wanichan's English blog

Just blogging in English from Osaka, Japan. Technology, Diary and Life Style.

Achieved a sub-5-hour Marathon finish in Osaka Marathon 2024

Open call for 34,000 runners

By the time I realized it, it was just before the marathon. I had prepared for it a long time ago, but failed to put it into action when it needed to be done.

Besides, it was raining on the day of the marathon, so I didn't know what to prepare.

  • Are new shoes not a good idea?
  • Do I still need a raincoat?
  • Do I need Vaseline to prevent hypothermia?

Are new shoes not a good idea?

I learned that  I should wear shoes that I was used to wearing. I found an article that says that even with new shoes, you should at least run 10 kilometers in them beforehand.
Even a former women's marathoner retired from the race because she could not finish the race due to new shoes.

However, the soles of well-worn shoes become worn out, creating the danger of slipping in the rain. Besides, white-colored shoes are easy to show dirt.
Mizuno shoes were on sale at the runner registration area. I talked to them about it. Then they recommended me to buy a new pair of Wave Rider series shoes at the regular price.

This is a kind of pink, so I select the following pink shit.

Do I still need a raincoat?

I bought disposable raincoats from Amazon.co.jp. The raincoat was a good choice as it kept me warm.

Do I need Vaseline to prevent hypothermia?

One piece of advice from many runners, including fellow joggers, is to put Vaseline on your body.

I took their advice and bought it on Amazon.co.jp, got it the day before with same-day express delivery, and applied it to my own tummy, ankles, soles, etc. before I left.

 

How was the marathon?

Wave (Gun shot time)

  • 9:15 - Wave 1 (ⒶⒷ)
  • 9:30 - Wave 2 (ⒹⒺ)
  • 9:45 - Wave 3 (ⒼⒽ, Challenge Run)

The starting block on my bib is marked H, so I am in the Wave 3.

First, we were stuck for a while in a traffic jam caused by water supply. It's not summer and you don't need water for the first 5 km, do you? Can you please stop stopping to fill up the road as if all the runners are supposed to drink water? At least open up one side of the road.

I think it wasn't until after 5 km that the traffic eased up. A few runners were already walking here and there.

In my opinion, the key to a successful marathon is to not go to the bathroom and not eat too much during the race. In fact, one of my jogging mates was so intent on finishing the food provided during the race that he suffered stomach pains and had to seek the restroom.

I thought it was simply a matter of just finishing the race, but wouldn't it be better to finish it in under 5 hours anyway? I changed my mind about halfway through the race, and in order to keep up with the rain and keep my pace, I kept passing the runners around me.

Here's a shot I took with my iPhone about a minute after I finished.

My Time Data (Wave 3)
Spot Transit Time Net Time Gross Time Interval Time Rank
Start 09:50:51 00:00:00 00:05:51 00:00:00 5166
5km 10:26:53 00:36:02 00:41:53 00:36:02 5424
10km 10:59:22 01:08:31 01:14:22 00:32:29 4556
15km 11:32:25 01:41:34 01:47:25 00:33:03 4141
20km 12:05:36 02:14:45 02:20:36 00:33:11 3719
25km 12:37:36 02:46:45 02:52:36 00:32:00 3260
30km 13:11:22 03:20:31 03:26:22 00:33:46 2995
35km 13:44:19 03:53:28 03:59:19 00:32:57 2662
40km 14:17:21 04:26:30 04:32:21 00:33:02 2432
Finish 14:31:44 04:40:53 04:46:44 00:14:23 2380

*The rankings shown are for the Wave 3.

It was a significant record breaker from last time, but please don't say "Well, you should aim for sub-4.5 next time!"

My first full marathon, successfully completed!

The 25th Osaka Yodo-river Citizens' Marathon, 10km run on November 4 and registration the day before the half and full marathon held on November 5. I went to pick up my bib to check the venue.

10K run men 33 min, women 44 min. Wow, too fast!!

Unseasonal summer day. Was it a high of 27.9 degrees Celsius (82F) or something?

Unfortunately, the Tanimachi subway line was suspended due to a personal injury accident. I left home a little after 7:00 a.m., and on my way to the Tanimachi Line station, people who looked like other runners told me that the Tanimachi Line was suspended.

The original half marathon start time was 9:00 a.m. and the full marathon start time was 9:40 a.m. However, a decision was made to delay the entire schedule by one hour. Instead, the time limit was reduced by one hour. And this unusual heat. Oh great!

The later they delayed the start time, the tougher the race would be due to this heat, but they did not get it.

