Okinawa Marathon - RunMarathon

The hills were brutal. The course started out pancake flat then the hills began. I didn't have problems with the uphill but the downhills were steep and painful after a few hours...especially the final downhill that lasts 2K. I really could not ever get in the groove out there. I was kind of ho-hum at the start line. Since I didn't know anyone and most don't speak english it was a bit wierd not being able to talk to anyone. I think I wasn't mentally in the race from the start but I still had a good time.

The Japanese crowd was amazing. You couldn't go 20 feet without seeing people and most of the time the streets were lined with people. You've got to watch what you grab as you hit the tables because I drank some Japanese tea at one table thinking it was water then I almost grabbed a cup of noodles at another station. They were all handing out stuff, most of which I had no idea what it was. There was a bunch of salt trays that runners would just dip there fingers in and stick in their mouth, but knowing where my hands go during a marathon there was no way I was mixing my gross with 1000's of other people's gross. You could always tell when you were nearing Americans cheering because you could hear them "Wooo"-ing from a far away distance while the Japanese banged drums and said "go-go-go". Did I say the crowds were awesome? Some ladies even ran out in the road and offered me weird stuff saying "please take". There were at least 10 authentic Japanese drum teams rocking the roads. I can't imagine how many times I bowed my head and said arigato. It was awesome.

The day started off pleasant but then as it does often here the weather changed and it got real windy and drizzly. I was rolling it out for a while there then I hit the point were my body said "Hey, remember how little you trained for this?" I replied "eff off" and my body replied with a doozy of a cramp in my leg. Figures that after 18 miles I cramp on the only section of the course that runs through an American Air Force Base. I stretched for a couple of minutes then hit it again, a bit slower but I kept moving. A couple of times the cramp tried to come back but I fought it off and headed in.

2 of the last 3K is on this insane downhill. That was painful. I need to learn some Japanese curse words because I know the guys around me were chucking them around like no body's business. Turned back into the park heard my wife "woo" saw my kids smiling and yelling "daddy" and I crossed the mat. They took my chip then immediately printed off my finishers certificate, gave me a cool medal and sent me off. There were huge concessions getting ready to throw one mean party but I had to roll. I didn't even have time to stop by the free acupuncture tent....next time.

Uh? Move here earlier and hit the hills? Use my fuel belt water is good but my body is use to a bit more in between water stops.

Checked out a few things then hit the bricks.


Didn't train enough on hills


I'll be ready for the hills next year. Count on it.