水戸黄門漫遊マラソン応援記／A Day at the Mito Komon Marathon: A Spectator's Adventure

台風接近の曇天の中、愛馬に跨り常磐道を北上すること１時間弱。茨城県水戸市を訪れた。水戸黄門漫遊マラソンの応援が狙いだ。ラン友のHさんが出走する。

応援スポットには、内原町のローソンを選んだ。前日の夜応援ナビとGoogle Mapsの突き合わせリサーチの結果、交通規制の影響が最も少ないのがこのスポットと判断されたからだ。さらに中間点に近い折り返しスポットからそう遠くないこの場所は、二度にわたり走者に声援を贈れる。

現地へ着くと、目的地のローソンの一区画手前で交通規制が行われており、車両は迂回を余儀なくされた。しかし二輪車に跨る自分は、自動車では通行の叶わない住宅街の細道を通り、あと一区画だけ車両を目的地に接近させて、そこでエンジンを切った。

エンジンを切った二輪車は手で押せば歩行者である。ローソンの駐車場にバイクを停めて、応援を始めた。

応援スポットへ着いたのは、スタートから１時間半近く経った頃だった。２０㌔手前のポイントを、その時刻に通過するランナーはサブスリー圏内の猛者である。百戦錬磨の肉体は日に焼け、細い上半身の下で躍動する両脚には、鑿（ﾉﾐ）で削りだしたように細く美しい筋肉が着地の度に浮かび上がる。

応援を始めて間もなく、次々と走り去る海千山千の長距離走の黒帯たちの中に、カーキの上下のウエアをまとった地味なランナーの姿をみとめた。裸足である！Christopher Mcdougallのベストセラー“Born to Run”以降一時ブームを巻き起こしたベアフットランニング。しかしその後Nikeの厚底シューズが生まれ、ベアフットランニングのブームは去った。絶滅の危機に瀕する長距離界の伝説Abebe Bikilaの崇高な伝統であるそのベアフットランニングの継承者が、なんとこの水戸黄門漫遊マラソンに居たのだった！

感動に私は雄叫んだ。「はだし、かっこいいぞーっ！！」　尚、裸足の走者の過ぎ去った後、だいぶしばらくしてからサブ３の集団がペーサーと共にやってきたので、前述の裸足の走者は、サブ３よりも達成者が少ない「裸足によるフルマラソンの完走」を「サブエガ」ペースで目指していたことになる。なんと啓発的行為だろう！！

さて、周囲をはばからぬ私の大声は他の観戦者たちの勇気を喚起したようで、ランナーの進み行く先に陣取っていた沿道からは、次々と大きな声援が走者に投げかけられた。みんな声を出して声援したかったのにためらっていたようだ。

スタートから２時間が過ぎてしばらくするとラン友のＨさんが応援ナビ上で応援スポットに接近して来た。しかし残念ながら往路での発見には失敗した。スマホのＧＰＳ精度が低いのかもしれない。再び集中して復路での発見に臨む。そして往路通過から１５分過ぎ、Hさんの姿を発見した。「Hさ～～～～～～～～～～～～～～ん」 周囲に木霊する大音量でHさんの名を及ぶ。Hさんが首を左右にふりながら声の主を探す様子が見える。私は応援に駆けつけることをHさんに言っていない。「Hさ～～～～～～～～～～～～～～ん」 もう一度Hさんの名を呼ぶ。こちらへ向かってかけてくるHさんが私の姿に気が付くのがわかった。私は手を大きく振る。Hさんは私の方を見ている。しかし戸惑った表情を浮かべている。「どうしてここにいるんですか？？？」と表情は言っているように見えた。「後半戦も力強く！」と叫ぶ私に、手を振って応えながら交差点を左に折れてHさんの姿が消えた・・・

Hさんの応援後、しばらく私は沿道に残り走者へ声援を贈り続けた。走者の反応は、目標タイムによって違う。目標タイムが４時間から５時間前後の方々は、気力が充実していて声援の反応が良い。一方目標タイムがそれよりも極端に遅い場合、声援へ反応することも大変と感じられるほど、消耗している方が多い。逆にそれよりもはるかに速い走者は、余裕で明るい反応を返してくれる方と、タイムを目指して前しか見ていない真剣そのものの走者と真っ二つに分かれる。走ることと同じくらい、観戦することも学びが多い。まさに「観戦道」とでも名付けたいほど、奥が深い。普段は走者として応援してもらう立場になることの多い自分が、応援する側に回って学んだ深淵なる境地がそこにある。

やがて走者はことごとく走り去り、道路が静かになった。私の傍で縁石に腰かけ声援を贈っていた老婆がゆっくりと立ち上がると私と目が合った。ミッキーマウスをあしらった小さな黒いショルダーをかけて、洒落た上着を羽織って小ぎれいにしている。聞けば近くに住むという。昭和１０年生まれ、御年９１才。毎年応援に来るらしい。健脚を称え、長寿と健康を祈念して別れを告げた。

応援後は、近くにある植物園に隣接したNoulandなるCaféで食事をした。勤め先の教材の次回号の校正作業が残っていて、フレッシュな空気の中で作業に集中したかったので、食後は珈琲を飲みながら作業に没頭した。

