Tomoda here, reporting that through a strange turn of events, I ended up acting as a substitute runner in an ekiden relay race, and successfully completed my big task this morning.
I wanted to get this report out while the excitement is still fresh.
This event was a running event held at the Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park, commonly known as Moricoro Park.
The role I was entrusted with was to be the first runner for a half-ekiden, where a team of four people each run 5.25 km, passing a sash to the next runner.
We started carrying running shoes at Circles about a year ago, and some of the staff wear them for their daily runs, but today was my first time participating in a running race, so I think it was a good experience.
There are some things you just don't understand until you actually participate.
Right before the start. Maybe because I was mostly just excited, I didn't feel as nervous as I do for bike races.
Bicycle races are also held here, but even so, I was surprised by the sheer number of runners.
The shoes I wore this time were from the American running shoe brand
ALTRA; the model was the Instinct 3.5, an on-road shoe.
This brand was created with the goal of reducing the strain on the knees caused by landing on your heels while running.
Honestly, even though I barely run in my daily life, I was able to run the 5km without any issues and pass the sash to the second runner. (Though the muscle pain hit me immediately...)
Waiting for my teammate to arrive at the hand-off zone.
The hand-off. I felt that sense of duty in passing the sash for the first time.
If I hadn't been wearing that sash, I might have just walked...
To everyone at TOKAI AIR RUNNERS who kindly let me join the team, thank you very much!
By the way, there are many cyclists among the members of TOKAI AIR RUNNERS.
I'd like to break down the barriers between cycling and running and share all kinds of ways to play!