Uji River 10K Road Race

The 30^th Uji River 10K Road Race, which I ran yesterday morning, was most definitely not a flat or fast course. It was the first 10K that I’ve raced in for over 2 years. I took my place on the start line in Uji Sports Park, alongside 1000 other runners in the 10K event, and also at least another thousand runners who’d entered the Uji River half-marathon race, for a combined start. This was the biggest field that I’ve raced in so far in Japan.

As I was warming up, I saw a small team of Japanese Self Defence Force soldiers doing their own warm up preparations, with Taiko drums. Once the starting pistol was fired, they started an impressive performance of traditional Japanese drumming as the field passed by.

I’ve learnt that front runners of Japanese road races tend to start at a sprint, and as the race was downhill for the first 2 miles, I was prepared for a fast start. I was surprised, given the crowded start line, to get clear and to be able to run freely with plenty of space around me after only a few metres.

After about 800m, the road turned sharply left as we exited the sports park and continued our descent towards Uji River. I lent forward slightly to increase my pace and to take advantage of the lay of the land, but tried to run relaxed. I could see a couple of runners a few metres ahead of me and I worked towards catching them so that I could run in their slip stream and use them to shield me from the wind.

Just before we’d ran 2 miles, the road levelled out and the course took us through a narrow stretch of shops lined with many spectators that shouted encouragement, with some waving placards. There then followed a long steady climb along a road that ran parallel to the river, to the turnaround point, this being an out and back race. Just before the 5K marker, the half-marathon runners were diverted away towards a path along the bank of the river. Seeing the front runners of the 10K whizz past on the other side of the road just before I went around the turnout point, I realised that I was in 27^th place. I was overtaken by three runners on what was to be the last downhill stretch back along the road overlooking the river.

Then the climbing started. It was tough; 2 miles of uphill running with no let up. I expected to lose several places as my pace inevitably slowed, but pleasingly, this didn’t happen. After a long drag, we finally turned back into the sports park, for what I thought would be a gentle climb back along the same road that we’d started the race down. However, a race marshal directed us off to a branch road. As I turned onto it, I saw another steep uphill section ahead.

The runner immediately in front of me was obviously disappointed to see another, unexpected ascent, as he seemed to literally wobble at the sight and ground to a virtual halt. Passing him as I slogged up that last hill, I entered a running track stadium and stretched out for the finish line, expecting the youngster I’d passed on the final hill section to out sprint me at any moment, but he never came back.

I finished 29^th in 36 minutes 41 seconds. Not a great 10K time, but considering the hilly nature of the course, I’m pleased with it. After the race, I went to a tea room overlooking a Japanese garden, which was behind Byodoin Temple, for a refreshing drink of Uji’s famous green tea.