気が付くと雨が天井を叩く音がする。帰りは雨の中の走行になりそうだ。会計の際、女性の定員が「バイク大丈夫ですか」と心配してくれた。サドルバッグにレインウエアを積んである旨伝えると、「お気をつけて」と言ってくれた。とても良い店だった。常陸牛のビビンパを頂いたが美味しかった。近くに植物がたくさんある、という事実だけでも気持ちが落ち着く。途中トイレに中座する際、ハウスの中にある植物の間を練り歩いた。その時、明らかに空気が清い心地がした。同じ感覚を、友部SAのETC専用出口から出て最初に通り抜ける森林の合間の道路でも感じた。空気が明らかに清く美味しい。周辺に暮らす人がうらやましい。

復路の常磐道の交通量は概ね平常で、渋滞が予測される区間の手前で圏央道へ入った自分は、渋滞に影響を受けることなく高速を降りた。高速を降りた後は、関東一帯にその名を轟かせるラーメンの名店「ラーメンショップ牛久結束店」への立ち寄りを検討していた。しかし通過の際目にした店頭には長蛇の列が形成されていたので断念した。私の観察では、当店に唯一行列が無かった時間帯は、日曜日の夜１０時過ぎだ。来店を検討している方は参考にされたい。

帰宅後、水戸黄門漫遊マラソンを無事完走したHさんとメッセンジャーでやりとりをした。遠征することを私から事前に知らされていなかったので、「最初自身の名前が叫ばれるのを耳にした時、『幻聴』かとおもった」というHさんとは「まだハーフの手前なので『幻聴』には早いのでは」といった友情を込めた戯言を交わした。

後で知ったことだが、水戸黄門漫遊マラソンの大会評価の高さは全国屈指であり、給食、給水、応援の充実が、その一翼を担うと言う。数々のフルマラソンを知るHさんが言うのだから本当だ。そして水戸黄門漫遊マラソンには「裸足」の仲間がいることも知った。来年は参加を検討したい。

走者の皆さん、激走、力走、お疲れさまでした。完走されたすべての走者の皆さん、おめでとうございました。そして挑戦したすべての市民ランナーの皆さん、こころから敬意を表します。Happy running!

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Under a cloudy sky, with a typhoon approaching, I hopped on my motorcycle and headed north on the Joban Expressway. Less than an hour later, I arrived in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. My mission was to cheer on the runners in the Mito Komon Manyu Marathon, in which my running buddy Mr. H was taking part.

I had chosen a Lawson convenience store in Uchihara as my cheering spot. The night before, I had carefully compared the race's live tracking app with Google Maps. After all that research, I decided that this location would be the easiest to reach despite the road closures. It was also not far from a U-turn point near the halfway mark, which meant I could cheer for the runners twice.

When I arrived, I found that the road was closed one block before the Lawson I was aiming for. Cars had to take a detour. But I was on two wheels, not four. I rode through a narrow residential street that cars could not use and got one block closer to my destination. Then I switched off the engine.

A motorcycle with its engine off, when pushed by hand, is a pedestrian.  I pushed my bike into the Lawson parking lot, parked it, and began my cheering mission.

It was almost an hour and a half after the start when I reached my spot. At this point, runners passing the 20K mark were the real deal, many of them on track to finish in under three hours. Their bodies showed years of hard training. Their skin was tanned, and beneath their slim upper bodies, the muscles in their legs stood out beautifully with every footstrike, as if a sculptor had carved them with a chisel.

Not long after I started cheering, I spotted a rather inconspicuous runner among the many battle-hardened long-distance black belts rushing past. He was wearing khaki running clothes.

And he was barefoot!

Barefoot running enjoyed a brief boom after Christopher McDougall's bestseller Born to Run came out. But then Nike's thick-soled running shoes arrived, and the barefoot-running boom faded away. I had thought that this noble tradition, made famous by the legendary Abebe Bikila, was in danger of extinction in the world of distance running.

And yet, here was a barefoot runner at the Mito Komon Manyu Marathon!

I was so moved that I shouted at the top of my lungs, "BAREFOOT! LOOKING GOOD!"

It was quite some time after this barefoot runner had passed that the sub-three-hour pace group came along with its pacers. This meant that our barefoot hero was aiming to complete the marathon barefoot at a pace fast enough for a sub-3:00 finish. In other words, he was going for a sub-Ega!

For those unfamiliar with Japanese running slang, a sub-Ega means finishing a marathon in under 2 hours and 50 minutes. So this runner was aiming for something even more unusual than a sub-three-hour barefoot marathon: a sub-2:50 barefoot marathon. What an inspiring challenge!

My loud, shameless cheering seemed to give the other spectators the courage to speak up, too. One after another, people further along the course began shouting encouragement to the runners. Perhaps they had all wanted to cheer loudly but had been too shy to be the first to do so. If so, I was happy to have broken the ice!

A little after two hours had passed since the start, Mr. H began approaching my cheering spot on the race-tracking app. Unfortunately, I failed to spot him on his first pass. Perhaps the GPS on my phone was not accurate enough.

I refocused and prepared for his return on the other side of the road. About 15 minutes after his first pass, I finally spotted him.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"

I shouted his name at full volume. My voice echoed all around the area. I could see Mr. H turning his head from side to side, trying to find the source of the mysterious voice.

I had not told him that I would come to cheer him on.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"

I shouted his name again. This time, I could see him spot me and realizing who I was. I waved both arms high in the air.

Mr. H was looking straight at me, but his face showed complete confusion. His expression seemed to be asking, "What on earth are you doing here?!"

"Stay strong for the second half!" I shouted.

He waved back as he turned left at the intersection and disappeared from view.

After cheering Mr. H on, I stayed by the roadside for a while longer, continuing to encourage the runners.

