Official
"Fruit Kingdom Higashine Sakuranbo Marathon Event" Report (Part 2)
The expedition group from Chuo-ku also runs through Higashine City in early summer.
Hello. I'm Hanes, an active correspondent.
"The Fruit Tree Kingdom Higashine Sakuranbo Marathon Event Report (Part 1)-Hospitality Shines! Following the fun and welcome event on the day before the actual performance, this article will report on the day of the tournament.
This time, I entered the marathon beginner and the first participation in the citizen marathon was a 5km section that could be completed.
Even in the Tohoku region, on a sunny day in early June, the temperature rises from 20 degrees to 25 degrees Celsius, and it becomes sweaty and cheerful, so it is best not to overdo it!
This time, there are three divisions: 3km, 5km, and half, of which the first is the 5km section.
The opening ceremony started at 7:20 and the start started at 8:10, so we left the hotel early and headed to the Ground Self-Defense Force Kamimachi garrison, the venue for the tournament.
Early in the morning, volunteers and the Ground Self-Defense Force prepared the venue and welcomed them warmly.
There are many runners at the venue, and the first citizen marathon will make you feel better!
Since there was enough time before the opening ceremony, runners wearing "Chuo-ku Original T-shirt" (advance application required) distributed to those living, working, and studying in Chuo-ku among the participants of this tournament I searched for and called out.
We talked with about 10 people who participated with their families, couples, and colleagues at work, took pictures and prayed for each other to complete the race.
It's not a running club, but when you wear a matching T-shirt, you'll notice a sense of friendship, and it's nice to be able to interact in a distant place with the commonality of Chuo-ku.♪
Thank you to the people of Chuo-ku government office for preparing and sending a wonderful T-shirt to commemorate while you are busy!
At the opening and opening ceremony, as with yesterday's welcome ceremony and welcome reception, there were greetings from the organizers and guest runners, guest introductions, health precautions, competition precautions, etc.
This time, Toshihiko Seko (DeNA Athletic Elite Advisor) also joined.
From Chuo-ku, there was a ward manager.
In addition to words of encouragement, there were talks about the splendor of aid and hospitality, and alerting heat stroke.
Mr. Seko and Mr. Kim, who have been together many times in this tournament, showed interesting conversations on the stage.
At the end of Seko's pointing, you can see the snow-covered Gassan, but it is a mountain that Mayor Higashine painted white (laughs).
However, I was surprised that I did not expect to enjoy the snowy mountains in early June, so I was surprised and visually enjoyed the magnificent nature of Yamagata Prefecture.
(Gassan is one of the Three Mountains of Dewas composed of Mt. Haguro and Mt. Yudono, and Mt. Haguro has a relationship with Chuo-ku. For more information, please see "[Excursion Series 10th] Chuo-ku Historic Sites to Travel and Enjoy around Tohoku." )
And after the opening ceremony, move to the starting point soon!
Groups are divided according to the time declared in advance, and they are arranged in that order.
A song that raises motivation, such as the storm's "Happiness", flows, and waits for the signal of the start while jumping together, high-touching with surrounding runners, and counting down in minutes and seconds.
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is in charge of the gun. This time, he did not run because he was dedicated to the management side, but he expressed his enthusiasm when he pulled the gun with the power of the muscles that he usually trains in Gold's Gym.
One of the attractions of this tournament is that you can run a course called a fruit line in a half marathon where tourist orchards such as cherries are lined up.
Although 5km was short, it was a course that was completed on the premises of the garrison, but there is no chance to run in the garrison usually, so after starting with many runners, I ran while enjoying the changing scenery .
The turning point of 5km is not just half of 2.5km, but actually long after turning.... There was not enough preparation for the course!
Usually, volunteers for marathon events and running events often receive words of thanks from runners, so this time I ran with thanks saying "Thank you for volunteering."
It's also the first time that it has been shot by the official tournament photographer!
I tried to do a cherries pose taught by people from Chuo-ku and look at the camera (laughs).
When I speeded up when I could see the letters FINISH, the running sun visor was blown away by a slightly strong wind blowing from the west, and a little time loss...
However, I was able to run comfortably without sweating than running in Tokyo and did not renew my personal best, but I was able to finish safely within the target time.♪
It's best to be able to run safely and happily!
After running in the wind, my hair is terrible, but I also took a picture that appealed to the back side of Chuo-ku original T-shirt with "CHUO CITY RUNNER"!
