Race Recap: No Hill, No LIfe! 40th Kyoho no Oka Road Race - September 22, 2024 / 巨峰の丘マラソン20キロの部

On September 22, 2024, I took part in the 40th Kyoho no Oka Road Race in the quaint town of Makioka, Yamanashi Prefecture. I ran the 20K (though officially, it’s 18.3K) and finished with a time of 1:42:16. Here’s how it all went down.

<Pre-Race Preparation>  

To avoid the hassle of a long early morning train ride, I stayed overnight in Central Kofu and took the 8:01 train to JR Yamanashi-Shi Station. There, I caught the shuttle bus to the race venue. A good night’s sleep in a comfy hotel left me feeling refreshed and ready to go in the morning.

Even though I arrived at the bus pool in plenty of time, the shuttle was delayed, which meant I got to the venue just 20 minutes before the scheduled start. It was a mad dash from there. Still, I couldn't resist snapping a few photos of the lively start area before getting changed. 

After picking up my bib and quickly changing, I barely had 5 minutes to spare before making it to the start line. The energy in the air was electric as everyone geared up to tackle one of the most challenging courses in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region.

<The Race Begins>  

At 9:40, the gun went off, and we were off. The streets were lined with spectators, cheering and snapping photos as we charged ahead. The first challenge hit fast—a steep downhill, followed by a brutal uphill. Within minutes, you feel the burn in your legs, your breathing gets heavier, and the temperature feels like it's rising. It’s like being in a sauna!

Here’s a look at the race’s elevation map, which speaks for itself—it’s brutally hilly. For pacing, I broke the race into four 5K sections.

<First 5K: Warming Up>  

The first 5K serves as a warm-up. If you’re used to sub-5-minute splits, you’ll need to add about a minute for each kilometer. The incline is that steep. There are some downhills along the way, and if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji. Unfortunately, today was overcast, and Mt. Fuji stayed hidden behind dark clouds.

I focused on conserving energy on the uphill and staying steady on the downhill, making sure not to push too hard early on.

<5K to 10K: The Climb>  

As the course split between the 10K and 20K runners, the real climb began. The 10K runners veered left, downhill, while we 20K runners turned right—straight into another uphill. This section was a grind, with a steady climb leading to the highest point just before the 10K mark.

My strategy here was simple: shorter steps, higher cadence, and keeping my eyes on the ground ahead, not the endless hill. This approach worked, and I reached the 10K mark faster than last year. From here, it was mostly downhill—except for three key climbs ahead.

<10K to 15K: Surviving the Wall>  

After a steep, winding descent, I hit the first big uphill of the second half, a straight incline that feels like running into a wall. By this point, your legs are feeling it, and it’s tough to maintain a fast cadence. You just have to grit your teeth and push through.

But after conquering that hill, you’re rewarded with the longest downhill stretch of the race. Most runners surge here, myself included, though I held back a bit. My minimalist shoes don’t provide much cushioning, and the pounding downhill takes a toll on the quads. Plus, I knew two more punishing hills were waiting for me at 15K and with 1K to go.

I was overtaken by quite a few runners in high-tech shoes on the descent, but I stayed focused. My goal was to run the race my way.

<15K to Finish: The Final Climb>  

Section 3 ended as we turned onto a narrow street, and the toughest hill of the race loomed ahead—a brutal 500-meter climb. Most runners slowed to a walk here, but I was determined to keep running. This race isn’t just about testing my fitness; it’s training for even bigger races ahead.

To my surprise, the runners who had passed me earlier were now struggling on the hill, some walking, while I managed to overtake them. But once we crested the hill, they surged ahead again on the downhill stretch.

As the course wound through more suburban streets, the roof of the elementary school gym—our finish line—came into view. But the race wasn’t over yet. One last hill awaited us, shorter but just as brutal as the others.

<The Final Push>  

The runners who had passed me earlier slowed on this final climb, and I gave it everything I had left. I passed a few familiar faces, including some of those runners in carbon-plated super shoes. Once I reached the top, I didn’t look back, focusing on the last 800 meters. 

