Things Required For Ekiden

tasuki

Hello. Today, I talk about things required for ekiden. Ekiden is team sport. So, we must call people who want to run ekiden. The number of people is different each competitions. In many case we must call people more than five. If we can call people, we must prepare tasuki. Tasuki is cloth shaped ring. It can buy shop. If you want to make creative tasuki, you can ask shop to make it. Next, we must apply for taking part in ekiden competition. Small ekiden competition is held in different places. For example, ekiden competition which everyone can take part in is held in Yokohama where I lived. And ekiden is almost held in winter. So, I advise you to prepare jacket and gloves. We don’t run in our jacket because it is heavy. But it is cold before running and after running. Jacket is useful to took off and wear. And we can run the state of wearing glove. Moreover, I advise you to prepare a tent. We can warm up and wait till competition start in tent. These are not always necessarily. But you will not be inconvenienced.

              

running shoes

          Next, I talk about things required for running. Ekiden is running sport. So, if we don’t run, ekiden cannot be realized. First, shoes are necessary. Running shoe is better than sneaker. Sneaker is heavy but running shoe is light. Some sole of a Running shoe is thin. It is very light. However you may be injured your legs. Please be careful. Next, clothes are necessary. We can run in casual wear. But I suggest preparing running shirt and running short. They are made to run. So, you will be able to run comfortably. If it is cold, it is good to wear gloves and wear thin long sleeves under running shirt. Next, I suggest preparing something to drink. If you don’t want to drink before running, you should drink because you may be dehydrated. Sports drink is better than water because it include salt content. And preparing food may be good. You probably are hungry after running. Next, I suggest preparing watch. Someone tell you where you run in almost competitions. If you have watch, you can know how pace you run. And the place of ekiden competition don’t have clock sometimes. So, you should have watch.

              Finally, I talk about the most important thing which need for ekiden or running. It is a feeling of enjoying running. Running is sometime painful. For example, you may have difficulty in breathing. But if you have a feeling of enjoying running, you will defeat painful. Let’s enjoy running!

Impressive Episode of Ekiden

              Ekiden has a lot of impressive episode because it is a team sport. People who run ekiden aim at winning. We enjoy seeing it. For example, a come-from-behind victory is. Second team runs after first team and first team runs away from second team. It is very interesting. And runner sometimes couldn’t pass the tasuki to the next runner because of dehydration. Runner cannot run but runner wants to run. I was impressed by his state. I want to talk about impressive episode like these.

              First, I talk about a come-from-behind victory episode. It is Hakone ekiden this year. Japan Sport Science University won the championship. It was in nineteenth position last year. This is penultimate position and it is the worst position of Japan Sport Science University’s record. Third grade student was appointed captain by manager. Fourth grade students weren’t appointed captain. They were dissatisfied with it at first. But lower grade students got better record than fourth grade students. They faced the situation and they conversely united to get good record. They didn’t have a regular life before. For example, they stayed up late at night and they leaved food. But they went to bed until 10 p.m. and they didn’t leave food after Hakone ekiden. And furthermore, they cleaned a ground before practice. Then, they ran stability and they got good results. And they cleared preliminaries of Hakone ekiden in the first place. All students of Japan Sport Science University ran without failure. They were approved to take part in Hakone ekiden. The favorite for the championship are Toyo University and Komazawa University. No one think that Japan Sport Science University will win the championship. But they won the championship. Those reasons are consciousness of running and a big wind. I think that consciousness of running come from their regular life. So, they ran without failure. Next, why did a big wind support them? Because they ran in a big wind in the past by chance. They could run calmly. Other university ran slowly gradually because of a big wind. I think Japan Sport Science University was lucky. But winning the championship is great.

             

　　　　　　　Second, I talk about Hakone ekiden in 2008. This year, three universities dropped out of a race because of dehydration. Fifth runner of Juntendo University dropped out of a race. Fifth runners are last runners on that day. He fell down the point which is 500 meters from goal. He tried to stand up but he couldn’t. All people may cheer him. Manager thought that he was not able to run and he put an end to run. Maybe, runner wanted to goal. But his physical condition is more important. I think that managers should check runners’ physical condition and be drunken nutritious water. If managers do it, dehydration may decrease. And runner who feel sad don’t exist.