After that, we joined the person who was with us on a weekend run in Tokyo to support the half marathon.
At the goal, the favorite group of Western music that was popular in the 2010s is also flowing, and even after running, I still feel better.
When I found a person running with a Chuo-ku original T-shirt, I cheered differently from other runners.
I was glad that some of them noticed me.♪
And I have never forgotten the participation prize, which is one of the pleasures of the citizen marathon.
A wonderful tournament program, Mizuno's tournament commemorative T-shirt, GI Higashine cherry "Sato Nishiki", 2 rice balls using Yamagata Prefecture rice "Tsuyahime", scratch lottery, and Irohasu.
The tournament commemorative T-shirt is suitable for the 20th tournament and has a special design (click here for details)!
The glittering gold-printed crown and 20th letters draw attention on the color of ruby red like a cherries.
The cherry blossoms that are named in this tournament are shiny and juicy!
The elegant sweetness that can be eaten as many as you want was irresistible, and it was a seasonal taste.
Onigiri is simple salty and related taste.
It is luxurious to be able to fully enjoy the taste of the brand rice itself.
"Tsukihime" seems to be characterized by its large grains, not hard when cooled, and its flavor does not decrease, so it was delicious.
Wouldn't it be even more delicious if cooked?
Fortunately, there is an antenna shop in Yamagata Prefecture called "Delicious Yamagata Plaza" in Chuo-ku, so I'm glad to be able to buy "Tsukihime" here.
In the scratch lottery, Higashine City's image character "Tanto-kun" appeared and received a special eco bag with a color reminiscent of a cherries provided by Japan Create.
Prizes include not only participants, winners, and winners, but also special prizes for the elderly (5km is for 80 years or older, half is for 70 years or older), Excursive Prize (Okinawa, Kyushu, Shikoku, Chugoku regions), 20 consecutive contestants awards, flying awards and 20th anniversary competitions, Tenugui Chopsticks and Chopsticks for the 20th place in each category.
The program also has a page about Chuo-ku as a friendship city, with an area with different characteristics, and introduces that it has developed as the center of Japanese culture, commerce and information for more than 400 years since the opening of Edo. Was.
In addition, 17 booths such as eating and drinking, sightseeing, products, marathons, sports equipment, sponsoring companies, etc. will be exhibited in the venue!
Local gourmets such as cherries shaved ice, Yamagata beef, tamakonjac, and cold meat soba are all delicious, and the SDF's special curry with limited 500 meals is so popular that a long line can be formed.
While I'm tired after running, I'm grateful to be able to enjoy food and drinks in the venue without moving.♪
Participate in the rock-paper-scissors tournament again at the last fun event!
We stayed at the venue until the closing ceremony was over, enjoyed the first citizen marathon before returning home.
Then, at the exit, the volunteer said, "Thank you! Come again! "And sent me off with a banner with the dialect of Yamagata.
It was a very fun two days, so I wanted to visit again next year as soon as possible.
As mentioned in the organizer's greeting, this tournament seems to be a tournament with a high repeater rate.
Looking at prefectures, a total of 667 people entered from Tokyo, the third largest after Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures.
During the weekend run in Tokyo, which I participated after the tournament, I saw several runners wearing the tournament commemorative T-shirts for two consecutive weeks, and sometimes had the opportunity to interact with T-shirts.
It's a marathon event that people living in Tokyo are paying close attention to.♪
Above all, there is an official tour in which the Shinkansen and ryokan are packed, so it is easy to travel from Tokyo.
In addition, it seems fun to participate as a family from Chuo-ku, also serving as a cherry hunting.
After the tournament, a few weeks were immersed in the lingering sound, and I think it was a perfect tournament for a citizen marathon debut. .
And through this tournament, where hospitality shines, I once again thought that as a correspondent of the Chuo-ku Tourism Association, I would like to interact with people coming to Chuo-ku with hospitality.
I'm always a volunteer, but by standing for the first time on the participant side, I was able to reconfirm the value of the cooperation of the local people and how warm welcome at the destination were.
Last but not least, thank you to the organizers of this tournament, volunteers, and everyone in Higashine City!
I hope that the number of participants from the friendship city Chuo-ku will increase next year!
※This tournament has been introduced with permission from the Executive Committee of the Fruit Tree Kingdom Higashine Sakuranbo Marathon.
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