I noticed that their reactions varied depending on their target finishing times.

Runners aiming for somewhere around four to five hours often seemed full of energy and responded enthusiastically to the cheers. On the other hand, many runners whose target times were much slower looked so exhausted that even reacting to a cheer seemed like hard work.

The much faster runners fell into two very different groups, too. Some responded with cheerful smiles, looking as if they had plenty of energy to spare. Others had a serious, determined look and kept their eyes firmly on the road ahead, focused entirely on their target times.

Watching a race can teach you almost as much as running one yourself. The experience is so deep that I feel it deserves its own name: the Way of Spectating.

I usually find myself on the receiving end of cheers as a runner. By taking my place on the other side of the road, I discovered a whole new world of insight into the art of encouraging others. There is much more to it than simply shouting, "Keep going!"

Eventually, every runner had passed, and the road grew quiet.

An elderly woman who had been sitting on the curb beside me, cheering the runners on, slowly stood up. Our eyes met.

She was neatly dressed in a stylish jacket and carried a small black shoulder bag decorated with Mickey Mouse. When I asked her about herself, she told me that she lived nearby. Born in 1935, she was 91 years old. Apparently, she came to cheer on the runners every year.

I praised her for her strong legs, wished her many more years of good health, and said goodbye.

After the race, I went to a café called Nouland, next to a nearby botanical garden. I still had some proofreading to do for the next issue of the teaching materials published by my employer. I wanted to concentrate in the fresh air, so after lunch, I ordered a coffee and got down to work.

Before I knew it, rain was drumming against the roof. It looked as though I would be riding home in the rain.

When I paid the bill, a female staff member asked me, "Will you be all right, riding on your motorcycle?" I told her that I had rain gear in my saddlebag. She replied, "Take care on your way home."

The place was lovely. I had ordered a bibimbap made with Hitachi beef, a local specialty, and it was delicious. Just knowing that there were so many plants nearby made me feel relaxed.

At one point, I got up to use the restroom. On my way, I wandered among the plants inside the greenhouse. The air there felt noticeably cleaner.

I had experienced the same feeling on the road through the woods just after leaving the ETC-only exit at Tomobe Service Area. The air seemed unmistakably fresh and almost delicious. I envied the people who lived in those surroundings.

On the way home, traffic on the Joban Expressway was mostly normal. I joined the Ken-O Expressway before reaching a section where congestion was expected, so I was able to leave the expressway without getting caught in a traffic jam.

After leaving the highway, I considered stopping at Ramen Shop Ushiku Kessoku, a famous ramen restaurant known throughout the Kanto region. Unfortunately, when I passed by, there was a very long line outside. I gave up.

According to my observations, the only time I have ever seen this restaurant without a queue was after 10 p.m. on a Sunday. If you are thinking of visiting, you might want to keep that in mind!

After returning home, I exchanged messages with Mr. H, who had successfully completed the Mito Komon Manyu Marathon.

Since I had not told him in advance that I would make the trip to cheer him on, he told me that when he first heard someone shouting his name, he wondered if he was experiencing an auditory hallucination.

I replied that since he had not even reached the halfway point yet, it was a little too early in the race for auditory hallucinations!

We enjoyed a few more jokes like that, the kind that only running buddies can fully appreciate.

I later learned from Mr. H that the Mito Komon Manyu Marathon is one of Japan's highest-rated marathons. Its excellent food stations, water stations, and enthusiastic crowd support are said to be among the reasons for its popularity.

Mr. H has run many marathons, so I trust what he says about the race.

I also learned that there is a fellow barefoot runner out there taking part in the Mito Komon Manyu Marathon. That alone makes me consider entering the race myself next year.

To all the runners who gave it their all, whether you were racing hard or simply pushing through to the finish, well done!

Congratulations to everyone who completed the marathon. And to every recreational runner who took on the challenge, I offer my heartfelt respect.

Happy running!

