戦争の起源、男女差別の起源、農耕の起源/"Cannibals and Kings" by Marvin Harris

Marvin Harris, an acclaimed anthropologist, delves into the roots of cultures in his renowned work, "Cannibals and Kings." As I revisit this timeless piece, I find myself contemplating the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. You can access the book for free on Google Books, and it's worth a read. Personally, my interest in this subject waned in the 1990s, and I'm aware that much has transpired since then in the realm of cultural origins. It's likely that subsequent archaeological findings may have challenged or reshaped some of Harris's arguments. Nevertheless, the book remains captivating, offering readers fresh perspectives that encourage us to view the world around us through new lenses.

レースレポート：第56回青梅マラソン／Race Report: Ohme 30K Road Race 2024

On Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, I ran the 56th Ohme 30K Road Race. The gun went off at 11:30 a.m. I crossed the finish line 2 hours 35 minutes 34 seconds later. The Ohme 30K is one of the most well-known road races held in Tokyo. For one thing, it's known for a long history. In fact, since 1975 it's had a sister partnership with the oldest marathon race in history--the Boston Marathon. Ohme and Boston have something in common. Both are infamous because of their challenging nature. Boston is infamous for the Heart Break Hill. Ohme is infamous for its out-and-back course with an altitude difference of over 85 meters.  You need strong legs, strong cardio, and a tactical approach. The following is a report of how I ran this challenging race.

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I stayed at Toyoko INN in Fussa the night before. Fussa is three stops from JR Kabe Station where the race starts. I hit the bed early and had a good night's sleep. I had a decent breakfast offered by the hotel a good three hours before the race. I avoided drinking coffee because caffeine can make you want to pee.

I reached the venue a good two hours before the race where I got together with my two runner friends. About forty-five minutes before the race, me and my friend went to porta pottis to take a pee. There was a long queue before porta pottis, but the turnover was quick and we didn't wait as much as we thought we had to. By the time we were done, it was already 20 minutes or so before the official time of start. The last tens of minutes can quickly pass. Me and my friend got some memorial photos taken with Ohme's iconic colorful balloons behind us. I reached my corral L, and my friend went on to get to his corral J.

The race was underway at 11:30. It took almost five minutes for me to finally reach the official start line. I excitedly waved at guest starter Mr. Tatsuhiko Hara, former Yomiuri Giants Manager. Once past the start line, runners started picking up the pace. But a minor congestion lasted for almost 30 minutes. It was only after I passed JR Miyanohira Station that I was finally able to settle into a decent pace.

Thanks to the slow pace in the first 5K, it wasn't so hard to inject the pace after the 5K mark. I was able to overtake a significant number of runners between 5 and 10K. Near the 10K mark, I found my cheerleader and waved at her. 

Between 10 and 15K, the incline gets gradually steeper, and over-paced runners start struggling. It made it easier for me to overtake yet more foregoing runners. While running this segment, the leader returned from the turning point. It was Olympican Akira Akasaki. He was literally floating from the rest of the field! It was over a minute or so that I saw a runner-up. Later I learned that Akira won by the second fastest course record. Congrats to the Olympian!

When I ran past JR Kawai Station, the Okutama Ohhashi Bridge was in sight on my left. The turning point is near. I ran economically, saving energy for an increase in pace that I was planning after the halfway point which comes a few hundred meters after the turning point.

When I finally reached the halfway mark, I injected the pace and started hammering down the hill. It is in this segment that most runners run the fastest. But few people near me seemed to run as fast as I did. Though I was significantly faster than most other runners near me, I could tell that the two years of setbacks caused by my left meniscus injury had made me weaker than before the injury. But it's no time to pity myself. I gave it everything I had to make up for the slow pace in the first 5K.

Around 19K the course flattens a little. I eased the pace to recharge my batteries. Shortly before 20K Sydney Olympics Gold Medalist Ms. Naoko Takahashi, a.k.a. Q-chan was giving a high five to passing runners. My lane was slightly away from where she was standing, and it was too late for me to redirect myself to receive her high five, but I had got one from her a couple of times in the past, so I continued to press on. 

At 20.5K shortly before JR Futamatao Station, the course starts to ascend.  This is the Ohme version of the Heart Break Hill. It's a long and steep hill. But what makes it hard is not only its length and steepness. Its timing and location are the main factors of challenge. For citizen runners who have only run half marathons, it is close to the upper limit of their training distance. Also, this steep hill atypically comes in the predominantly descending second half. It is no surprise that you see several runners make a stop during or after the hill and stretch their legs for temporary relief from a spasm. 

Once you reach the top of the hill, there is a long straight downhill. It is one of my favorite parts of the second half. There are few tall trees or buildings on the right. The sun shines strongly on you. The air feels awesome as you cut through it. The cheering from the sidewalks is enormous. Many locals come out along the road as it is the warmest time of the day.