The organizers have no consideration for the runners. The original time limit for the full marathon was 7 hours and 20 minutes, so it was for beginners aiming to complete their first marathon. In other words, this crazy decision has put the time limit for the full marathon at 6 hours and 20 minutes.

My running buddy told me to go through hell for 30 kilometers, but it was more the unusual heat that was hellish.

As expected in this heat, many runners walked, and I walked along with them, but I managed to keep running to the finish line after the 41 km mark.

The 25th Osaka Yodo-River Citizens' Marathon
 finishers certificate
Category: Full Marathon (Women)
Gross time: 5:18:27
Net time: 5:17:09
Rank: 60th / 234
Overall rank: 718th/ 2,024
You are hereby notified that
you have completed the 25th Osaka Yodo-River Citizens' Marathon
in the record time indicated
and are hereby honored for your efforts.
November 5, 2023
Osaka Yodo-River Citizens' Marathon Executive Committee
 
For reference, the number of entries by category are
  • Full marathon (men): 1,790
  • Full marathon (women): 234
  • Half marathon (men): 2,115
  • Half marathon (women): 590

I'm running a marathon this fall.

Last time I entered into 2020 Guam marathon

but it's postphoned and cancelled,

My running mate encouraged me to run a marathon, so I got off my butt and I decided to run in Osaka Yodo-River Citizens' Marathon first of all. It has been three years since then.

25th Osaka Yodo-River Citizens Marathon will be held on November 4 and 5, 2023; the 10km run on the 4th, the half and full marathons on the 5th.

This is an urban marathon that runs beautifully and takes into account the natural environment. While enjoying the refreshing nature of the Yodogawa River basin, which looks like a gathering of fairies, aim to complete the full marathon by passing through Kema Lock and crossing the Yodogawa Weir, which is normally inaccessible!

Date
November 4 2023 - November 5 2023
Location
Moriguchi City (Osaka), Japan
Entry Period
April 26 2023 00:00 - September 18 2023 23:59

I live in Osaka, so I can go directly to the venue from my home without having to stay at a hotel.

My temp job has been extended until the end of September, so training for the marathon is not going to be easy. If I were to do that, maybe the next month? Since this is practically my first marathon, I am hoping I can finish.

 

I'd probably be better off jogging alone.

I usually go to Nagai Park for jogging after I wake up in the morning, but lately I have been finding it hard to jog with my jogging friends.

In a sense, I live each day with an "I am what I am" stance. Therefore, the people who happen to be there do not necessarily agree with me. Rather, in many cases, they have completely different interests and hobbies, and are in completely opposite positions from me.

It is natural that there are people who have completely different ideas and positions, but do I have to force myself to fit in with those around me?

On the contrary, I would be greatly stressed if I were dragged into their pace.

The stress of it all has gotten to the point where I find it tedious to run with them.... Now, I am exclusively healing myself with fresh greenery, birds chirping, and the many flowers in the botanical garden.

Small pond and fresh greenery in Nagai Botanical Garden

That's why I got the annual pass last month.

Basically, I am comfortable with my own pace. I feel bad when my pace is disturbed.

As a matter of fact, I see people running alone and silently in Nagai Park. There are also many people who run with the motive that they don't have to run in marathons, but just continue to do so for their own health.

Over the last three years, even close friends have become polarized and eventually only small talk is possible. It's safe to talk about things like flowers and nature, right?

To be honest, I have no interest in watching sports. I would also like to avoid talking about politics as it is a source of complication.

I got a new Kindle with pink fabric case

I got my first Kindle in September 2015, and I got another Kindle Paperwhite 7th generation during Amazon Prime Day in 2017.

I gave my dad my first Kindle when he was in a hospital to kill time, then he was so happy to read without glasses, and he became a bookworm and bought his own Kindle Paperwhite after leaving a hospital.

But I couldn't be a bookworm. 

I discharged my Kindle Paperwhite repeatedly and its battery deteriorated. It now takes over a month to get a full charge.

I was considering buying the next new Kindle Paperwhite, thinking it was time for a replacement. However, its screen size is 6.8 inches. It does not meet my needs as a compact person. And the price is too high.

I'll say it again and again, I am not a prolific reader.

  • I want a compact size
  • I want to read while lying down to sleep.
  • I want a dark mode (inverted black and white display)
  • I do not need color adjustment.
  • I don't need waterproofing.
  • Not a bookworm
  • I don't read comics.
  • I just want to comfortably read text-based books.
  • I want to buy Kindle books directly from my device

Then I guess the new Kindle is a better choice. I have changed my mind.

Amazon Japan offers a 1500 yen discount when you buy a Kindle, genuine cover and screen protector as a set.

Compare with my Kindle Paperwhite and the new Kindle.