三春滝桜お花見ラン/Cherry Blossom 三春滝桜お花見ラン/Sakura Run 2026

福島県は、三春の滝桜を見てきた。綺麗だった。

福島へは当初の計画通りバイクで行った

夜中の2時に千葉の住まいを後にし、

途中PA＆SAで小休止をとりながら、

霧雨の中を北上すること約5時間半、

郡山中央スマートICから4㌔にある開成山公園傍の、

ラン友Mさんの住まいへ7時半に到着した。

運転用の衣類を脱ぎランニングギアを羽織ると、

Mさんのご友人が迎えに来るまでに時間があったので、

朝露残る開成山公園をウォームアップに一周した。

公園内は快活な地元の老若男女で溢れていて、

公園の輪郭に沿って縫う遊歩道の上を、元気溌剌の少年少女達が、

前を走るお父さんやお母さんの背中を追い駆けて欣喜雀躍とする姿が

愉快に眺められた。

ウォームアップを終えてMさんの住まいへ戻るのとほぼ同時に、

Mさんのお友達のMomochiさんが車で到着した。

Mさんと共に早速Momochiさんの車に乗り込むと、

今回の花見ランに参加する他のメンバーとの待ち合わせ場所へと向かった。

待ち合わせ場所まではものの5分で到着した。

待ち合わせ場所にはイベントの主催者、ランクラブのK隊長が既に到着されており、

新参者の自分は挨拶かたがた同行が叶ったことへの喜びと謝意を伝えた。

さらにそこへMさんのご友人のBoppoさんと仙台から見えられた

Seigoさん、Nakajiさん、Kosekiさんの3名が加わり、

合計8名となったランニングチームは、日本屈指の観光名所、

三春の滝桜を目指した。

郡山市街の標高と、滝桜の標高差は50㍍程度。三春の滝桜の方が若干標高が高い程度。

にも拘らず、目的地への道のりは、その風光明媚とは裏腹に、幾多の上り下りを含む過酷な行程だった。

しかし途中には、コンビニエンスストアへの数回の立ち寄りと、

味わい深い神社での小休止などが、リーダーであるK隊長によって絶妙に計画されており、

急な傾斜による脚への影響やエネルギーの消耗に伴う空腹などの、

走ることにまつわるくさぐさのストレスは、気づくと消える春靄（しゅんあい）のように、

強く意識される前に心から消えた。

途中立ち寄った三春ダムの壮観は筆舌に尽くしがたかったが、

目的地に近づくごとにその数を増す通り沿いの染井吉野が、

花見には時期尚早であることを、K隊長はじめ他の参加者も少し残念がっていて、

よもや大本命の滝桜までもが、壮麗を愛でるには時期まだ早しとなりはしないかと、

多少の不安を皆が感じていなくはなかったから、

遂に滝桜の薄紅が皆の視界に入った瞬間の安堵と歓喜は、とても言葉では言い表せなかった。

滝桜では、思い出の美しさを写真に収め、休憩所に腰を下ろして売店で買い求めた軽食に舌鼓を打ちながら皆と談笑した。

復路では、参加者が飽きぬように別のルートが用意されていて、

行く先々で目にする見事な枝ぶりの幾多の桜に、参加者のMomochiさんが、はとバスガイド顔負けのユーモラスな解説を提供し、

皆の心を癒した。

郡山市街の出発点と三春の滝桜の間には、私の記憶の範囲でも、最低３つの丘があり、

往路復路と合わせると合計６つの丘を越えることになる。

行きはよいよい帰りは恐いと諺にあるが、往路で既に10㌔以上走っていた足には、

復路の坂は試練となった。

そんなことだから、遂に出発点の駐車場がある遊戯施設の看板が視界に入った時の、

ゴール到着への期待感の高まりと、遂にたどり着いた時に歓喜には、また格別のものがあった。

他の参加者のガーミンの精度により走行距離はおおよそ24～26㌔の間だったようである。

2月の青梅マラソン以来、走っても4～7㌔前後だった自分には、久しぶりのロングランだったが、

K隊長の絶妙なペース配分のお陰で、無事完遂できた。

私は市民ランナーとしてスタミナが無い方ではないが、本日参加のメンバーの皆さんの

スタミナと安定感には感嘆した。

聞けば私以外の参加者は、ほぼ全員ウルトラマラソン経験者で、

大会参加歴のないMさんも3月の月間走行距離が340㌔だという。

今思えば今日の自分は、金糸が３～４本入った黒帯の猛者に混ざって、

拳の握り方から学びなおす白帯の道場生のような存在だったと思う。

初めから最後まで同じフォームで同じペースでじんわりと、しかし安定的に走り続ける

ウルトラマラソナーとの三春滝桜お花見ランから得たインスピレーションは計り知れない。

さて、花見ラン完遂の後には、地元の名店で蕎麦と天丼に舌鼓を打った。

老いた内臓に、かくも立派な食力がいまだに残っていることに驚かされるほど、

大盛の蕎麦と大海老天が３つものった天丼を、まるでわんこそばの蕎麦をさらりと攫（さら）うように

ぺろりと平らげてしまった。

食後男性軍は湯へ浸かりに行ったが、Mさんのお家に荷物を置かせてもらっていた私は、

丁重に辞退しそのまま帰途へ着いた。

帰りは往路とは違う磐越道～常磐道ルートで自宅を目指した。

同じルートは退屈だし、深夜の運転には少しでも集中力を必要とする要素がある方が、

安全運転に資すると思ったからだ。

しかし磐越道へ入るやいなや、経験したことの無いような睡魔に襲われ、安全運転の継続に黄色信号が点滅した。

大声で歌を歌ったり、強くニーグリップをして筋肉への血流を高めようとしたが無理で、

思わず路肩に駐車しようかと思ったが、三春SAまで数キロという表示が見えたので、

最後の力を振り絞ってバイクを走らせた。

三春SAの駐車スペースでバイクのエンジンを切った時の安堵は言葉にできなかった。

高速休憩時の仮眠を想定してキャンプ用のマットを家から持参していたので、

広い空き地を見つけると、マットに空気を入れてふかふかにすると、

枯れ草の上に敷いてその上に横たわり、気づくと寝落ちしていた。

目が覚めたのは陽の落ちた夕暮れ時だった。時計を見ると3時間は経っていた。

短くも眠りは深かったようで、以降の走行中意識は明晰を極め、以降運転継続を巡る不安は払しょくされ、

深夜前、無事自宅に帰還した。

帰宅するとすぐ熱い風呂に入り、寝間着に着替え布団へ入ると一瞬で寝落ちした。・・・

次目を覚ました時、就寝から12時間が経過していた。まる。

I went to Fukushima to see Miharu’s Takizakura. It was beautiful.

As planned, I rode my motorcycle there.

I left my home in Chiba at 2 a.m.

As I took short breaks at parking and service areas along the way,

I rode north through light mist for about five and a half hours.

At 7:30, I arrived at the home of my running friend M-san, near Kaiseizan Park, about four kilometers from Koriyama-Chuo Smart IC.

I changed out of my riding clothes and into running gear.