The descent lasts for a couple of kilometers and the course flattens again. Then around the 25K mark, there are a last couple of upward inclines, not as long as the one near Futamatao. These are the final challenges for those who have only run half marathons. They are well into an uncharted territory. Many make a stop again, taking a longer break this time, stretching their calves and hamstrings. Their sight reminds me of myself doing the same on my first two attempts.  Years have passed since then. I've run longer distances many times. These hills are not easy, but manageable now. I keep on paying attention to my running economy, making sure I have enough to run the last 5K strongly.

Once past JR Miyanohira Station, it's all downhill for a couple of kilometers. The course then completely flattens in the last couple of kilometers. The roars from bothr sides of the course increase. The number of cheerers is noticably larger. Yellow traffic lights flicker as you run past each intersection. Traffic is completly shut off to welcome back battle-beaten runners. And I am one of them.

I looked for my cheerleader who was supposed to have returned from Sawai. There she was, holding a smartphone to take memorial photos! I ran wide to get a little closer to her, and then past her into the final stretch leading to the finish line. Oh, I love this moment. The last 200 meters. The sidewalks look packed with crowds, layer upon layer. They are going wild as runners get close to the finish line one after another! The arch that says the finish is finally in sight, but I can't see it clearly because the sun is so strong that it blinds me. It doesn't matter, though. I know where the finish line is. I accelerate, working my arms like a track athlete.  I throw my arms in the air, with a triumphant smile on my face, screaming, "I did it!"

My barefoot 30K race completed, 2 hours 35 minutes 34 seconds after the gun went off! The time is average, compared with my most recent records before injury. But I slashed almost 30 minutes off my record last year. One thing is certain. I'm now fully recovered from my knee injury. My mind-body is strong enough to withstand the challenges of the toughest of road races, and strong enough to do all the training leading to the race which was after all much much harder than the race itself.

My race season 2023 which started last June is now over. My next race is probably in June, and it's a 10K. I am going to lay a strong foundation first by running many long distances slowly, and then as the race nears, I will do some quality speed training. Cannot wait!

レースレポート：『第44回館山若潮マラソン』／Race Report : Tateyama Wakashio Marathon 2024

Jan. 28, 2024

On Jan. 28, 2024, the 44th Tateyama Wakashio Marathon took place in the picturesque rural city of Tateytama at the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture. I joined the race together with a bunch of other citizen runners and completed the race barefoot. I clocked 3:48:01(gross)/3:47:30(net), my quickest barefoot marathon ever since I ran a 3:52:43 marathon in the same course 5 years earlier. The following is how the day unfolded.

<Morning>

I woke up at 5:20 a.m. to have a light breakfast of porridge and fruit.  My friend came to pick me up at 6:20. Together we went to the nearby train station to pick up my runner friend. Three of us left town around 6:35. The traffic was smooth on the toll road. We reached Rest Spot Furari a little before 7:30. The sardine soup there is delish. We warmed our stomachs with it. In less than 30 minutes after the soup break, we were at the venue. The designated parking area the closest to the start area was luckily still not full. We found a little open space on the grass part of the baseball ground next to the final stretch leading to the finish arch. People continued to reach the venue one after another. In no time, an announcement was made to tell runners to get ready at their respective corrals. 

<Pre-Race Communication>

While waiting in my corral, I was talked to by a couple of female runners. They said they saw the video I shared on YouTube. Earlier I had uploaded it to help inexperienced marathoners to pace themselves in the early stages because the climax of the course comes in the second half. Both female runners were aiming at a sub-3.75 marathon, namely running it under 3:45:00, so they were better than my imaginary audience. Nonetheless, they both thanked me, saying it was a useful input. I was glad.  

<Race>

At 10:00 sharp, the gun went off and the race was officially underway. I enjoyed the cold feel of the paved road on my sole with each step. The cheering on either side of the road was festive. There were occasional friendly exchanges between leaving runners and cheering spectators. They must be close friends. The clouds in the sky were expected to go away toward noon, but you never know. The weather in the region at this time of year is unpredictable...

The first 10K is the flattest part of the course in this incredibly challenging course. And yet a good amount of undulation is noticeable to the eye of a novice. You have to run cautiously. Otherwise, you could end up paying a huge price later on.

As I tried to settle into my comfortable pace, I almost felt sleepy. I kept saying to myself, "The first 10K is a warmup for warmup." 

Past the 10K mark, the course slowly curbed to the southeast into an undulated straight section. When it's sunny, a temperature rise happens in the section. But today, the clouds continued to cover the sun, and cold winds often chilled uncovered parts of my body.  At the aid station near the 15K mark, I picked up some hard sweet cake and motivated myself. 

Shortly before the halfway point, I spotted a woman in a familiar-looking outfit. She is a woman who talked to me at the corral. Obviously, she was in trouble. I said hi when I was side by side. She said she had a stitch. Oh, dear... "Go easy. It'll go away," said I to her. I pressed on. 