Same display size and resolution as my old Kindle Paperwhite. The bezels around the screen are slimmer and more compact.

This new Kindle is exactly the same size as my paperback.

I know there are no discounts on Kindle devices during this Amazon Spring Sale besides 1500 yen discount, but I couldn't wait for Amazon Prime Day.

But, I have no regret. I am happy to get this lovely new Kindle. Best of all, it supports dark mode and can invert the background color. I can enjoy reading in comfort at bedtime.

I love Starbucks sakura chiffon cake with sakura beverage!

I posted the following article 2 years ago,

f:id:wanichan:20200229235600p:plain

and last year

Feb 21, 2022

And I was looking for the sakura chiffon cake yesterday.

The Sakura Chiffon Cake is a popular limited-time-only item, and was sold out at the first Starbucks I visited, but I found it at the second one.

The beverage to be set with that chiffon cake must absolutely be cherry blossom inspired. Sakura soy latte it is. with espresso shot.

SOY LATTE inspired by SAKURA in full bloom

A heartwarming hot beverage that evokes the arrival of spring, combining Sakura Strawberry Sauce and warm Soy Milk.
The softly fragrant Sakura Strawberry Sauce is combined with gently sweetened Soy Milk and topped with Sakura Strawberry Shave and Pink Silver Sugar to resemble SAKURA in full bloom.

I have recently been opting for soy milk because I can't stop farting when I drink milk. Perhaps I could be lactose intolerant.

Tall size of SAKURA Soy Latte

  • Energy 361kcal
  • Protein 11.2g
  • Fat 14.3g
  • Carbohydrates 47.3g
  • Salt equivalent 0.9g
  • Dietary fiber 0.6g
  • Carbohydrates 46.6g
  • Sodium 291mg
  • Potassium 532mg
  • Trans fatty acids 0.0g
  • Saturated fatty acids 2.5g
  • Caffeine 0mg

Espresso shot (1 shot)

  • Energy 5 kcal
  • Protein 0.4g
  • Fat 0.0g
  • Carbohydrates 1.1g
  • Salt equivalent 0.0g
  • Dietary fiber 0.3g
  • Carbohydrates 0.8g
  • Sodium 0mg
  • Potassium 124mg
  • Trans fatty acids 0.0g
  • Saturated fatty acids 0.0g
  • Caffeine 80mg

I have the drink ticket (gift voucher) of 2023 Starbucks lucky bag.

This gift voucher is redeemable for any drink of any size up to - for here: 671 yen (with 10% tax), / To go: 658 yen (with 8% tax) at Starbucks stores across Japan, valid from Jan. 1, 2023 through Jun. 25, 2023.

I added an espresso shot to bring it closer to 671 yen including tax. (610 yen without tax?)

The result is 645.7 yen.

  • Tall size of SAKURA Soy Latte : 537 yen
  • Espresso shot (1 shot) : 50 yen
  • 10% tax: 53.7 yen

Not bad, right?

Next time, I should bring the sakura mug I bought last year so that I can get the discount.

Ain't I a Beckoning Cat?

Earlier I mentioned that one of my jogging buddies opened a cafe and I also started computer classes there.

The cafe is just on my way home from my morning jog, so I sometimes stop there before it opens.

But strangely enough, after I entered the café, there was always a steady stream of customers coming in.

When I entered there this morning, she was making boiled eggs. But the eggs were broken, so I asked her to make me an egg sandwich with the broken boiled eggs.

After I finished eating that sandwich, a foreigner returning from an overseas business trip came in dragging his suitcase. He seemed to be tired. He is from Southeast Asia, and has lived in Japan for about 5 years. We chatted in Japanese.

Later, she texted me at 2 pm;

All the customers who came to our cafe later today ordered toast.
Even those who usually only order coffee ordered toast.

Thanks to all the customers, we sold out of toast.
We also sold out of frozen toast.
We also sold out of salads.
This is the first time this has happened.
wanichan🐊 effect.
Finally, I ate lunch and got settled down.

I googled about this effect.

The "beckoning cat effect" is simply explained as someone who brings in people or customers, causes the phenomenon of an increase in customers when they enter a previously deserted store, restaurant or cafe.

They are "people callers", which is appreciated by those who are in business.

It is not as if they are doing anything specific to attract customers, but basically nothing.

What they do is just be there.

They naturally attract people just by being there.

Characteristics of people with the beckoning cat effect

  • Smiles a lot
  • Does not care what others think
  • Positive personality
  • Willing to take on new challenges
  • Good with people
  • Good luck
  • Resourceful
  • Greetings and courtesy
  • Pleasant

Do you know anybody like me?