Since we had some time before M-san’s friend came to pick us up,

M-san and I jogged one easy lap around Kaiseizan Park, still silvered with morning dew.

The park was lively with locals of all ages.

Along the path that traces its edges, bright-eyed children ran after their fathers and mothers,

laughing as they tried to catch up.

It was a joyful sight.

Just as I returned to M-san’s house, Momochi-san arrived by car.

M-san and I got in, and we headed to the meeting point for the other runners joining the cherry blossom run.

We arrived in five minutes.

The organizer, Captain K of the running club, was already there.

As a newcomer, I greeted him and expressed my gratitude for being allowed to join.

Soon Boppo-san, another friend of M-san, and three runners from Sendai—Seigo-san, Nakaji-san, and Koseki-san—arrived.

With eight of us in total, we set off toward one of Japan’s most celebrated sights: Miharu’s Takizakura.

The difference in elevation between Koriyama and Takizakura is only about fifty meters.

Yet the road, despite its peaceful scenery, rose and fell again and again.

It was more demanding than we expected.

Still, Captain K had planned the route with care.

We stopped at convenience stores from time to time,

and took a quiet break at a small, weathered shrine.

The strain in our legs and the slow hunger from the hills

faded before they could take hold—

like spring haze dissolving in the air.

The view at Miharu Dam along the way was magnificent beyond words.

But as we ran, we noticed that the Somei Yoshino trees lining the streets were not yet in full bloom.

Some of us wondered—

what if even Takizakura was still too early?

Then, at last, its pale pink came into view.

The relief and joy we felt in that moment cannot be put into words.

At Takizakura, we took photos to hold the memory.

We sat at a rest area, ate light snacks from a nearby stand,

and talked and laughed together.

On the way back, a different route awaited us.

Everywhere we looked, splendid cherry trees stretched their branches wide.

Momochi-san offered cheerful, almost tour-guide-like commentary,

and our tired hearts felt lighter.

Between Koriyama and Takizakura lie at least three hills.

Going there and back meant crossing six.

As the saying goes, “The going is easy, the return is hard.”

After more than ten kilometers already in our legs,

the hills on the way back felt like a true test.

So when the sign of the amusement facility near our starting parking lot finally came into view,

our anticipation swelled.

Reaching the goal brought a special kind of joy.

According to others’ Garmin watches, we had run roughly 24 to 26 kilometers.

Since the Ome Marathon in February, I had been running only four to seven kilometers at a time.

This was my first long run in a while.

Thanks to Captain K’s perfect pacing, I finished safely.

I consider myself a runner with decent stamina.

Yet I was deeply impressed by the strength and steadiness of the others.

Almost everyone had experience in ultramarathons.

Even M, who has never raced, had run 340 kilometers in March alone.

Looking back, I felt like a white belt among black belts threaded with gold—

a novice relearning how to make a fist.

To run beside ultramarathoners who kept the same form and pace from start to finish,

steady and unwavering,

gave me inspiration beyond measure.

After the run, we enjoyed soba and tempura at a well-known local restaurant.

I surprised myself by finishing a large serving of soba

and a bowl topped with three giant shrimp tempura—

as easily as if I were eating bite-sized noodles.

The men went to a bath afterward,

but since my luggage was at M-san’s house, I politely declined and began my journey home.

This time I took a different route—the Ban-etsu Expressway to the Joban Expressway.

Driving the same road felt dull,

and I thought a little variety would help me stay alert on the late-night ride.

But as soon as I entered the Ban-etsu Expressway,

an overwhelming wave of sleepiness struck me.

I sang loudly.

I tightened my knees against the bike to stir my blood.

Nothing worked.

Just as I considered pulling over, I saw a sign: Miharu Service Area, a few kilometers ahead.

Gathering my last strength, I rode on.

The relief I felt when I turned off the engine at Miharu Service Area was indescribable.

I had brought a camping mat for this very reason.

Finding an open patch of ground, I inflated it, laid it over the dry grass,

and lay down.

Before I knew it, I was asleep.

I woke at dusk.

Three hours had passed.

The sleep had been short but deep.

After that, my mind was clear, my worries gone,

and before midnight I returned home safely.

I took a hot bath, changed into pajamas,

and fell asleep the moment I slipped into bed.

When I woke again, twelve hours had p

第１０２回箱根駅伝：レースレポート

２０２６年１月２日（金）、第１０２回箱根駅伝の往路が実施された。朝８時の号砲に合わせ早起きする気満々で前夜目覚まし時計をセットした自分だが、深夜に実施した９０分ジョグの祟（ﾀﾀ）りにより、翌朝堂々の寝坊。起床時すでにレースは２区の序盤に進んでいた。

レースは、大会前から全国紙で注目されていた国学院大、中央大、早稲田大が予想通り序盤を支配していたが、前回王者の青山学院は１区の思わぬハイペースで出遅れた。一方、留学生ヴィクター・キムタイ選手の区間新となる力走により、伏兵城西大学が戸塚中継所を首位で通過するという予想外の展開にレースは沸いた。

その後、３区～４区にかけて目まぐるしい順位変動があり、平成の常勝軍団駒澤大学が徐々に首位奪還の射程圏内に順位を上げる中、中央と早稲田は前半のリードを着実に守り、序盤話題を作った城西と全日本駅伝の覇者国学院も、復路に希望をつなぐ力走を続けた。