Famous Runners

I talk about famous people of ekiden. For instance, Ryuji Kashiwabara, Toshihiko Seko and Yuki Sato are. They play active part in Hakone ekiden. A lot of Japanese see Hakone ekiden, so they are famous. They already graduated from university. Ryuji Kashiwabara and Yuki Sato are running now but Toshihiko Seko is not running now. I am going to talk about their past and present.

              Ryuji Kashiwabara was Toyo University student and he has run Hakone ekiden four times. He ran Hakone ekiden every time as fifth runner. Fifth runner runs mountain and almost course is up slope. And he is the fastest runner of all fifth runners of Hakone ekiden. When he was in the first grade, he received tasuki in ninth place. Runner who ran in first place is far from him. But he got ahead of first runner and his running record was new record of fifth runner. Then he was called “god of mountain climbing.” When he was in the second grade and third grade, he ran like the first grade. When he was fourth grade, he received tasuki in first place. He ran faster than the first grade, so he goaled by an overwhelming margin. I think that his running record of fifth runner in Hakone ekiden will not break for the time being.

              Next, Toshihiko Seko was Waseda University student and he is a commentator of ekiden and marathon. And he will be a manager of DeNA track and field club this year. He started track and field in high school. He was middle distance runner at first. He run 800 meters and 1500 meters and he won the interscholastic athletic meet. When he ran high school ekiden as first runner (10 kilometers), he ran the faster than all first runners. Then a lot of people knew that he can run long distance. And he went on to Waseda University. He ran Hakone ekiden four time and he started marathon in the first grade. He was an ace of Waseda University. After he graduated, he took part in Olympic twice. He was hoped for winning the championship, but he couldn’t win the championship. But he was said the greatest marathon runner. He was manager of Waseda Universe After retiring. Now, he quit manager of Waseda Universe and he is commentator. Commentator of Hakone Ekiden was Toshihiko Seko this year.

             Finally, Yuki Sato was Sakutyosei high school student. This school is powerful. He established high school 10000 meters record. He ran high school ekiden as fourth runner and his school finished second. He went on to Tokai University. He ran Hakone ekiden and International ekiden and so on. He had first runner record of Hakone ekiden, third runner record of Hakone ekiden and seventh runner record of Hakone ekiden. After he graduated Toyo University, he entered Nisshin Food Company. He took part in Olympic in London. He ran 5000 meters and 10000 meters. But his record was not good. I think he wiil be great runner in future.

              You may see Yuki Sato and Ryuji Kashiwabara. When you see them, let’s cheer them.

problems

Hello. Today, I talk about problems of ekiden. For example, unbalance between ekiden and track race is. Why is it a problem? I am going to explain it. There are others problems. Ekiden is not popular all over the world. I think it is a problem too. Ekiden has a lot of problems more than marathon. Ekiden is similar to marathon because both of them are long distance race. But marathon is more popular than ekiden. What should Japanese do? I talk about it later.

              I talk about ekiden in Japan before I talk about unbalance between ekiden and track race. Ekiden is popular sport in Japan. I think almost Japanese have been to watch it on TV. And Hakone ekiden is the most popular among them. Some people go to see ekiden in person. I have been to go to see ekiden. This popularity causes an unbalance between ekiden and track race. I explain it in case of university. If university wins the championship in ekiden competition, we feel good image to university. A lot of people see the competition. So, university makes use of the competition to advertise their university. For example, when Toyo University wins the championship in Hakone ekiden for the first time, people who want to enter Toyo University increased. Ekiden is   a good way to advertise their university to the university’s president. So, he wants to be active in ekiden competition. And few track races were televised but almost ekidens were televised. By the way, why is it problem? Because track race is main event of track and field. Ekiden is a part of track and field. And people usually run 20 kilometers in university ekiden competition. But people run 5 kilometers or 10 kilometers in track race. So, a way of practice is different. People who run ekiden mainly cannot run 5 kilometers or 10 kilometers well. And some people don’t run track race because ekiden is more important than track race. It is good in Japan, but it is bad in the world. I think Japanese cannot win long distance race in Olympic at this rate.

