60km supported by people's hospitality! Shimanto River Ultra Marathon for the first time in four years

I love marathon "Sport! Kochi's coverage team participated in the Shimanto River Ultra Marathon (60km section) held on October 15, and there are runners! I would like to introduce you.

If you are planning to run next year, please refer to it.

The 29th Shimanto River Ultra Marathon

The Shimanto River Ultra Marathon, which was held for the first time in four years due to the influence of COVID-19, is the 29th this year.

It is said to be the Lake Saroma Ultra Marathon (Hokkaido) in the east and the Shimanto River Ultra Marathon in the west, so it is a popular event that attracts ultra runners from all over the country.

This year, 100km reached the capacity (2,000 people) as soon as the application starts, and the 60km section (500 people) reached the capacity before the deadline, indicating that the Ultra Runner was waiting for.

The interview team chose 60km without hesitation because it was the first challenge (^_^)

My hands did not reach a distance of 100km, which ran two full marathons and one half marathon at once.

On the day before the tournament, we replenished carbohydrates, which are the source of energy, and got a good sleep, and prepared for the production.

Start Venue

The Shimanto River Ultra Marathon is held with the cooperation of Shimanto Town and Shimanto-shi, starting with Shimanto Town and finishing with Shimanto-shi.

The day was blessed with the weather, and the maximum temperature was a little hot to run at 22 ° C.
About 2 hours west from Kochi city, we arrived at Koinobori Park, the starting venue (60km section) in Tookawa, Shimanto-cho.

At the reception, stickers were distributed to the bib along with the T-shirts that would be the participation prize.

The interview team chose these two for the front and back bibs.
This time, I did not care about the time, but I decided to enjoy the rich nature of Shimanto, enjoy the aid, and enjoy the hospitality to the fullest.

At the opening ceremony, students from Showa Elementary School received power from the performance of brass bands, and went to the start gate.

It's a nervous back 5 minutes before the start.

At the start of the tournament, the excitement will always win more than excitement.
"It's 60km long ~" "Can I finish the race ~" "When will I take energy supply ~" "What kind of reward after running?" "I wonder if someone will read the QR code on my back (laughs)"
While thinking about what, I calm my mind down by taking a deep breath and stretching.
There’s a runner, right?

Start of the 60km section (from 9:30)

At 9:30, the 60km section started.
What courses and scenery are you waiting for?

If you run for about 1km, the course will join with the 100km section.
The bibs are color-coded in the department, so you can quickly identify them.
Ultra runners are all powerful runners who don't think they've already finished 40km.
Iron Man? No, I aimed for the goal while looking sideways, saying that they were already in the superhuman area.

The course is marked with a 100km section and a 60km section for every 1km.
If you think of the remaining 56km, your heart will be broken, but if you exceed 13/14 and 10km, if you exceed 5/6 or 30km, you will feel easier if you think of the latter half. There is also a runner, right?

Difficult part of the course

In the 60km course, there were two places, a pass with a height difference of about 100m at the 15km point and a pass with a height difference of about 50m just before the goal. Compared to the height difference of over 600m in the 100km section, it feels like it is not much, but damage accumulates.
If you are worried about long distances, it may be important to slow down the pace at the pass or walk without difficulty.

Others appear to be flat downtrend, but when you run, there is always a small ups and downs.

In the uphill, the muscles of the "backside" of the thigh, and in the "downhill", the muscles of the "front side" of the thigh gradually scream.

Impression points

Marathons aren’t just tough and hard.
There were initiatives, excitement, and new discoveries unique to the tournament.

One hand to the trash can

When I took a drink at the aid station and drank while running, I set up some trash cans.
However, if you are conscious of the recycle bin in front of you, drink it in a hurry, or if you drink slowly, there is no trash can ahead of it, what do you do with the cup in your hand? 。 。
I feel sorry for the operator, and I may throw it away on the road as it is. There is also a runner, right?

In this tournament, we will inform you of the final recycle bin, so it is easy to adjust the drinking pace, reduce poi, and both runners and operators are win x win initiatives.

The number of aid stations = the number of cheering

The full marathon aid station is set up every 4 to 5 km, but at this tournament, an aid station is set up every 2.5 km.
I was worried about dehydration because the temperature was very high on this day, but it is very safe because I can hydrate frequently every 2.5 km.
Also, the fact that there is an aid station every 2.5 km means that every time the local people are waiting for great cheers, so the power has come out.

A little ingenuity, such as a little decoration (balloon) to the aid station, is nice from a runner's point of view.

Local Original Cheering Team

In addition to cheering at Aid Station, the appearance of cheering hard, such as original banners, fans, and small flags in front of your home, and your smile will blow off the fatigue of the runner.
There's this too, right?

Shimanto River and sinking bridge

The biggest attraction is Shimanto River, Japan's last clear stream, which has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Best Waters and Top 100 Unexplored Areas.
It is the real pleasure of this tournament to be able to run while enjoying nature.

In addition, along with Shimanto River, it is famous as a photo spot.
A sinking bridge is a bridge without a balustrade designed to sink in the river when the water rises.
In this tournament, it is a course that crosses the semi-house sinking bridge near 15 km and the Iwama sinking bridge that takes 30 km.

The semi-house sinking bridge is a turning route immediately after crossing the bridge, so it is also a point where runners can run while inspiring each other.
Iwama sinking bridge was revived on the course for the first time in six years because it was introduced on TV and posters, and was closed due to corrosion of the bridge girder in 2017. Was.

In addition, I continued to run while having fun while healing my heart by the scenery of nature.

Completion of a fully wounded race

I was running smoothly at a pace of 1km5 minutes 10 seconds to 20 seconds, but my heart rate rose from around 35 km, and breathing gradually became difficult.

The temperature rose over time and the amount of sweat increased, so in the water supply every 2.5 km, water supply is well hydrated, energy bananas, rice balls, and dried plums (citric acid effect) that are effective in recovering from fatigue. Aim for the goal while replenishing.
From around 50 km, the thick and back seemed to be hanging several times, but I was able to finish 60 km while hitting my legs and cheating.

The record is 5 hours 13 minutes 23 seconds (net time).
The result was 17th overall and 4th by age.

After the goal, I couldn't move for a while because I was fully wounded.
I don't want to run again, let alone 100 miles!
And I think right after that, but when time comes, I want to come back and surpass myself last year! What do you think?
There is also a runner, right?

Organizer Comments

We interviewed Hideki Kajiwara, assistant director of the Shimanto City Board of Education Lifelong Learning Division, the organizer.

-Please tell me about the appeal of the conference.

Mr. Kajiwara: "It's the hospitality of people. The tournament was thanks to about 1,000 volunteers, and the support of local people is attractive. "

This time, the tournament was held for the first time in four years, so it was quite difficult to prepare without anyone who had held the tournament.

-Next year is the 30th anniversary celebration. Will it be held grandly?

Mr. Kajiwara: How about (laughs) Anyway, I would like many people to come to Shimanto River through the tournament. By all means, please join the interview team at 100km next year. "

It is a special opportunity to participate in the commemorative event. Wouldn't it be a tournament that attracts attention from all over the country more than this year?

We recommend that you register as soon as possible.

Finally, enjoy local gourmet

The calories consumed in this tournament were 4,330 calories.
After running, it is a local gourmet after all.

Local gourmets are opened at the goal venue, so let's enjoy it well before leaving the tournament!
See you again at another meeting.