Naha Marathon
January 9th, 2009I was gearing up to race for a top spot in Naha Marathon last month (I’d placed 8th in this race in 2006), but I was sent away on business for about four weeks just prior to the marathon. During which time I didn’t get any hard workouts in, and was only running every other day or so. But I can’t say all the hard training I did was for nothing. I’ve gained valuable experience in addition to a growing hunger to race again.
My friend, Thomas Kunish, and I talked about going out with the lead pack, and then pulling out early because neither of us were in shape. We’d talked about using this as a jump start to training for the next marathon, but I didn’t like the idea of starting a race knowing I would drop out early. The day before the marathon I went to pick up my race packet, and I’d remembered last year where I’d signed up, but because I was sick, I didn’t run. I thought to myself, “I’m not sick this year. I have to run.” “I have to at least try.”
My plan was to stay with the leaders for as long as I could. I didn’t think I’d make it past the first mile, but I tried anyway.
It was a surprisingly slow pace. I started out with the leaders, and let them set pace. It felt good. The leaders ran in line side by side. We strolled past the first km in 3:25, and then everyone tucked in behind me, so I held that pace and led. It felt great to be up in front, but it was hard to know what was happening behind me. I looked to the side to use the window reflections to see what was developing behind me, but couldn’t see much. I wouldn’t recommend leading so early in a marathon.
At 5k, Ruji Suimatsu, a long time veteran of this race and last years winner, slowly surged beside me with a pack. He said the pace was slow. We were at about 17:20 at 5k, which is a good pace for a marathon, but Naha Marathon usually paces fast for the first 10k because the next 10k (11k to 21k) is all up hill.
At around 8k, my heart rate elevated sharply, my breathing labored, my chest congested, and my legs became heavy. We turned a sharp corner after crossing a bridge, and I turned wide as the pack, led by Ruji who was all too familiar with the course, hugged the turn tightly, and took the lead. I reconnected with the pack, but was at the rear of it now. I didn’t notice until watching the video footage that at this point the winner of this race made a move. He took the lead, and no one went with him. He ran the rest of the race without threat.
I dropped out at 10k. My wife picked me up there. I should have had her bring my trainers (regular run shoes) so I could jog for a bit more, but for me it ended there. I made it home before the 1st finisher crossed the line, and watched the end of the race develop on t.v., but RBC, the local television station, cut to commercial as the winner entered the track, and they never showed him actually cross the finish line. You’ll have to remember that Naha Marathon is a fun run, a people’s marathon, so there’s no prize purse or chip timing. The found out the next day in the papers that the leader finished in 2:28. An average time for Naha, but it was said that his fastest marathon record was 2:13.
It was fun to be up there with the lead pack. I hope to try again in February at Okinawa Marathon. I have another daughter on the way. Due at the end of February around the same time as the marathon. I may run straight past the finish line to the delivery room. Whatever happens, I won’t miss my daughter’s birth.
My brief experience of lead pack marathon running:
Naha Marathon