No one passed me after that final hill, and I crossed the line feeling proud. My official time was 1:42:16, the 7th fastest time in my 12 years running this race. Not bad for a 58-year-old who once had a meniscus tear!

The Kyoho grapes they handed out at the finish were out of this world—definitely the best post-race treat I’ve had.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to seeing all the citizen runners out there again next year. You all inspire me to keep pushing and giving it my all in races. I can't thank you enough.

Boston Marathon 2024

The 2024 Boston Marathon was held on April 15. Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia won with a respectable time of 2:06:17. 

Sisay, with a personal best of 2:01:48 from the Valencia Marathon 2023, took an early lead with a sudden burst of speed. No one chased him, which is not surprising. Boston is one of the toughest major marathons, with a series of big hills near the end where all sorts of drama can happen.

Though he slowed down a bit in the last few miles, allowing chasers to close in, he managed to maintain a comfortable lead through the infamous hills to touch the tape.

In the women's elite field, Kenya's Helen Obiri successfully defended her title with a time of 2:22:27. She ran neck-and-neck with her rival until a mile to go, but soon pulled away with an iconic burst of speed. 

In the elite men's field, Yuma Morii of Kyoto, Japan, finished 8th with a time of 2:09:59, becoming only the second Japanese after Toshihiko Seko to run the world's oldest marathon under 2:10:00. 

Paris Olympics nominee Suguru Osako finished 13th with a time of 2:11:47.

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.

*****************************

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.

**************************************

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.   

年末合同練習：箱根一区/Year-End Distance Challenge: 1st Leg of Hakone Ekiden Relay Race

 (Note there is an English version available at the end.)

年末恒例のラン友との合同練習を無事終えた。今年の挑戦は箱根駅伝１区。神田ラフィネを9時半に出発したのち、600㍍先にある駅伝のスタート／ゴール地点読売読売本社ビルを表敬訪問。その後日比谷通りを南東へ進み第一京浜へ合流すると、一路鶴見中継所を目指して走り始めた。雲一つない晴天の金曜日。都心を離れるとともに、少しずつ高くなる太陽を遮る建物が減り気温は適度に上昇し始める。信号に停められる頻度が減り走り続ける時間が長くなるにつれて、仲間の何人かはウィンドブレーカーを脱いだり、半袖で走り始めた。

スタートから約18㌔。1区屈指の勝負所「六郷橋」を通過する。多摩川の広大な河原を一望する名所は、年末の陽光に満たされ輝かしく、それまでの疲れを癒やす一服の清涼剤となった。

橋を渡り切ると中継所までは残り3㌔強。六郷橋の下りを利用して加速し、一位でタスキを渡すべく持てる全てを捧げ心肺機能の限界に挑み、乳酸地獄に抗う箱根の勇者の幻を脳裏に思い描きながら、重くなりつつ脚を一歩一歩前へ進めた。

スタートから約3時間半。目標の鶴見中継所に到着。記念碑の前で雄姿を写真に収めた。

練習後は鶴見市場の『パリカール』なるカレーの名店でランチをとった。仲間の幾人かはビールで完遂を祝った。私ともう一人のラン友は追加練習のためにアルコールは控えた。

昼食後３人は神田のランステへ戻り、私ともう一人はJR蒲田駅までの7.1㌔を追加で走り練習を終えた。

気付けば30㌔弱を走破する楽しくも充実のLSDトレーニングとなった。前日のインターバルトレーニングと連動して、とても効果的な練習となったことを嬉しく思う。

今日は心身のコンディショングを目的とする軽いジョギングを深夜に実施する予定。そして明日大晦日は、今年最後の走り納め、『30㌔ペース走』を実施する。1月28日（日）の館山若潮マラソンの調整に最も重要な練習だ。午後10時ごろ家を出て、星空の下で走りながら新年を迎えたい。まる。

I completed my annual year-end joint training with my friends. This year's challenge was running the first leg of the Hakone Ekiden. Departing from Kanda Raffine at 9:30 a.m., we paid a visit to the Yomiuri Shinbun Head Office building, 600 meters away from the running base. After that, we went down Hibiya Dori to join Daiichi Keihin and started running toward the Tsurumi relay station. It was a cloudless Friday. As we left central Tokyo, the temperature began to rise moderately as fewer buildings blocked the gradually rising sun. As we stopped less often by traffic lights, we came to run longer and longer without a break. Some of my fellow runners took off their windbreakers or started running in short sleeves.

