enforcing our pace enough toward the checkpoint. I didn't realize it until it was too late.
I thought it was going to be alright, but when I hit a clock .6 kilometers before the checkpoint and realized I had less than two minutes to make it (vs. over three minutes on my watch), the reality of what was going to happen sunk in. I sprinted the last .6k, reaching the timer less thsn 30 seconds after our deadline... but no luck.
I waited for my partner, we boarded the bus and got back to the park in time to see the race volunteers do the same thing to other unfortunate runners who didn't make the final time (at the finish line!) that they had just done to me. One guy made the finish line by 30 seconds. Many others ran the whole race and never got their medal.
Alright, so remember last year (or earlier this year) when I explained the differences between marathons in Japan and abroad, citing advantages (such as food stations along the way) and disadvantages (such as the time limits). Well, the bad news is that we got caught in one of the time limits* (at the end!!!) and had to take the bus back. I was really, really upset about it at first because our pace was great at first, I wasn't tired by this point and I had no knee problems. We stopped at a checkpoint to get lunch and use the bathroom. When we started again, I was fine and my partner was getting tired, but I just wasn't enforcing our pace enough toward the checkpoint. I didn't realize it until it was too late.
I thought it was going to be alright, but when I hit a clock .6 kilometers before the checkpoint and realized I had less than two minutes to make it (vs. over three minutes on my watch), the reality of what was going to happen sunk in. I sprinted the last .6k, reaching the timer less thsn 30 seconds after our deadline... but no luck.
I was the first one to be cut off and found myself facing a human blockade of blue-jacketed volunteers when I tried to keep going. I pleaded with the main guy to let me keep going with the herd that was slowly moving further away from me. I'm ok! Please! Please! Please! So close! I feel good! please! PLEASE! please let me go! PLEASE!!
No luck. The ropes were now being strung up. It was over. The man just kept saying "time" in Japanese, over and over again. He wouldn't budge from his position in front of me (or in his position to refuse to let me go) and then the inevitable happened. He pointed me in the direction of the grim metal carrier that was to transport us back to the finish line (the coach bus).
No luck. The ropes were now being strung up. It was over. The man just kept saying "time" in Japanese, over and over again. He wouldn't budge from his position in front of me (or in his position to refuse to let me go) and then the inevitable happened. He pointed me in the direction of the grim metal carrier that was to transport us back to the finish line (the coach bus).
I waited for my partner, we boarded the bus and got back to the park in time to see the race volunteers do the same thing to other unfortunate runners who didn't make the final time (at the finish line!) that they had just done to me. One guy made the finish line by 30 seconds. Many others ran the whole race and never got their medal.
Last year, I was shocked to discover that only 60% of the women who ran finished the race and have been told that Sasayama is a kibishi (strict/tough) race based on this time limit, but I don't think the true meaning behind those words and statistics sunk in until today. Taihen, ne?!
Anyways, so I didn't finish the marathon, but onto the good news: I did do well before we got roped off and had a really fun time running through the mountain-side again and training up until now. We were also able to raise a lot of support for children in Cambodia (almost $700 so far - which goes directly to the kids), which I think makes it more than worth the time and effort. I know the donations weren't contingent upon my finishing this race, either, but I do feel to some extent that I should apologize (and/or say a huge THANK YOU) to everyone who supported me over these last few months, both emotionally and financially, in this endeaver. This was a big deal to me and won't be my last run, but today's race in particular was for a special cause so I think it stung a little more when I didn't meet my goal.
That being said, there's a possibility I might be doing one more race this spring (and there's a "big city" race on the agenda within the next year... and then I'll be on hiatus), but I'll wait to divulge too much more about those until the plans are more solid. I will say, however, that while marathon season is almost over in Japan (as we will soon be blanketed with a thick layer of humidity making it almost impossible to move...), there is a certain marathon known for it's fruit aid-stations (meaning they supply you with endless fruit during the run), with the same time limits as Sasayama and that would be held during the cherry blossom season that I would be interested in doing (did I mention a potential view of Fuji along the trail???... hmmm). But , yeah, we'll see about that. While I'm surprisingly not bad after running today (even my feet feel fine), I also don't want to use up the energy I do have on getting worked up on the next race so, again, more on that later.
I'll post pictures from the race soon, but in the meanwhile, I'm off for a bath to soak and some R&R. Thanks again for the support :)
*Time Limits:
The Sasayama time limits are at 18.2 kilometers, 24.1k, 30.6k, and 36.3k. There are markings at each kilometer at the beginning of the race, but after about 10k, they stop being so frequent, with the occasional (22.6k!) or a clock and food table/water stand at each 5k after 15k. The actual checkpoints are characterized by a large clock and several buses waiting for people who don't make the limit.
Anyways, so I didn't finish the marathon, but onto the good news: I did do well before we got roped off and had a really fun time running through the mountain-side again and training up until now. We were also able to raise a lot of support for children in Cambodia (almost $700 so far - which goes directly to the kids), which I think makes it more than worth the time and effort. I know the donations weren't contingent upon my finishing this race, either, but I do feel to some extent that I should apologize (and/or say a huge THANK YOU) to everyone who supported me over these last few months, both emotionally and financially, in this endeaver. This was a big deal to me and won't be my last run, but today's race in particular was for a special cause so I think it stung a little more when I didn't meet my goal.
That being said, there's a possibility I might be doing one more race this spring (and there's a "big city" race on the agenda within the next year... and then I'll be on hiatus), but I'll wait to divulge too much more about those until the plans are more solid. I will say, however, that while marathon season is almost over in Japan (as we will soon be blanketed with a thick layer of humidity making it almost impossible to move...), there is a certain marathon known for it's fruit aid-stations (meaning they supply you with endless fruit during the run), with the same time limits as Sasayama and that would be held during the cherry blossom season that I would be interested in doing (did I mention a potential view of Fuji along the trail???... hmmm). But , yeah, we'll see about that. While I'm surprisingly not bad after running today (even my feet feel fine), I also don't want to use up the energy I do have on getting worked up on the next race so, again, more on that later.
I'll post pictures from the race soon, but in the meanwhile, I'm off for a bath to soak and some R&R. Thanks again for the support :)
*Time Limits:
The Sasayama time limits are at 18.2 kilometers, 24.1k, 30.6k, and 36.3k. There are markings at each kilometer at the beginning of the race, but after about 10k, they stop being so frequent, with the occasional (22.6k!) or a clock and food table/water stand at each 5k after 15k. The actual checkpoints are characterized by a large clock and several buses waiting for people who don't make the limit.
posted by Brenda Ann Elizabeth McKinney @ 1:42 AM
2 Comments:
At 7:10 PM,
Unknown said…
Aww, man! Sorry you got cut off, but it sounds like you did a great job anyway!! I'm envious :). We should run together sometime and you can give me pointers on marathoning.
At 2:09 PM,
Brenda Ann Elizabeth McKinney said…
ANYTIME, my dear! I'm going to do another one in Shizuoka next month. Taking this week off (my poor footsies need a little break), but I'll be back in training mode come Sat if you ever wanna go for a little jog. Don't suppose the girls would want to try a running girls day, do you? ;)
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