Race Review: Kobe Marathon 2018

This is my 3rd marathon in Japan. Reason why I keep coming back to this country for a race is obvious, their logistics. Probably cause I don’t see it in Singapore races thus I am very appreciative of what Japan has done to keep the logistics at this standard.

In this race review, I try to mention less on the usual race review as I had done it in both Osaka Marathon 2015 and Osaka Marathon 2016. The race logistics and race experience is similar to Osaka Marathon and I would emphasize on some Pointers that Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon should adhere to.

Travelling to Kobe

To travel overseas takes a lot of planning and for an overseas race, it takes even more logistics planning to minimise any issues at later stages. I always try to arrive about 36 hours before race to ensure that my body acclimatise to the temperature and for race pack collection. Searching for how to arrive at the start point is critical too to ensure that one arrive on time on race day.

Race pack collection

Once alighted from the train station, this is the sign which greeted runners.

Pointer 1 – Apart from the sign itself, there is even a volunteer to physically guide runners towards the expo in case there are any queries. This move can be crucial to foreigner runners who might need the extra help to know the way.

Volunteer guiding runners although there’s a clear signage

Sometimes there are more volunteers than runners till a point that I felt like a superstar arriving from the top of an escalator. Don’t you feel so?

Entrance at the expo hall

After entering the expo hall, this is the background wall that greeted us. I wanted to find the Singapore flag but after taking a couple of photos with excitement, I forgot all about it.

This is what greeted runners at the entrance of the expo. Runners have to make a left turn to collect the race pack while the general accompanying family members or friends will make a right turn here directly to the expo. This is a good way to ensure that the collection area isn’t overcrowded. It’s not a must have though but a good to have.

There is also a dedicated booth for the international runners where most non-runners are required to collect their race packs from this booth. This is good gesture so that overseas runners will not hog up the queue due to non-Japanese speaking volunteers. Pointer 2 – I realised that there are varying booths according to their bib numbers. How would they know their bib numbers before they even collect? Maybe their identity is scanned first and volunteers informed them of the booth to proceed forward to. I think this would be more efficient as compared to collection for everything within the same booth as volunteers just have to focus on the ~2000 runners within their charge.

Runners collect their race pack at these booths after collecting their bibs

After collecting the bib, they will proceed to collect the rest of their race pack along these aisles where volunteers give out an event tee, a pair of gloves, a transparent deposit bag and various goodies and advertisements.

the last part of the race pack collection

This board fills up all runner’s names who will be taking part in the marathon. It’s one of the easiest task to find my name as all english names were located right at the end of the list and there are not many.

Board of runner’s name

After the collection of race pack, runners were directed with the below sign to another expo hall for all merchandise. The expo isn’t as big as Osaka marathon’s but it’s sizable.

Clearly we know who is the main sponsor for the race as this is the 1st booth which greeted runners when we enter into this hall.

It’s shopping time!!

Runners queuing up to pose for their targeted timing set for the course

another booth with long queue which I do not understand what’s the hype

There are many booths which seemed interesting and filled with people but I just have no idea what they are queuing for.

The Race route

The race route will be discussed more in detail later on in my review.

various t-shirt designs for runners to choose from

After the shopping within the expo for runners’ necessities, the organiser placed the entitlements runners will receive once they complete the marathon. I think this is quite a good idea to give runners a feel of how the medal and t-shirt looks like to entice them further to complete the race.

runner looking on the entitlements

The exit signage is big with only chinese characters and english word. I wonder why no japanese words.

Outside the expo, there were a few food stalls scattered at the exit to fill up hungry stomachs if there’s a need to. It’s considered small as compared to Osaka Marathon’s but good enough if one is hungry.

Food expo at the exit

Race Day

The race starts at 9am thus it is not necessary to wake up in the early hours such as those for Singapore’s races. As I strolled from my hotel to the start point, I realised there were a few other runners all walking in the same direction to the start point.

Pointer 3 – Security barriers were setup around the starting precinct so that only runners are allowed into the area. This can potentially solve the overcrowding issue at the entrance of pens as security usually checks the bibs. The overcrowding has created an unpleasant feeling for Singapore races as there were usually pushes once the small gap opens for runners to get into the pens.

Runners walking to find their baggage deposit truck

Similar to Osaka Marathon, the baggage deposits made use of trucks to contain the baggage. Runners have to deposit their baggage according to their truck number indicated on their number bibs.

Pointer 4 – This has to be the top priority on the Singapore races’ list as baggage issue is something that can be better planned in Singapore races and Japan races has the perfect solution. Of course the execution during collection must be efficient too.

Look at the number of volunteers for each truck

There are a total of about 20,000 runners for this race. There are about 15 trucks allocated and look at the number of runners for each truck. A good comparison on the number of volunteers for the baggage deposit vs Singapore’s races shows the reason why our baggage system for some races didn’t work out.

Runners strolling around in jackets and raincoats before they deposit their baggage.

Once I deposited my baggage, my handphone lies in it thus no photos till the end of the race.

As I walk towards the starting pen area, there are many runners doing their race preparation routine, some are packing their baggage, some are doing their warmup runningup and down the street. There were plenty of toilets everywhere as well.

Pointer 5 – The portable toilets are scattered all over the place in groups of 10-20 in numbers. Singapore races like to cluster the toilet area as one making it very congested and not forgetting the smell as well. Having the toilets scattered around means that runners will be scattered too. And it is much clearer which cubicle has longer queue than the others as compared to 30 over cubicles all in a row.

Pointer 6 – Men should use urinal cubicles which consist of urinals ONLY and best without doors to minimise the amount of time to use the toilet. The washing point is situated outside the row of toilets. In this manner, there is really no queue at all at the men’s toilets.

