Notes
NOSAPPU-MISAKI HALF-MARATHON 2013
Went out to Cape Nosappu in the mist for the opening ceremony (yes, they had an opening ceremony) where a bunch of guys in suits got really excited North Korean-news style about the nearby islands and the territory dispute
over them with Russia. One dude got so worked up he started stumbling over his words. Don't know the history over who is right or wrong here, but it made for entertaining viewing anyway.
We then got driven slightly closer to town for the start at a local school. Where we waited for like an hour. For the start at 10:50AM. Fortunately (or unfortunately) it wasn't hot. However it was cool, misty, cloudy and rainy. And as I was soon to find out, there was a FREAKING headwind as well!
Anyway, so yeah, the rolling course. Man, was it a GRIND. Saw MHM on the street with the supporters bus at the 5K mark and was all good for the first 10K, did that in about 57 minutes. Started to feel a little tired around 12.5K, but then picked up again. Still (unbelievably) looking like I might go under 2 hours at 15K. Had my first race gel at the 15K mark, hoping it would give me some PEP. However that was when we hit the first of the big hills. I could see it coming from miles away and it was TOUGH. After that I started to fall off the pace. Still running okay though, but just lost the EDGE.
Running into town was pretty cool as there were people out to cheer you on. Of course, right at the end was the second big hill (not as big as the first one, but definitely harder!) Someone near the bottom there called out "go Stebun-san from Hiroo-cho" so got a lift from that - I was the only foreigner in the race, after all. MHM was at the top of the hill too so had to keep working it. From there you turn left and run about twenty metres to the finish. Crazy huh?!
Sat down on the curb pounding Powerade before finally getting to my feet and high-fiving all the random people I had talked to during the race. MHM is like when did you have time to make friends?! Defintely one of the good things about races in Japan - not that I have actually done very many! Must say that although I am not sure if I do actually like running, I do like the races and not just for the random people you become best friends with. Keen for
some more now!
Let MHM take my crab soup and rice balls. Don't mind crab myself, but just couldn't take the smell straight after the race. There was a pseudo-festival going on in the nearby park, so went and hit some beer and fried chicken at the Rooster Bar Garage. Now that was SOLID.
Then we drove like five FREAKING hours home! Story of my life...
A little bit of a write-up and photos on my blog...
http://hokkaidoshred.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/nosappu-misaki-marathon-2013/