The 25th Utsunomiya Marathon

Rina and 351 female runners took part in the 5 km women's long distance race of the 25th Utsunomiya Marathon at Kiyohara Industrial Park (K.I.P.) today.
She won the race.
The Utsunomiya Marathon holds 2 km, 3 km, 5 km, 10 km and 21.1 km races for both men and women.
Congrats Rina! Great job. I'm proud of you!

To tell you the truth, I didn't go to K.I.P. to watch her running. I practiced playing tennis as usual. My wife Kiyono went to Tokyo to meet her parents and elder daughter Emi.
I guess that her two friends, one of them finished 3rd, and her field and track club coach of her high school watched the prize awarding ceremony.

I wish I could have seen the ceremony.

Utsunomiya Marathon 2009

Rina, my younger daughter, earned a bronze medal at the 2009 Utsunomiya Marathon.
Congratulations Rina!

There were half marathon, 10 km, 5 km and 2 km races for both men and women, being divided into their age groups at the Utsunomiya Marathon.

She took part in the women's junior high school students division in which about one hundred athletes participated.

Even it had passed a few months after she retired her track and field club at her school, she did a great job.

Most of Japanese high schools have the same policy or practice that all third grade students should finish their club activities in autumn and start to prepare for their high school entrance examinations.

But, after retiring her club, Rina kept running long distance on Saturday or Sunday morning alone till the day of the marathon race.

Unfortunately, she could not beat other two competitors nor her last year's her own record, I'm proud of Rina.
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Utsunomiya Marathon 2008

Utsunomiya marathon was held in Kiyohara Industrial Park, Utsunomiya city today. I went to the marathon with Rina, my younger daughter. She took part in the race and I was just a spectator.

It’s said about 5,200 people participated in the races. There were half marathon, 10 km, 5 km and 2 km races for both men and women, being divided into their age groups.

Rina won the silver medal in the junior high school women’s race. 75 runners ran 5 km (roughly 3 miles) course. Great job again, Rina!

Unfortunately, it was raining all day long. But, we enjoyed the race and autumn scenery.

Last but not least, thanks all volunteers for the nice management of the races. Volunteers everywhere were great and made the race run smooth and enjoyable.