2016 kobe marathon the first marathon in life
My first marathon in life, completely unprepared. For me, running a marathon has become a new way to experience a city. It gives you more time to converse with yourself, replacing the routine sightseeing with continuous forward steps.
To escape the autumn smog of Chengdu and to challenge my first marathon, I embarked on the journey to the 2016 Kobe Marathon.
There are no direct flights from Chengdu to Osaka, so I had to transfer in Shanghai. This was quite a challenge for me traveling alone. I rushed through Pudong Airport, sweating profusely. It was my first overseas marathon, and I was flustered. Fortunately, I finally arrived at Kansai International Airport smoothly.
My friend had been waiting at the airport for a long time. After picking me up, we took a bus to Kobe. Our first meal in Kobe was Kobe beef, which I believe is a delicacy no marathon runner visiting Kobe would miss. The beef was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and it tasted great. After the meal, the izakayas scattered all over the streets were a good place to go. Having a few drinks with friends was relaxing and pleasant.
Early the next morning, after having breakfast at the hotel, we headed to the Kobe International Exhibition Hall to collect the 2016 Kobe Marathon gear under the guidance of our team leader. The volunteers' guidance was spot on, the route was clear, and there was a wide variety of brands on site. Asics, a favorite among runners, was very popular, and the race T-shirt for this Kobe Marathon was from Asics. The bright colors looked great.
After picking up the race pack, strolling around landmarks and tasting local delicacies was a good choice. The outlets were a great place to buy gear, with a full range of brands and prices much cheaper than back home.
Kobe was my first marathon, and I was completely unprepared. My equipment was amateurish, but driven by my passion for running and the recklessness and stubbornness of youth, I stepped onto the track under the guidance of my friend. I had no idea where I would give up or be stopped before the race started. I just knew to follow the crowd forward. The cheers before the start signal filled everyone with energy and eagerness.
The route was mostly in the city, with some coastal sections requiring crossing several bridges, which drained my energy quickly. Many runners were in cosplay, including Astro Boy and Doraemon. The most admirable was an auntie in a kimono and wooden clogs, who maintained her pace and completed the full marathon.
There were aerial shots along the way, with live broadcasts throughout the race.
The supplies along the route included some regular sports drinks and fruits.
In the end, I got on the sweeper bus at the 21-kilometer mark and was taken back to the finish line. Although I felt a bit regretful, I realized that running a marathon is a process of long-term training and accumulation. It requires strong willpower to constantly overcome the urge to give up. Although I didn't finish the race successfully, completing my first half marathon was still something to be proud of. For an amateur runner like me, the experience of starting together, persisting together, and moving forward shoulder to shoulder was more memorable.
Here, I quietly waited for my teammates to return.
Without a finisher's medal, I could only borrow a medal from a running god for a photo, just to satisfy my eyes.
After gathering, we all headed to a famous hot spring hotel in Japan. Waiting for us there was a sumptuous celebration dinner and hot springs to relieve the day's fatigue.
Japanese cuisine is quite delicate, but the portions are small, so a few of us big guys had to find extra food.
The next morning, we departed from the hot spring hotel to Kansai International Airport. The scenery and air along the way were great, with mountains covered in red leaves.
At the airport, I bid farewell to my fellow runners one by one, hoping to meet again on future race tracks.
As for running marathons, I am a beginner, but traveling has always been my way of understanding a city. Running marathons has given me another reason to explore. Some say running a marathon is a process of confronting and conversing with oneself. Indeed, in my not-so-complete first marathon experience, I gained some new insights. It made me realize the power of persistence. Of course, nothing happens overnight, and running a marathon is no exception. Persistence lies not only in the 42-kilometer race but also in the accumulation of daily efforts.
Be brave and step out. Although the scenery along the way may not always be beautiful, and it may not be smooth sailing, life is enriched by these wonderful experiences.
Editor: If you also want to be like the author, in 2017'sKobe Marathonyou must not miss it!