After completing all the necessities before entering the pen, I decided to do a quick dynamic warmup (as per what I always did in Singapore) before entering the pen. However, I noticed something different in Japan.

Pointer 7 – This MUST have to do with the mindset of runners. In Singapore, I felt like a clown when I do some dynamic warmup or short runs up and down a 100m stretch. In Kobe, there were so many passionate runners sprinting up and down the street to warmup their bodies till the extent that I felt that I need to move too. Everyone in all different pens and categories were doing either easy pace or speedy bursts around the pen entry area. This is something which is so different from Singapore races, it’s the mindset and even those who wants to warmup also feel pressurised with so many pairs of eyes watching him/her.

5-minutes after the pen opens at 8am, I walked into the pen feeling all ready. It’s then that I realised that I should not have deposited my raincoat as well as the random blow of wind did felt a little chilly.

By 8:30am, the pen I was in was crowded. Despite the heat generated from other runners, I still felt cold as I am wearing a singlet and shorts only. Runners are given a pair of yellow gloves in the race pack and reminded to wear them at the start of the race to form a large sunflower picture. And those who forgotten to bring them will be given another pair before they enter the pen.

By 8:50am, a song (I think it’s the Kobe marathon song or something related) was played and that’s where I got the signal that the race is about to start. At 9am sharp (to the second), the race horn went off and off we go.

The race is an almost to and fro race, running about 6km in the city before hitting the suburban areas where the u-turn point is about 19.5km. Runners return to the city at around 32km.

The course is expected to have some climbs here and there and the most prominent comes around 38km mark (quite similar to Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon). I personally thought that the small climbs over the course with elevation from 0-10m should be no big deal but I was WRONG! It’s not the “quality” of the run but it’s the frequency of the “ups and downs”. There are too many of them and each uphill shatters my quads and every downhill, I can hear my hamstring cry.

The level of encouragement or participation from the spectators is so high that my torture was minimised even though I could feel some inkling cramps coming up after 30km (must be the slopes!!).

The route from the city towards the suburban (residential area) left me with strong impression cause of the mountain backdrop right in front of runners’ eyes. It’s something which you won’t be able to witness in Singapore races.

As usual, there are many bystanders offering drinks, titbits, food and even a tray of salt (that somehow saved me from cramps at the 35km mark). As I started my run/walk strategy, I begin to appreciate the buffet of small bites which the organiser prepared, some are pretty delicious too. The bananas given out are all peels and cut to tiny pieces so that runners just have to pick up and pop them into the mouth. As for hygiene wise…. just don’t think about it. =)

Pointer 8 – The volunteers in Japan races are the most encouraging of all. There is a row of “backline” volunteers at hydration stations who fills up the cups and stack in height of 3 cups. Once the “frontline” table is empty, this stack of cups will be moved over. the “frontline” volunteers along that row will be cheering loudly for the runners as they past by. It’s again passion in  the job that they do, even as volunteers of the hydration station.

The hydration station is the most important part of the race. Kobe Marathon hydration stations spread to about 150m long with multiple tables of water and isotonic drink (at alternate hydration stations). I did not encounter any period of time when the table is empty with no cups at all.

As I reached the 38km mark, just before the steepest climb in the entire race, there is again (same as Osaka Marathon) a long buffet spread of food. of course, since I am already at run/walk pace, might as well try the food. They taste nice after 3.5hours of run without proper food.

At the finishing line

After crossing the finish line, runners collected their well deserved banana (asked for an extra piece but was politely rejected), bottled mineral water, medal and finisher towel.

Not forgetting one of the most important item is to return the chip embedded behind the bib. Fail to return would mean to either mail it to them (costly postage for foreigner) or pay a fine. The chip (red in colour below) is about 1cm-1.5cm thick and is rather heavy too. I am still figuring how to return the chip when a volunteer politely request to help. All she has done is to open the transparent plastic to remove the chip. I guess I was in so much fatigue that my fingers and brain just aren’t talking to each other.

Red chip behind the bib

Runners are guided towards the baggage deposit halls to grab their baggage. Similar to Osaka marathon, all the baggage are lined up and spread  in sequence on the floor. I waited for about 3-seconds at the front of the line while the volunteer sprinted down the line to pass me my baggage.

outside the Kobe marathon expo where runners meet up with their loved ones

Kobe Marathon 2018 finisher medal

Front of medal

Rear of medal

The finisher towel is necessary in such races where runners can catch a cold quite easily with cold wind blowing. It is just the right cover after crossing the finish line and before we wash up and change into warmer clothes.

Finisher towel

The end point is on a small island in Kobe and it takes about 6 stations to the city of Kobe. There is also a paid shuttle bus service to take runners straight to the city centre. The event tee is in blue and something which I will proudly don on.

Kobe marathon 2018 event tee

Ratings

A) Race Expo: 4/5 (big hall with many vendors, no frill for foreigner runners, only about 6 eatery booths at the end)

B) Race Precinct: 4/5 (plenty of portable toilets, no hydration,  baggage deposit no queue)

C) Medal/Event tee: 4/5 (quality of medal and tee is of good quality, coloured medal, event tee does not stated the distance)

D) Post Race: 4/5 (no frill at baggage collection, only water given, large changing area)

E) The Race: 4.5/5 (plenty of volunteers at hydration stations, good atmosphere, hilly course)

Overall rating: 4.1/5

Conclusion: Another Japan race in my belt! Not the best timing that I would want to but still worth the experience. I wonder when Singapore races would ever reach such a standard in terms of atmosphere and race logistics. It takes a lot more than what the organisers can plan to do, the passion from the runners and of course the spectators too.

The day before the race