Tochigi Prefectural Ekiden Road Race

Rina, my younger daughter took part in Tochigi prefectural Ekiden road race as a runner today. She ran over 3.08 km course, about 2 miles in 10 minutes 43 seconds.

Ekiden: it usually referred to as a marathon relay, is a long-distance relay road race.

Twenty-seven teams consisting ten runners each (junior high, high school, college students and workers both men and women) ran over 60 km, about 38 miles, from Utsunmiya city to Tochigi city, then came back from there to Utsunomiya city.

Utsunmiya city has two Ekiden teams. Utsunomiya-A team is stronger than Utsunomiya-B team. Rina always becomes a runner-up in municipal races, so she became a member of B team.

Her team finished the race 20th and Utsunomiya-A team finished the race 5th. Rina and spectators including my wife and mother-in-law really enjoyed the race.

Ekiden Race in Tochigi Prefecture

The Tochigi Ekiden race was held today.
An Ekiden, usually referred to as a marathon relay, is a long-distance road race relay. Twenty-seven teams took part in the race. They ran between Utsunomiya city and Tochigi city about thirty kilometers distance.

Each team has ten members including junior high students, high school students, college students and office workers, both men and women. Those team members were chosen by local cities in Tochigi prefecture.

My younger daughter Rina had been chosen as a reserve member of the Utsunoiya city team and practiced for the race several times.
Rina got up early today and went to the 7th part of the racing course. Two hours after Rina left home, I went to the starting place, Tochigi prefectural office.
First runners of the race were female junior high school students. They ran so fast that I could take only 10 seconds video and two pictures.
Rina told me that she wanted to be chosen as a regular team member, not a reserve.
I hope someday her dream will come true.