Run 7: Arakawa Half Marathon

Sunday, 4th October 2015 (10:30am)

As this was my first run in the land of the Rising Sun and my first outside Europe, I came prepared to the run with a plethora of screenshots on my phone detailing exactly where I had to go, the route, my race number and everything that would be required of me to get the run off without a problem.

The site of many a sport

The race venue was just over an hour from where I was staying and three different metro lines away. Tokyo's railway system can be confusing as different lines are owned by different companies but when you get used to it, navigating isn't too scary. Fortunately, today was a good day as I arrived at my designated station with no problems at all.

Peace and quiet in the foreground, busy Tokyo in the background.

It is very typical of Japanese people to sleep on the train during their morning commute (and their commute home). I almost never do this (mainly because I never get a seat!) On my first leg of the train route I snoozed in and out. Not a very promising start!

The station in question was Higashi-Ojima, and it was a very short walk from here to an incredibly peaceful sports fields/riverside community area. The sun was shining and my walk through the park was incredibly. Old men were grouped together on one field, shooting paper aeroplanes in to the air and watching them glide around. Families were setting up barbecues and picnic areas. Joggers were gearing up for the run, and adorable akitas and other breeds of puppies were being walked.

Short and sweet. Japanese efficiency in action.

With my screenshots and very basic Japanese in hand, I nervously approached the race-pack collection tent. Western names in Japan are translated in to katakana, while Japanese names are written in kanji. The race staff had a list of names and as soon as they saw me and I said my name, they knew to look at one of the very very few katakana names on their list.

So, race number pinned to my top, shoe laces tied and checked, stretches done, I donned my Diabetes wig and got ready for the start of the race. Very few people seemed to look or care about my strange gaijin get-up. Perhaps, being Japanese, they'd seen people wearing stranger things or perhaps they were politely trying not to stare.

Blissfully unaware that a blue-wigged gaijin was waiting behind them.

I have very little to say about the race. It was baking hot (somewhere close to 28°) so I was sweating even before I started running. Given the heat I wasn't prepared to run to beat any Personal Best I have so went in with the mentality that I would just finish the race and do so under 2 hours. The course was a series of 4 laps along a promenade where kids and adults played baseball (Japan's favourite sport) and bicycles whizzed past. Every stretch of a lap was 2.5km and each side had a water station. I stopped and re-hydrated at every water stop - I did not want to be that ignorant Westerner who died of heat stroke during a run he wasn't prepared for.

All types of people were on the run, from all ages and shapes and sizes. It seemed a very inclusive run and had a very good spirit about it. For most of the run I was in my own little headspace, just wanting to finish and though I picked up my pace towards the end, it was an average of 5:30 per km. Lacking a big, bright finish line, two Japanese ladies held a strip of ribbon between them and runners were encouraged to run through it with their arms stretched upwards in salute of their victory.

Celebrating with my instantly printed certificate!

In true Japanese style of efficiency, immediately after completing the race I was presented with my certificate that congratulated me on my finish time, a cool 1:55:02

Run 3: Severn Bridge Half Marathon

Sunday, 30th August 2015 (09:00am)

Unfortunately he didn't run in this gear...

I will begin this account with complete honesty; I felt entirely unprepared for the first Half Marathon of the campaign and I was genuinely a little worried about what shape I'd be in when I completed it. I had done some training, but owing to a lack of time and a busy schedule, I felt I hadn't quite done enough.

Given that the event was in Chepstow and it started at 9am, I left Swansea at just after 6am - to be sure I'd have time to pick up my race bib, get to the start and be totally prepared. It turns out I was there with more than enough time before the start (a running theme now).

Silly wig? Check!

This particular event was incredibly well organised - as most half marathons tend to be - and had two very large car parks dedicated to its runners. The number of people competing in this event was something just over 2700.

Free lucozade sports were given out (incredibly useful for mid-course hydration) at the event village and there was a really good atmosphere.

The walk from the event village to the start of the race (halfway along the majestic Old Severn Bridge) was about 15 minutes and the course outline promised that towards the end (the 7 mile point) there would be a rather steep hill.

I haven't seen this many people on one bridge since the Lisbon Half Marathon

The course itself was very enjoyable. Crossing the Severn Bridge was windy but offered stunning views over the river Severn and of the backs of the mad scramble of people ahead. After crossing, bilingual signs welcomed us to England where the majority of the run took us around sleepy villages, filled with welcoming and encouraging people who had come out to support.

The organisers of the race had a great sense of humour, from the witty pre-race emails to the signage on the course that at every slight incline warned "This is not the hill" and "this is not the hill either." When the hill eventually came, it was a lot steeper than I anticipated. Neverthless, I ran up every inch of it, having to dodge the walkers who weren't considerate enough to stick to one side.

Halfway through the race, after passing the 7 mile mark, three thoughts hit me;
1. How on earth will I be able to do a marathon; TWICE the distance I'm about to do?
2. How many miles in a kilometre? I know there are roughly 22km in this half marathon, but are there 13 miles in this race? 11? How many miles do I have left?!?!
3. This is amazing. I am running a half marathon and I am not dead.

The answer to the second question was of course 13, and returning to Wales over the Severn Bridge was absolutely elating. One man remarked that the bridge "seemed shorter at the start of the race" and I contemplated using his joke with another runner later on but just pushed myself onwards towards the finish line; dreams of finishing the race with a good time firmly in my sweaty wig-covered head.

At the last 50 metres, I often sprint flat-out to get the best time possible. In the past two runs, I've not really done this. Here, inspired by another runner who had the same idea, I ran as fast as my chunky little legs could carry me and crossed the finish line at just under 1 hour 52 minutes.

Sweaty and happy with my third, and chunkiest, medal so far!

The chip time would later tell me that I had completed the half marathon in 1 hour, 50 minutes and 20 seconds. I discovered a few days later that this time was only one minute slower than my all-time personal best for a half marathon. I firmly believe I can make up that minute in my next half marathon; the Bristol Half Marathon on September 13th. Only time will tell...

Total money raised: £853.90