The coastal section soon ended, and a sharp U-turn to the left got us into the race's iconic hilly section. The surface condition of the road improved. It gave me a temporary relief because although the previous 10-20K section is less hilly, the road surface condition is awful. It is so poorly maintained. Many barefoot runners choose to run on painted lines because the surface is smooth. But in this section, much of the paint is cracked and the benefit is completely lost. There are countless edgy small stones as well which pained my soles incessantly. I felt the effect of natural painkillers such as endorphins and enkephalins started waning. If something called hypersensitivity sets in, the game is over. I can no longer continue to run. I did my best to find better parts of the road to minimize the detrimental effect on the sole, which takes up a huge amount of extra mental energy.

The 25.5K mark, where there is a Seven-Eleven convenience store, is a place to look forward to. My friend from my elementary school days, Ui-san, is waiting for my arrival for a memorial photo shoot. The spot is almost 10K away from the start area. He biked between them. He even bought a new electric bike to make his access easier.  There he was! When I was about to reach the peak of a long hill, he was holding his new iPhone with a smile on his face. I thanked him and turned right into a winding downhill which was soon to be replaced by the most challenging part of the course.

Between the convenience store and the intersection where the hilly route merges once again with the coastal road is the roughest part of the race, especially for those who have mainly raced in half marathons. The distance beyond 21.1K is a challenge. Steep hills present another challenge. I still remember how this part seemed endless when I first ran this race. But after years of hard training, I even welcome this area because your true fitness is tested. I love forging up the hills. The 500M uphill at the 30K mark is beyond description. You feel like a winner (though the race still has more than 10K to cover!) when you reach the top. The long downhill that follows is a tremendous reward. You feel like you have just become a racing car! And the dramatic return to the coastal road with a magnificent view of the Gulf of Tateyama up ahead is definitely one of the great highlights! 

Nine more kilometers to go! Those who cheerfully waved us off in the early stage are back along the road again, welcoming us back. Some of them remembered seeing me in the caveman's costume yell, "The caveman is back!" I wave back to them.

The kilometer signs are great motivators at this stage of the race. One by one, I count down, getting excited by the prospect of the approaching finish. But the race is not over yet.

The last coastal section, though significantly flatter than the previous one, has is own challenge. It is moderately undulated. If you go too gungho when climbing upward inclines, your legs can get cramped. A tactical ascent is required. Narrower strides and rhythm are the key to success. 

As I painfully moved forward down the final stretch, a memory of the start flashed back when I was still full of legs. Though the road surface was not particularly smooth, I didn't feel much pain because the soles were still intact, and the excitement of the festive atmosphere eased the discomfort. 

But now, after having covered more than 30 kilometers, my soles were beaten up and sore. What didn't feel uncomfortable 3 and a half hours ago now felt excruciatingly painful. I wanted to run on the painted line. But red cones are placed on it at regular intervals for traffic control. I ran on it 5 meters, and then avoided the cone and was back on the painted line again. But it was painfully obvious that this zig-zag approach wouldn't last forever. Finally, I decided to run on the main area of the road with an uncomfortable surface, gritting my teeth. 

The riverside resort complex is in sight. The finish is near. There is a river past that building. And the bridge over it. There is the largest cheering crowd on the bridge. I'm almost there. A quick left turn will get me into the final stretch. But alas! The first 50 meters are completely gravel. I had to slow down. A pain shot through my body. Why now!? Why at this most dramatic moment of the race!? I tip-toed like someone walking on burning charcoal.  A woman overtook me. And another. A man said, "The last test of endurance!" "Indeed!" said I. 

Finally, the graveled part ended, and the rest was a fluffy lawn. I surged. Like a madman. The clock was in sight. It read 3:47 something. Mamma mia! That quick!? I was thinking of something under 3:55 or thereabout. But that's good. I was not as bad as I thought I was. In no time I was on the other side of the finish line. The race is over. I yelled. And looked up into the sky. It's not sunny. But that's not bad. I did it. Running 42.195km without wearing shoes, the same feat that more than 60 years ago legendary Ethiopian marathoner Abebe Bikila accomplished in the Rome Olympics. 

<Post-Race Meal>

Me, Uisan, and Mr. Hashimoto, my runner friend dined at Rest Area Furari on our way back home. There was a good collection of dishes made with local seafood. My runner friend tried kinme dai or alfonsino, Uisan had some fried seafood, and I enjoyed having a bowl of hot steamed rice topped with grilled whale steak.

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Overall, it was a good race. I'm happy to know that I am now strong enough to run a marathon even after experiencing a meniscus tear. I hope my achievement gives hope to citizen runners who is struggling with a meniscus injury. It will heal. And you can be strong again. 

Thank you for reading.