レースが動いたのは、５区である。トップと１分１２秒差でタスキを受けた早稲田の工藤慎作選手は５区のスペシャリスト。箱根山中での首位奪還が期待される。

一方、ディフェンディングチャンピオンの青山学院平松享祐選手が、主将黒田朝日選手へ襷を繋いだのは、トップ中央が小田原を発ってから３分２５秒後。名将原晋監督の大会前のインタビューでのコメント「２分の差なら黒田による逆転が可能」を考慮すると、黒田選手の背負ったタイム差が箱根山中で完全に縮まるのは現実的ではないように思われた。しかしドラマは起こるのである・・・

箱根の５区は、最初の５キロはゆるやかな上りで始まり、その後箱根湯本駅を過ぎたあたりから、本格的な山登りが始まると言われている。早稲田の５区、山登りのスペシャリスト工藤慎作選手が、トップ中央大の柴田大地選手をとらえたのは9.79㌔付近。工藤選手は並走を許すことなく、その後着実にリードを広げ、解説の早稲田大OB渡辺康幸さんが「解説している11年間で5区で母校が首位に立つのは初めてだ」と感動に声を詰まらせた。この時後方では、青山学院の黒田朝日選手が、工藤選手をさらに上回るハイペースで猛追を始めていたことは知らずに・・・

その後テレビカメラは、大会屈伸の応援スポット小涌園前を後方の選手たちが通過する様子を順に紹介し、レースはしばらく落ち着いたように見られた。

動きがあったのは15㌔過ぎである。トップ早稲田を写す1号車へマイクが渡った際、初めてレポーターが、長い直線で2位黒田選手の姿が視界に入ったことへ言及した。そして残り4.8㌔、芦之湯の下り、給水ポイントが始まる手前、ついに追走する黒田朝日選手の姿をカメラが初めて捉えた！先頭との差は15秒。国道1号線最高点の通過後に、黒田選手が工藤選手を捉えることが現実味を帯びてきた。

残り3㌔、リードする工藤選手が歯を食いしばり黒田選手の猛追を凌ぐ。しかし残り1.55㌔（19.25㌔地点）で遂に力尽き首位の座を明け渡すこととなった。

終われば、新記録による青山学院大の往路優勝。黒田朝日選手は、前人未到の1時間7分17秒で区間新記録を更新した。その18秒後、早稲田の工藤慎作選手も、過去の区間記録に迫る1時間9分台の成績でフィニッシュした。

さて、今年のテレビ放映でいくつか私の関心を引いたことがあるので述べる。

一つは女性のレポーターの活躍だ。随所で女性レポーターによるレポートが聞かれて時代を感じた。

またゲストコメンテーターの篠原倖太朗選手も印象的だった。コメントがわかりやすく爽やかで気の利いた語り口が印象的だった。スポーツ選手は必ずしも解説が得意な人ばかりではない。しかし篠原選手の話し方は聞きやすく好感度が高かった。彼は私の住まいがある千葉県の出身。私がスイカロードレースを走る富里市の高校を卒業しており常々親近感を覚えていた。元日にニューイヤー駅伝を走り疲労はさこそと察するが、温泉卓球で一汗かいたくらいのフレッシュな様子でコメントをしていた。プロアスリートの回復力の速さに感嘆する。その篠原選手が「戸塚の壁」についてコメントを求められ「手で這って登りたいくらいキツい」という表現で斜度の急さを描写していた。解説の瀬古利彦さんが珍しく共感のコメントを添えていたところ見ると、「手で這って登りたいくらいキツい」という表現自体がエース区間を走った猛者達の間で語り継がれる常套句（cliche）なのだろうと、今思えば想像がつくが、それを篠原選手は、滑らかな口調で淀みなく話すので、話し手篠原選手自身のもともとの言葉遣いの流暢さと自然に感じられた。今後実業団選手として成績を残して引退したら、解説者にいいのではと個人的に思った。

以上、第１０２回箱根駅伝：レースレポートでした。

明朝の復路は、寝坊しないで観たいと思う。２位早稲田は序盤に猛追し首位青山学院との差を一気に詰められるか？はたまた6区に驚愕の下りのスペシャリストを例年擁する青山学院が、さらにリードを広げて独走態勢に入るのか？トップから3分以内に居る中央、国学院、城西は、トップ争いに絡むことはできるのか？シード権争いは？見どころは絶えない。まる。

Race Recap: The 21st Hadano Tanzawa Minase River Half Marathon

On December 7, I ran the 21st Hadano Tamazawa Minase River Half Marathon. I finished in 1:49:43 (Gross) / 1:49:11 (Net). The time is about five minutes slower than last year, almost nine minutes slower than two years ago, and roughly eleven minutes off my course PR from 2017. Still, I feel good about the race because I stuck to my plan.

My goal was simple:

1. Take the first 5 km conservatively, and

2. Avoid pushing too hard on the early descent.

I managed both, and as a result I was able to pick up the pace from the 19 km mark and finish strong—exactly how I wanted.

Splits

0–1K: 5:38 (+0:22)
1–3K: 10:19 (5:09.30/K)
3–7K: 20:06 (5:00.15/K)
7–8K: 4:59
8–9K: 5:25
9–10K: 5:22
10–11K: 5:12
11–12K: 5:18
12–13K: 6:02
13–14K: 5:56
14–15K: 5:10
15–16K: 4:47
16–17K: 4:59
17–18K: 4:52
18–19K: 4:54
19–20K: 4:44
20–21K: 4:59
21–21.1K: 0:52
Total: 1:49:43 (Gross) / 1:49:11 (Net)

The major slowdown in the middle reflects the steep climb in the hilliest part of the course. Quite a few runners were walking there—something I was too proud to do. Ironically, one woman who was walking ended up passing me in the final kilometers. In hindsight, her strategy might have been smarter!

