Okinawa Marathon
The Okinawa
Marathon is the second largest marathon in the prefecture.
Although not quite as festive as the NAHA Marathon, the route is
lined with supporters, many of whom generously offer water and
other goodies. The first ten kilometers of the course are perfectly
flat, but after that, there are several steep hills, making this a
rather difficult marathon. The steep downhill for the last two
kilometers, however, should help you finish strong. After the race,
take advantage of the massage service. I would also recommend
getting a towel instead of one of the t-shirts, which are poorly
designed and made of an uncomfortable material. Click on any
of the photos below to start the slideshow.
The course peaks at an elevation of 110 meters. Each block represents 20 meters.
Entering the stadium towards the end of the course.
I lined up with a predicted time of 3:30:00. The start went pretty smoothly, and I never had to slow down.
I ran the first half in 1:30:47 but was forced to walk on several hills in the second half.
The first 10k is flat, so I went out fast. Maybe this wasn't a good strategy.
Aiming for a Boston Marathon qualifying time of 3:20, I was thrilled with my 3:12:57 time.