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.