Conditions & Scenery

The weather was perfect for a half marathon: around 9°C at the start, little wind, and clear skies. The views were stunning, especially the mountainous section where Mt. Fuji appeared in the distance. It felt like a reward in the middle of the effort.

Gear & Reflections

I wore MUTEKI minimalist split-toe shoes, choosing minimal sole protection rather than going barefoot. I actually ran the race barefoot last year and finished in the 1:41 range—hard to believe now, considering it was my first Hadano race after a meniscus injury. The Hadano course is notoriously harsh on bare feet, with many rough or deliberately textured surfaces. This year, I wanted to test my cardio and leg strength, not my tolerance for pain.

Course Character

Compared with flat half marathons, Hadano is wonderfully varied: climbs, descents, turns, riverside paths, residential streets, pastoral stretches, and mountain views. Spectators were lively and supportive. Several elderly residents from care homes sat in chairs along the course, waving at runners. Some smiled back warmly when I waved—it was one of the emotional highlights of the day.

One thing I noticed this year is that we didn’t run the track before the finish, unlike last year. The organizers sometimes make small adjustments to the route, probably for traffic reasons. I’m not a huge fan of course changes, but that’s the reality of a city race.

Special Occasion & Guests

This year’s race doubled as a celebration of Hadano City’s 70th anniversary, and three guest runners joined the event. Standing next to me in the photo below (in black tights) is Nobuaki Murasawa, the 2017 Hokkaido Marathon champion. He kindly took a selfie with my friend and me.

Comedian Yoshio Kojima also appeared and ran the 5K. I didn’t realize he was such a star among kids, but the entertainment stage was full of excited boys copying his dance moves and having a great time. 

Final Thoughts

Compared with last year, I finished much less exhausted thanks to smarter pacing. That doesn’t mean I could have run faster—I genuinely gave everything I had. ChatGPT had suggested slightly quicker pacing in the steep section, but I simply didn’t have the strength. Those hills reminded me clearly of my weaknesses, but I’m not discouraged.

It’s not an ending—it’s the start of a new journey to become a stronger version of myself.

Eva Marie Saint/エヴァ・マリー・セイント

ヒッチコックサスペンスの古典的名作『北北西に進路をとれ』を観た。過去数えきれないほど観た作品だがいつ観ても面白い。

作中、主演男優のCary Grantが主演女優のEva Marie Saintと列車の食堂車で会話をするシーンがある。映画史上でも有名なシーンの一つだが、このシーンを撮影する際、監督のHitchcockはEva Marie Saintに３つだけ注文をした：

１）Caryをまっすぐ見つめて目を離さないこと

２）話しながら手を動かさないこと

３）声をトーンをあげないこと

尚、デビュー作のOn the Waterfrontでメガホンをとった巨匠Elia Kazan監督は、女優に対して事細かに演技指導をすることで有名だったそうだが、Hitchcockは逆で、美しい女優を美しく見せることにかけて神がかりの才能を誇ったイギリス生まれの巨匠は、女優の魅力を引き出す最低限のお願いをして、あとは女優に任せるという手法をとっていたようだ。

なお、もしあなたが女性で、デートで誰かを魅了したかったら、Hitchcockの前述の助言は、今の時代でも役に立つかもしれません・・・ネ？

1924年生まれのEva Marie Saintは、現在もご存命。今年の7月4日に101歳の誕生日を迎える。まる。

I was watching Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense classic North by Northwest over dinner tonight. It stars Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. I became a big fan of hers when I first saw her in this film—and since then, who knows how many times I’ve watched it? Each viewing still feels like a fresh pleasure.

Eva made her film debut in On the Waterfront in 1954 at the age of 30. She co-starred with Marlon Brando and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. While this black-and-white masterpiece showcases her talent as a rising actress, there’s something undeniably more alluring—more womanly—about her presence in North by Northwest.

My favorite scene comes fairly early in the film, when she and Cary Grant meet on a train and talk over a meal in the dining car. When filming the scene, Alfred Hitchcock gave Eva just three simple pieces of advice:

1. Look Cary Grant straight in the eye

2. Don’t move your hands while speaking

3. Avoid speaking in a high-pitched voice

Honestly, that sounds like great advice for anyone trying to be charming on a date.

Now that I think of it, I miss watching On the Waterfront. Maybe I’ll buy a DVD and add it to my collection.

Eva Marie Saint is now 100 years old—and she’ll be turning 101 this July.

Boxing Trainer Joel Diaz

Let’s talk about Joel Diaz today.

He was the trainer for Ramon Cardenas, who faced Naoya Inoue in the junior featherweight title fight on Cinco de Mayo.

I listened to Diaz’s interview after the bout, and he struck me as a top-notch trainer. Two things stood out in particular.

First is his analytical ability. He clearly understands what his fighter has in his arsenal and knows what to use in which situation. It’s as if he’s running a complex mental flowchart: if one option doesn’t work, he already knows what else to try. After the first round, for example, his immediate concern was whether Inoue’s power was going to be a serious problem. Ramon said no. That allowed Diaz to confidently advise him to keep pressuring Inoue. After all, Ramon had come down from featherweight and had experience dealing with heavier punchers.