About 18 kilometers from the start, we passed the Rokugo Bridge, one of the most critical points in the first leg competition. The famous spot overlooking the vast riverbank of the Tama River was bright with sunlight, and it was a refreshing break from the fatigue that had been building up to that point.

After crossing the bridge, there were only a little more than 3 kilometers to reach the relay station. Taking advantage of the downhill slope of the Rokugo Bridge, Hakone athletes accelerate even though their legs may be getting heavier. I pictured in my mind's eye those brave runners of Hakone fighting against lactic acid build-up, challenging the limits of their cardiovascular capacity with everything they have just to pass their tasuki sash in the first place.

About three and a half hours after the start. We arrived at our goal--the Tsurumi relay station. We got a picture taken at a memorial granite monument.

After the run, we had lunch at a famous curry restaurant called "Parikar" in Tsurumi Ichiba. Some of us celebrated the completion with beer. Me and one other friend of mine friend didn’t drink alcohol because we were planning to run a few extra miles after lunch.

After lunch, the three of us returned to the run-station in Kanda, while the other and I completed an additional 7.1 km run to JR Kamata Station.

We found ourselves running a little less than 30 kilometers, making it a fun and fulfilling LSD training session. I am glad that the training was very effective in conjunction with the interval training on the previous day.

Today, I plan to go for a light jogging session late at night for physical and mental conditioning. Tomorrow, on New Year's Eve, I will finish my last run of the year with a 30km tempo run, the most important training for the Tateyama Wakashio Marathon to be held on January 28 (Sunday). I will leave home around 10 p.m. and run under the stars to welcome the New Year.

Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales/井上尚弥 vs マーロン・タパレス

スーパー・バンタム級四団体統一王者決定戦『井上尚弥（WBC/WBO）×マーロン・タパレス（WBA/IBF）戦』を動画で視聴した。試合は、井上尚弥選手が10ラウンドKOで勝利を飾った。井上尚弥選手おめでとう！

さて試合はバンタム級時代の一方的な勝ち方を見慣れたファンには、やや見慣れない息の詰まる内容だったと思う。蓋を開ければ大半の予想通りにモンスターのKO勝利に終わったこの試合は、WBA/IBFの統一王者マーロン・タパレスの技術と精神力によって見ごたえのある試合となった。以下、その見どころについて私のしろうとなりの所感を3点記述する。

＜①タパレス選手のフィジカル＞

試合を面白くした要因の一つはタパレス選手のフィジカルの強さだと思った。具体的に印象に残ったのは以下の３点だった：

（１）上半身の柔らかさ

タパレス選手は上半身が柔らかかった。それを生かしたディフェンスによって井上尚弥選手の武器である右ストレートを寸前でかわす場面が時折見られた。この右ストレートが正面からまとも入って試合開始70秒で決着のついたファン・カルロス・パヤノ（Juan Carlos Payano）戦のように前半で決着がつかなかった一因がここにあると思う。

（２）動体視力の良さ

タパレス選手は、井上尚弥選手のワンツーをバックステップによって前半巧みに回避していた。これはタパレス選手の動体視力の良さの証左の一つと思われた。しかしこの能力は、後半にダメージが蓄積すると共に少しずつ失われたようだ。また後半のラウンドで、自分のパンチを当てるために距離を詰めた際にはその効力は失われ、結果的にモンスターのストレートを数多く被弾することになったように見えた。

（３）ノーモーションのジャブ＆ストレート

タパレス選手のジャブとストレートの中で、ノーモーションで繰り出されたパンチが７ラウンドと８ラウンドに数回、モンスターの顔面をとらえる場面があった。おそらくはタパレス選手の得意パンチなのだろう。しかしこれについては井上選手も同等かそれ以上の能力を持っている。また試合の中では散発的だった。結果として、優位を獲得するほどの武器にはならなかったようだ。試合後の会見では、井上選手の「スピード」が異次元であったことをタパレス選手自身が証言している。

