"Spoll! I tried it." Ryoma Marathon 2023
This time, Ogawa, a college student born in Kochi Prefecture and raised in Kochi Prefecture. When I was in high school, I belonged to the track and field club, and this is the second challenge for the first time in four years. We participated in the Kochi Ryoma Marathon 2023, which was held for the first time in three years after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contents
First of all
“I’ve loved running since I was a kid. In particular, endurance running was fun, and I started long distances in athletics from high school students. I was involved in the Kochi Ryoma Marathon as a volunteer in the first and second grades of high school, practiced repeatedly, and participated for the first time in the third grade. In the 2019 tournament, which I participated for the first time, aiming to finish in the 2 hours and 50 minutes range, I was able to run with a good feeling in the first half, but I hurt my feet around 25 km. I managed to finish the race in 3 hours and 50 minutes, but with my first challenge, I realized the difficulty of marathons. This time, there was a time when I was injured, so I couldn't practice like the time of the 2019 tournament, but I want to run happily aiming for the 4 hours! "
Course
The Kochi Ryoma Marathon started in Kochi City and Kochi Prefectural Office in the center of Kochi Prefecture. This is a place where you can see Kochi Castle. Departing from Kochi City, returning to Kochi City via Nankoku City and Tosa City, aiming for the Haruno General Sports Park Athletics Stadium, which is the goal 42.195 km away.
Kochi Ryoma Marathon 2023 Course Map (Exhibition: Kochi Ryoma Marathon 2023 official website)
Urado-ohashi Bridge with a total length of 1,480m, which runs uphill from the sea level to a height of 50m, the Hanakaido Road with a flower bed of 2,1 km along the Pacific Ocean, and the Niyodo River, known for its Niyodo Blue, pours into the sea. It has a course where you can enjoy various landscapes from the city area of Kochi to the countryside and along the Pacific Ocean.
Pre-registration to the day
The entry period for Kochi Ryoma Marathon 2023 is from September 16 to November 21, 2022, and runners wishing to run must first enter during that time. After that, the tournament secretariat will send you a guidebook for the tournament and a voucher required for reception, so be sure to bring it with you. This year's runner reception was held the day before the tournament. We submitted a voucher at Kochi Central Park, the reception venue, and received a bib, measurement chip, and tournament original T-shirt that won the participation prize.
※The method of acceptance varies depending on the year of the event. For more information, please visit the website.
Many runners are visiting the reception hall the day before, and the feeling of air that can only be tasted at the tournament will excite you. Events were also held at the reception hall, including performances by teams participating in the Kochi Yosakoi Festival and talk shows by guests of the tournament.
On the day of the Kochi Ryoma Marathon, we will first go to check your baggage. Since the start and goal are different, luggage such as changing clothes should be left in advance and transported to the goal by truck.
When you leave your baggage, go to the exit block. The block was sorted by the application time at the time of entry, and I was a D block.
A lot of runners and supporters gathered near the starting point. As the running time approaches, you will be guided to the starting point for each block, but each time you will be asked to call out from the roadside or be inspired by the performance of drums. After the alignment, the start ceremony began, and Governor Takata and guests of the tournament received ale.
Let's start. Runners run together with guns. I'll run 42.195 kilometers with everyone here.
After starting, it runs around the city along the road for about 10 km, and gradually turns into a course with rural scenery. Throughout the course, warm cheers arrived from the roadside, and I was able to run inspiring my tired body while getting energy.
The Kochi Ryoma Marathon is a slightly hard course with a slight difference in height, such as "Urado-ohashi Bridge", which is said to be a difficult place in the middle, and the climbing slope to the goal Haruno General Sports Park.
However, beyond "Urado-ohashi Bridge", the Pacific Ocean spreads all over, and I feel that I can run anew in the scenery that can not be seen at other marathon competitions. On the course of the Katsura-hama Beach Hanakaido that follows, the Pacific Ocean continues on the left side of the runway, and you can run while listening to the sound of waves and feeling the sea breeze.
Run along the coastline that lasts about 10 km, pass "Niyodogawakako-ohashi Bridge", and turn around around 30 km of the whole. When I came to this area, fatigue peaked, but I received energy from the hard work of other runners passing each other.
When you climb the last 2 km following Haruno General Sports Park, which is the goal, and climb the heartbreaking uphill with your physical strength, the cheering along the roadside will increase and you will see the gate of the athletics stadium.
I was able to run the truck and finish safely.
The goal was 4 hours, but the result was 4 hours 23 minutes 30 seconds. It was good to be able to run in 4 hours according to the target. Until the half, I was able to run smoothly in about 1 hour and 50 minutes, so if I could practice a little more, I feel that I could run without losing the second half time. Although there are points of reflection, the sense of accomplishment that I was able to achieve was still large, and I was glad to participate.
On the open space outside the athletics stadium, there was a space like a food court, and a lot of delicious local food was sold. The tsumire soup, which was danced for free, tasted very beautiful and soaked into a tired body.
Finally
Even if you are running and have difficulty in the end, you can do your best to the end thanks to the warm cheering of everyone along the road. I think it's rare to have a lot of support here.
There are many charms that can only be enjoyed at the Kochi Ryoma Marathon, such as a lot of cheering, beautiful scenery, and delicious food. I would be glad if you could visit the marathon and experience the charm of Kochi Prefecture.
Above, "Spoll! I tried it ~ Kochi Ryoma Marathon 2023~". Mr. Ogawa belongs to the track and field club and has experience in the marathon itself, but many people participate in the marathon for the first time in the Ryoma Marathon. One of the major attractions of the Ryoma Marathon is that the time limit is 7 hours and there is room for many people to finish the race. 2024 is a memorable 10th tournament, why don't you consider whether you have experienced marathon or first-time marathon?