The second quality that stood out was his sound judgment. After the knockdown in Round 7, Diaz said to Ramon, “I’ll give you one more f**kin’ round. Why? Because I see you slowing down.” That tells you everything. Speed is a core part of Ramon’s game. And if that weapon is no longer effective, then going toe-to-toe with a fighter like Inoue—the Monster—is a losing battle.

Some people online said the referee stopped the fight too early, but Diaz himself said in the interview that he was ready to throw in the towel when the ref stepped in. That tells you the stoppage was perfectly timed—at least from the perspective of the man who knows Ramon best. Diaz understood exactly what his fighter could still do—and what he couldn’t.

One moment from the post-fight interview really intrigued me. An interviewer asked if the left hook that briefly knocked down Inoue was something they had specifically prepared for. To my surprise, Diaz said no. Honestly, I think he was bluffing. Of course they practiced it. Any serious preparation would’ve involved studying Inoue’s past fights—especially his first-round knockdown against Luis Nery. Diaz could’ve easily said yes. So why didn’t he? My guess is: he didn’t want to show his hand. He wanted Team Inoue to underestimate him.

Why? Because Joel Diaz is going to be in the opposite corner again soon—as the trainer for Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Inoue’s next opponent.

In Inoue’s upcoming bout, his physical talent, mental toughness, and boxing IQ will be as critical as ever. But don’t overlook the strategic element. The trainers play a huge role in shaping the outcome. In other words, the junior featherweight title match in September won’t just be Monster vs. Akhmadaliev—it’ll be Shingo Inoue vs. Joel Diaz too.

Race Recap: The 45th Tateyama Wakashio Marathon

The 45th Tateyama Wakashio Marathon

The 45th Tateyama Wakashio Marathon was held in the beautiful coastal city of Tateyama, located at the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture. I participated in the race and achieved another sub-4 marathon. Here’s how the race unfolded for me.

Race Start: A Cautious Beginning
The starting gun went off at 10:00 AM sharp. The temperature was a crisp 8.9°C, accompanied by strong northerly winds at 7 meters per second. The first 4 kilometers allowed runners to settle into a rhythm, aided by favorable tailwinds. However, the race had only just begun, and I knew there was a long way to go. Pacing cautiously was crucial. 

Thanks to my strong record in a previous race, I had the privilege of starting in Corral A. Still, within the first 10 kilometers, I was overtaken by many runners, including some from slower corrals. I didn’t let it bother me—I stuck to my target pace, guided by my training and understanding of my own capabilities.

First 10K: Settling In

At the 10K mark, I checked my split: 51 minutes and some seconds. It surprised me; I thought I had been running slightly slower. Deciding to err on the side of caution, I slowed my pace for the next 10 kilometers, knowing that this section of the course was strategically the most important.

10–20K: Staying Conservative

This stretch presented three key challenges. First, the increased undulations subtly wore down the legs. Second, the temperature rose as the course moved to the peninsula's southern side, where the hills blocked the cooling northern winds and reflected sunlight. Finally, the long, straight downhills tempted runners to speed up, risking burnout later.

Aware of these pitfalls, I maintained a conservative pace and took a couple of short bathroom breaks to relax and prepare for the demanding 20–30K section.

20–30K: Battling Hills and Winds
The 20–30K portion was even hillier than the previous segment. To make matters worse, the northern winds hit hard between the 22K and 25K marks, delivering both physical and mental challenges. I focused on running economically, especially on the uphill sections, to conserve energy.

The course’s highlight—and its toughest test—came at the 30K mark: the infamous Heartbreak Hill. This steep, 500-meter climb forced some runners to walk while others gritted their teeth and pushed on. Spectators lining the hill cheered enthusiastically, many of them clearly runners themselves, understanding the encouragement we needed.

30–40K: The Final Push
After conquering the hill, I returned to the coastal road with about 9 kilometers to go. The terrain leveled out somewhat, and more spectators gathered along the route. Some even recognized me from earlier and shouted, “Welcome back, Caveman!” Their support gave me a much-needed boost.

Initially, I had planned to pick up my pace in this final stretch. However, a twinge in my left hamstring signaled the onset of a cramp. Likely compensating for my injured right calf, my left leg was bearing extra strain. I abandoned the idea of speeding up and focused on maintaining an even rhythm.

While my pace wasn’t faster, I steadily overtook other runners who were struggling, having spent too much energy earlier in the race. This is where smart pacing made all the difference.

The Final Kilometer: A Battle to the Finish
As I neared the finish line, I saw the landmark resort condominium in the distance. Beyond it lay the end of the race. The sign reading “1K to go” brought memories of my training sessions to mind. “Just one more kilometer,” I told myself. “You’ve got this.”

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my right calf, as if stabbed by a knife. “Not now!” I screamed internally. Slowing down to cope, I mustered every ounce of positive energy to keep moving. Smiling at spectators, I hoped their cheers would spark some magical burst of adrenaline to see me through.

The final stretch began with a pebbled section. Running on it in my yoga socks was agony. The pain in my soles almost made me forget about my cramping calf. Once the pebbles gave way to soft grass, I tried to kick for the last 30 meters. But my right calf seized completely, locking up and throwing me off balance. I limped across the finish line, determined not to give up.

Post-Race Reflection
The race was over. I had done it. Relief, joy, and disbelief washed over me. Despite the setbacks—my calf issue and less-than-ideal tapering—I had completed the marathon. Gratitude filled me for the experience and the lessons it brought.

The Aftermath

The next day, I was barely able to walk without a stick, and I’ll likely remain this way for a while. But I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.