              Next, I talk about what Japanese should do to know ekiden all over the world people. First, Japanese should tell what ekiden is. Ekiden is a kind of relay. All over the world people like relay for example 400 meters relay. I think all over the world people surely like ekiden. And international ekiden held in Japan. But few countries take part in it. I think Japan should invite a lot of countries to it. Second, Japanese play active part in track race held in various countries for example Olympic. Now, Japanese cannot advance to the final. It is hard for Japanese to win the championship because African is very fast. But I think Japanese can advance to the final. I want Japanese to run faster. And I want all over the world people to say “Japanese run fast because of ekiden.”

Professional Ekiden

Today, I talk about professional ekiden. It is Hakone ekiden It is actually university competition. But it is very popular, so I introduce it. It is New Year event for Japanese. Maybe, people who don’t know Hakone ekiden don’t exist.

              It is held in Tokyo and Kanagawa on January 2 and 3. 19 university and selected runner who don’t take part in it team can participate it. If a certain team goal less than the tenth-ranking in last year competition, it doesn't have to take part in preliminary. And 9 teams can qualify for the preliminary. Next, ten people run in Hakone ekiden. Five people run on January 2 from Tokyo to Hakone and residual five people run on January 3 from Hakone to Tokyo. The first runners run 21.4 kilometers from Ote city to Tsurumi. If runner is a long way off the top runner, next runner feels difficult to run. So, runner must keep up with the top runner. But, strong runner sometimes runs ahead. This is one of the strategies. The second runners run 23.2 kilometers from Tsurumi to Totsuka. Aces of team often run this course. This course is up slope from last 3 kilometers. If runners don’t save stamina to here, they cannot run here well. It is point to run. The third runners run 21.5 kilometers from Totsuka to Hiratsuka. A sea breeze blows in this course. It is difficult point but other difficult points don’t exist, so this course is easy to run.  The fourth runners run 18.5 kilometers from Hiratsuka to Odawara. This course is the shortest of all courses. Because sponsors want middle distance runner to run this course. Runners can see Mt Fuji from there. The fifth runners run 23.4 kilometers from Odawara to Hakone. This course is called “Mountain Climbing” because difference in elevation is 864 meters. And they run in mountain in winter. So it is very cold. They often run with a long-sleeved shirt under uniform. People who run very fast in this course are called “god of mountain.” The sixth runners run 20.8 kilometers from Hakone to ekiden. They go back from here. This course is called “Go down a mountain.” They run faster than usual in this course because they almost run a downward slope. Last 3 kilometers in this course is flat, but they feel it is up slope. This is the most painfully. The seventh runners run 21.3 kilometers from Odawara to Hiratsuka. This course is the easiest to run. They are only careful to change temperature. The eighth runners run 21.5 kilometers from Hiratsuka to Totsuka. The latter half of this course has up slope called “up slope of Yugyoji temple.” And people are sometime dehydrated. They must mind not only their running but also their physical condition. The ninth runners run 23.2 kilometers from Totsuka to Yokohama. They are often reversed in this course. So, we can see interesting race. Last runners run 23.1 kilometers from Tsurumi to Ote city. Ranking of team decide in this course. Runners must run under extreme pressure. But I think this is interesting point. Let’s see Hakone ekiden next year.

School Ekiden

              Today, I talk about school ekiden. Concretely, they are junior high school ekiden and high school ekiden. I ran junior high school ekiden. It was very interesting. Students who run long distance aim at national athletic competition. Unfortunately, I could not take part in national athletic competition.

              First, I talk about national athletic competition of junior high school ekiden. It is held in Yamaguchi on December. How do junior high school students take part in it? They must win the championship in prefectural athletic competition. If they reach a goal in second place, they could not take part in it. In ordinary circumstances, each of runner run different course, but they run same course if they run same distance in this competition. Men’s competition is 18 kilometers. Six men run and each of them run 3 kilometers. Women’s competition is 12 kilo meters. Five women run. The first runner and last runner run 3 kilometers. The second runner, the third runner and the fourth runner run 2 kilometers. Junior high school is compulsory education. So, supervisors could not get good runner. As a result, people who don’t belong to track and field club sometime take part in ekiden competition. Women’s team whose members belong to basketball club wins the championship in national athletic competition in 2011. Some of member who run this competition run national competition of high school ekiden.

