Kyoto Marathon 2017

It was raceday! The weather forecast for the day was 0-3 degree, with some light snowfall the night before. The starting point is located at Nishiyogoku Athletic Park (it's a stadium which is about an hour from where we were staying in Senbon Dori),  and the start point is different location from the finishing line.  Gun off was at 9.00 am.

On that morning the weather was clear, but very cold and we can feel some ice on the sidewalk outside the train station so yeah, it did snow a bit on the previous night, we presumed.

Most of the crowd on the same bus and train were the participating runners. And the anticipated number of runners that will show up is about 16,000.

We arrived about an hour and half early and the crowd just started to build up. It was cold and some part of the pavement was covered by ice.

I was hoping to bump into some Malaysian friends here, but did not manage to meet anyone. I think it was due to the huge crowd. After the ritual of pre-race Powerbar fueling (this is not an advertisement..hahaha), its a final toilet break and then time to strip!

God...do I have to do this? I think I looked like a monster from the Miyazaki anime.

I found my baggage truck without difficulty, and bib sequence numbers are displayed which looks like the one in the picture. After handed in my stuff in the bag provided by the organizers,  I am left only with an old T shirt and a poncho raincoat to keep me warm until the gun goes off.

"Dad, I think you better keep your crew-cut head warm with that neck buff thingy." And so I did, instead of using as the neck buff, i used it as a beanie. And, luckily I listen to my little girl's wisdom, because it kept my big ears and head warm, and I was ok with the neck during the run.  Then it's time to check in! Look at the crowd. I kissed my family and I made my way into the stadium.

According to the instruction, baggage hand in must be done before 8:15am  and runners must reach their respective start block by 8:44.  If you are later than this time, you would be place at the back of the line and if you miss the starting time, you will NOT be allow to run!

Inside the stadium, blocks are set up for each corral, and since I am lucky and got the first corral 'S', it was easily located from the entrant. So after a bit of warm up along the small narrow lane next to the main track, I went into my start block and hopefully it will be warmer if I am surrounded by crowd of anxious runners.

Can you spot me at the picture above?  I had to wave very hard to get my wife's attention and she managed to take this shot.  After all the usual ceremonial stuff were done,  the gun went off at 9.00 am sharp and everyone in my corral sped off  as if it's a 10k race! Dayem! My wife told me it took about 15 minutes for all runners to cross the starting line.

From the starting exit to the main street, there wasn't much to look at the first few km, out from the stadium, the city streets.  You will see the usual mistakes to those who stand in front does over and over again, racing very hard then fall backward after a few kms.

And then the view became very beautiful when we reached the riverside and around Arashiyama area.  The scene was really breathtaking.  Crowds were everywhere cheering and at the aid station, drinks are systematically placed with food on certain spots.  I didn't take any but somebody told me there are mochi, chocolates and fruits.

The view continue to be very scenic around the Arashiyama area and most of the runners looked so cheerful even though they were running at a very fast pace, this is perhaps due to the atmosphere or perhaps it is still early part of the race.
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We run pass through a number of UNESCO Heritage sites and also lots of tourist visit spots like this Ninnaji temple where the monks would come out and cheer for us. The drums and cheering noise will go on and on.

The route in Kyoto Marathon is quite hilly with plenty of sharp bending corners like this one.  Expect to be slowed down a fair bit every time you come across them.

The route also took us into a long straight stretch of road where you can see runners from the opposite direction, before we were led into the Kyoto Botanical garden at km 25.

And then out of the Botanical Garden, runners are diverted into the banks of Kamo River.
We ran about about 3 kms on semi off road on the sandy river bank of the Kamo River.  Although it was a pleasant experience, it was also a bit of a challenge and because the sole of my old shoes were quite worn off and so it was a bit slippery for me especially with the wet sand on the concrete pavement. And this path is quite narrow, maybe can house 2-3 runners for overtaking.  So some slowing down here and there but then, there are endless volunteers and spectators cheering for you everywhere!

On exit of the Kamo River,  it’s the Imperial Palace area, which is a straight and flat zone, you can go fast if you have the energy, and then only to find more U-turn to slow down at the end. Oh yeah, there are plenty of narrow U-turns in Kyoto Marathon.

Upon reaching the Kyoto City Hall, there is the big noise that came from Taiko drums and crowd cheering from the Hall building compound.  A big aid station was located at the front yard of the City Hall building. The atmosphere really motivate you keep going.

The final 5-6 km is a mix of agony and joy for many.  There is this long stretch uphill  that runs for about 2-3 kms and when it is at km 37, it really does seems endless.  And then just when you thought you have been worked out mentally, the last U-turn appears, and the earlier uphill now becomes a downhill to help you speed off to the finishing line. My Garmin starts to beep, giving a low battery sign, just like Ultraman, time is running out...hahaha. And I also realized then, after seeing my watch, I am close but most likely miss the sub 3 timing.  So now I have only one thing left to do, to run hard to the finishing line to be exactly at the border of 3.00 (also before the watch goes out of battery and I lose my run record, hahaha)

The finishing line is located next to the Miyako Messe / Heian Jingu Shrine. (where the REPC), and by the time I am closed to the finishing line, the road was quite empty and it seems almost like you are running alone.

Run as fast as I can I manage to overtake a few more runners but this is not a race against anyone but against time and myself.

It was a hardest minute, and I reach the finishing line 3:00:59! That means my gun time missed the sub-3 by exactly 1 minute, but on the other hand I have only 1 second to spare before I fall into 3:01:00....hahaha now that is really some fence I was sitting on.