＜②タパレス選手のメンタル＞

タパレス選手はメンタルの強い選手だった。モンスターの強烈はパンチを被弾しても顔の出さず、ボディを貰った時には、自分の腹をグローブで叩く「もっと打ってこい」と言わんばかりのジェスチャーを示した。また、試合を通じて、タパレスが中央に立ってモンスターがロープ沿いを回る構図が多々あった。そして連打の後には、打たれっぱなしで終わらず、連打を返すシーンがも見られた。特に最初のダウンを喫した４ラウンド後の二つのラウンドでは、闘志を前面に出したそうした姿勢が顕著だったと記憶する。とても勇猛なボクサーだった。

＜③井上選手の準備＞

さて、ここまで述べてきたタパレス選手の優れた特長を、モンスターはいかに凌駕し、勝利を手にしたのだろう。Stephen Fulton戦と比較して明らかに進化したと思われる点を２点に集約して述べる。

（Ａ）パワーアップ

井上尚弥選手は、Stephen Fulton戦の時よりも身体がゴツくなって見えた。２戦してスーパーバンタムの身体造りが完成形に近づいた、そんな印象を受けた。私が「おおぅ」と思ったのは「僧帽筋」だ。首の両脇が富士山の裾野のようにもっこり盛り上がっていた。僧帽筋は腕を肩よりも上の方へあげる際に活躍する筋肉だといわれる。モンスターは、この筋肉がしろうとの私が目で見てわかるくらい身体的にハードな訓練をして試合当日を迎えたのだろう。また体幹も明らかに一回り太くなって見えた。その結果か、右ストレート一発とっても「重さ」が明らかに違って見えた。試合後の会見で、「倒れた時は正直驚いた」と本人に言わしめた右ストレートは、半分ガードの上から当たったようだが、それでも決定打となった要因は、それまでガードの上から被弾した多くの右ストレートと同様に、ガードの上からでもダメージを与えらえるほど「破壊力」があった、ということなのだろう。

（Ｂ）カスタマイズされた戦略

今回のモンスターの戦い方は、タパレスという選手の特徴に合わせてカスタマイズされて見えた。ビジネスでは顧客分析が重要な役目を果たす。ボクシングの対戦相手をビジネスのカスタマーと呼ぶのは変かもしれないが、「制することで収益を得る」という点では、タパレスをカスタマーと捉えてもよかろう。例えば、今回のお客様のタパレスはサウスポーだ。サウスポーのカスタマーには、右のパンチが入りやすい。今回の試合では、得意の右ストレートは、前回のStephen Fulton戦と同様に、今回の試合でもカギを握った。しかし、前回あまり見られなかったが、今回は印象に残ったショットがあった。右のアッパーだ。決定打にはならなかった。しかし、モンスターはサウスポーのタパレスに合わせて、このショットをカスタマイズしていることがわかる。前回のStephen Fulton戦では、左のボディジャブがStephen Fulton用にカスタマイズされた戦略の一つだった。今回は右のアッパーがそれだったと思う。

さてこうして書いていると、ボクシングの試合は、裁判の前に弁護士が行う準備に匹敵する知的作業を伴うことが良くわかる。だからといって頭で分かったことをフィジカルに体現できるかはまた別の話だ。そこには不断のトレーニングがあったに違いない。

会見の中でモンスターは「やって来たことが間違っていなかったことが証明されて嬉しい」という趣旨のコメントを述べていた。まるで科学者が仮説を検証する実験に成功したような口ぶりだ。まさにボクシングというスポーツが、ある次元では仮説を試合で検証する科学の側面を持つことの証左だと思う。またそうとらえることで、個人的にはボクシングというスポーツを、これからもいろんな角度から楽しく視聴できるように思う。

以上、スーパー・バンタム級四団体統一王者決定戦『井上尚弥（WBC/WBO）×マーロン・タパレス（WBA/IBF）戦』の所感でした。まる。