              Second, I talk about national athletic competition of high school ekiden. it is held in Kyoto on December. How do high school students take part in it? They must win the championship in prefectural athletic competition too. In the beginning, I talk about women’s competition. Five women run 21.0975 kilometers. The first runner runs 6 kilometers. It is the longest course in this competition. End of course is up slope  Foreigners cannot run this course. I think it is point worthy of note. The second runner runs 4 kilometers. This course has up and down slope. The third runner runs 3 kilometers. This course has a lot of crossings. So, runner must turn well. The fourth runner runs 3 kilometers. Most of team cannot put powerful runner in this course because this course is the shortest and easy to run. So, this course is point to win the championship. Last runner runs 5 kilometers. Runners who run this course are a big responsibility. If two runners compete, both of them may get nervous. I think person who is strong-minded will win. Next, I talk about men’s competition. Seven men run 42.195 kilometers. The first runner runs 10 kilometers. This course is the longest, so ace of team run this course. Foreigners cannot run this course. The second runner runs 3 kilometers. This course is chance to get momentum. The third runner runs 8.1075 kilometers. This course is upslope. And a head wind blows on upslope. The fourth runner runs 8.0875 kilometers. This course is a downward slope. The fifth runner runs 3 kilometers. The sixth runner runs 5 kilometers. Last runner runs 5 kilometers. This course is the same as women’s last course. Most of people who are active in this competition run Hakone ekiden.

Main Competitions of Ekiden

              I want to talk about main competitions of ekiden. They are international ekiden, New Year ekiden and wheelchair ekiden. There are other famous competitions but I choose their ekiden competitions, because they are big competitions but they aren’t known by a lot of people. We can watch international ekiden and New Year ekiden on TV. I want you to watch them at least once.

              First, I talk about international ekiden. It is held in Chiba on November 23 every year. Formal name is Hanji Aoki-Cup International Chiba-Ekiden. Three men and three women run 42.195 kilometers in this competition. First runner is man and he runs 5 kilometers. It is short for man, so running speed is important. Second runner is woman and she runs 5 kilometers. The strong wind sometimes blows on this course, so runner must pay attention to it. Third runner is man and he runs 10 kilometers. Fourth runner is woman and she runs 5 kilometers. This course is halfway point and she must turn 180 degrees. It is the point to run. Fifth runner is man and he runs 10 kilometers. This course has a lot of sloping roads, so runner must run it well. Last runner is woman and she runs 7.195 kilometers. A few countries participate in this competition. I want a lot of countries to participate in it.

              Next, I talk about New Year ekiden. It is held in Gunma on January 1 every year. Seven men run 100 kilometers in this competition. A part of course changed from 2011. I explain current information. First runner runs 12.3 kilometers. This course is flat and wide, so I think it is easy to run. Second runner runs 8.3 kilometers. Foreigners can run only this course. Third runner runs 13.6 kilometers. Fourth runner runs 22.0 kilometers. This course is the longest in this competition. And last 3 kilometers are upslope. I think that it is difficult to run and runner should save stamina till last 3 kilometers. Fifth runner runs 15.8 kilometers. This course has long upslope too. And a head wind often blows. It is called “harder than marathon.” Sixth runner runs 11.8 kilometers. Last runner runs 15.5 kilometers. This course is flat. So, if two runners compete, we can watch interesting race.

              Finally, I talk about wheelchair ekiden. It is held in Kyoto on February every year. Runners use wheelchair for running. And when they pass the baton, they touch next runner with their hand. It is said that this is difficult so they practice to touch next runner. Five people run 21.3 kilometers in this competition. First runner runs 6.4 kilometers. This is the longest course. I think pacing is the most important. Second runner runs 2.8 kilometers and third runner runs 2.4 kilometers. Fourth runner runs 5.8 kilometers. This course is upslope. It is like mountain climbing to wheelchair. Last runner runs 3.9 kilometers. To be accurate, this is not ekiden. But I explain it because I want you to know about many kind of long distance relay.