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.