Summer Break 10 K Night Run around the Imperial Palace

With two holidays remaining, I went to Central Tokyo with two of my running friends
to go for a fun run around the Imperial Palace.
Fujimori san, who had originally invited me to serious running years before,
and his friend Hiroko san with whom I had run many races together,
had already been ready outside the runners' station in Kanda
when I got there.
http://www.raffine-rs.com/about/kanda/index.html#accessmap
I quickly dropped my gear in a locker,
and joined them to head for the circular road around the Palace.

With the sun set and the sky engulfed in twilight,
countless lights from surrounding tall buildings shone on us.
What appeared here and there in the quickly darkening surrounding
was brightly colored athletic wear of runners, some running in groups,
and others by themselves like Buddhist monks in training.

We started off at a comfortable pace of 6:00/K
so that the least experienced member of the group would not be left behind.

The circular course around the Palace was surprisingly rich in undulation,
which was perfect as the training for the Kyohonooka Road Race that takes place in September.
It is well-known for a big altitude difference between the highest and lowest point of the course.

When we finished our first lap, Hiroko san opted out to return to the runners' station.
Fujimori san and I went on at a slightly faster pace.
We overtook a runner after another, gradually increasing the pace.
Once we hit the peak of altitude, the lights of the commercial district in Marunouchi were in sight
in a distance.
We picked up the pace, using the momentum gained from going the downward slope.
We took one hydration break about 1 K before finish, but other than that,
we kept a fairly good pace to cover 10.7 K in 1:07.

Both of us were drenched when we finished.
On our way to the runners' station,
we stopped by a convenience store to get some water.
It tasted insanely delicious.

We took a quick shower and joined Hiroko san who were relaxing in the lobby.
Together we went to a gyoza restaurant near JR Kanda Station,
and made a toast with cold bear, and filled our stomachs with delicious food.
We had a fun chat over good food and drinks,
and parted each other about an hour later,
promising to meet again at the race in September.

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/dir/%E3%83%A9%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8B%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB,+%E3%80%92101-0047+%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA+%E5%86%85%E7%A5%9E%E7%94%B01-8-1+%E4%B8%89%E4%BA%95%E3%83%93%E3%83%AB1F/35.6887038,139.7608835/@35.6864646,139.7520276,15z/data=!4m24!4m23!1m20!1m1!1s0x60188c06bce55555:0x203406a283beb748!2m2!1d139.7666855!2d35.6901349!3m4!1m2!1d139.7607471!2d35.6891696!3s0x60188c0f3a506e9b:0x4a81f4ed097c6ac6!3m4!1m2!1d139.7443848!2d35.6846025!3s0x60188c704c2c773b:0xa471e48868365b0f!3m4!1m2!1d139.7483106!2d35.6785525!3s0x60188b8a0c12b583:0xc5332c225ebe6fe6!1m0!3e2