I ran the Ome Marathon yesterday (Feb. 4). For me it was to be a tune-up for the Tokyo Marathon and a means of boosting my confidence. I had a great time and my confidence has been properly inflated. I recommend this "classic" Japan race to everyone. Honestly, it was one of the best race experiences I have ever had.
People who've run the Okutama ekiden will know the course well. Just combine most of the eiken legs together omit all the sash passing and you’ve got the Ome Marathon. So if the weather is nice (and yesterday it was phenomenal), the scenery is beautiful.
Best of all was the support of crowds and volunteers along the race course. Every time I looked up there was a water stop or some one passing out sweets, banana slices or lemon wedges. Young and old heartily cheered on the runners and made the thought stopping or even slowing down impossible. Once, while passing a group of taiko drummers, I was able to "high-five" about ten percussionists of all shapes sizes and ages as I ran past their line.
At about 24K, when my spirits were sagging a little, a rumbling beckoned me. It started in low and began to grow. By the time I reached the thundering taiko rhythm, I was enveloped and buoyed by the electric energy of the drummers. For about 50 meters or so, I felt like I was running springs. What a mood lifter.
I will run this race again. I recommend you all try it.
2 comments:
I love Ome Marathon, too. I wish they set the date 3 weeks before Tokyo Marathon...
Hear hear! Perhaps the best race event I have run. Like Mika, I was not prepared to run it just two weeks before Tokyo, but the way things came to pass, probably could have if I'd kept to an appropriate pace. Never mind. Maybe next year.
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