Sub-3 no sub-3 it was a good fighto! to the end, and I was quite happy with the result.  In fact, I wasn't expecting a sub-3 because I have never run below sub 3:10:00 before, so I my expectation was really about 3:06 or something, so it was a bonus.

I thinks Kyoto Marathon is truly a great experience. This is the second marathon event I ran in Japan, the first being the 'serious' and hardcore Mainichi Beppu-Oita Marathon (or Betsudai).

Best: Its located in a beautiful Kansai and in centre Kyoto. There is so much to see and do in Kyoto and the surrounding region.  Besides, isn't it awesome that you can combine your run with a family holiday and they can cheer for you?.  The atmosphere is fantastic, friendly to the average runners, and not so serious with doable cutoff time of 6 hours but at stages.  Lottery is not as tough compared to Tokyo. For Malaysian, Air Asia fly directs to Kansai, and with the JR Pass, Airbnb, travelling is can be so much cheaper if you plan it right.

Challenge: It is possible to do a PB (mostly due to the cold) but it is not always true.  The cold weather does helps, but sometimes can get very cold and turn into an obstacle. The hills, the many U-turns and sharp corners (can you count how many corners and U-turns at the map above?) plus sand banks at Kamo River maybe a challenge for some.

So I personally think if your target for a race is to hit sub-something desperately, and you need a route that helps you focus on that, it is a better bet in other races that has flatter, straighter route, but if you want a good race location that comes  with a beautiful route, and you can combine with a great holiday, Kyoto Marathon is for you.

Adidas Supernova Glide Boost 7

adidas Malaysia recently launched its exclusive Standard Chartered KL Marathon licensed merchandise to celebrate the collaboration, and among the range, includes the Fall/Winter 2015 Supernova Glide BOOST 7 running shoes series.

I had the opportunity to try out these, and here is my take after I have made a few training runs with the shoes (about 70km).

For those of you who has never try out the Boost series, basically the adidas Boost series have cushioning system that consist  thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a material found in the dashboards of BMW automobiles, and these high tech material are suppose improve performance by returning more energy each steps taken. Returning more energy means they are much more bouncier therefore give better running economy.

The adidas Supernova Glide Boost has excellent cushioning and the Boost cushioning system extends from the heel to the ball of the shoes, which works well whether you are a heel striker or a mid footer.

There is a good amount of foam stuffing in the upper collar wall of the Glide Boost which gives that plush feels and additional fit around the ankle area.

I also notice that stitching is very minimal and instead, the structure is constructed with welded rubberized overlays, and that is good when you want to avoid irritation during longer distance runs.

The top is made in the form of breathable mesh, and with the material that is gentle to the feet. Basically they feel comfortable and well ventilated, and it feels almost similar to like wearing a pair of thick socks. The roomy feel in the toe box is another plus point.

At the rear of the shoe, there is an external heel clip is also another good feature, offering a good fit securing well at the ankle area.

The front out sole at the shoe is made from Continental rubber and carries the Continental marking (from car tyre manufacturer) and from my previous experience with the other pairs of  adidas running shoes of the Boost series, these material does offer better grip in either dry conditions or wet conditions, and they are very much more durable too.  Also, at the mid foot comes with the torsion system which gives the shoe very good stability.

The Glide has a stack height (27mm to 17mm) and a 10mm heel drop and with the combination of the Boost (TPU) used to construct the midsole  makes the shoes a suitable companion for runs that deserves good cushioning such as the LSD or on hilly course (such as Bukit Kiara circuit or double hills). This is because of the good cushioning yet very responsive feel of the shoe.

In additional to the rubberized welded overlay and the heel cups, the 3 stripes logo in the middle is also part of the supporting structure, and they really give that secure hugging feels at the mid foot area.

In summary, the Supernova Glide BOOST 7 is basically a neutral trainer that is capable of offering high-mileage training as well as longer distance races such as the marathon.

I think the shoe will be an excellent choice as a racer for heavier runners or for those who are looking for good amount of cushioning for their racing shoes.  For the rest, the Glide Boost 7 will make a good long run trainer.

* thank you Adidas Malaysia for providing these shoes for the review.

* there is also an on going promotion on the adidas Supernova Glide Boost in conjunction with the Standard Chartered KL Marathon. Check them out at the adidas stores.

Puma Ignite

The Puma Ignite was launched about a month ago, and this model is designed with the IGNITE foam; ie. the sole which is made from a new polyurethane material that is meant to provide responsive cushioning, maximizes energy return and to deliver superb durability.



After having run in them for about a month now, here is what I found out about these shoes.

My first impression is that Puma Ignite is a very responsive running shoe. Similar to the Boost concept from Adidas, the IGNITE foam gives good rebound on every stride made.  I also think due to similar reason, these shoes weight slightly heavier for its look.

According to the technical literature, the sole of these shoes also incorporate the 'ForEverFoam’, which is the material used at the heel of the shoe and it is designed in such that it will disperse the impact when your foot touches the ground.



The shoes are said to have durability built in, but I can't share about this feature until I clock more miles in them.  However, I do find that they absorb the impacts very well from continuous poundings I made throughout my run in them.



The Puma Ignite is also a very comfortable trainer.  Besides excellent cushioning, the shoes delivers good ventilation points through the perforated mesh used across the uppers of the shoe allows longer training sessions.

The fitting is superb, for it is not too narrow nor too wide.  The heel counter of the shoe is very well made, provide excellent hugging fit on the rear of the feet while the toe box is quite roomy.



The reflective strip at the back of the shoe keeps you visible when you run in the dark, and this feature work very well for me during the recent stormy weather in the evening.



Visually, these shoes looks awesome, and they come in youthful and vibrant color scheme both him and her.

Overall I think these shoes will make excellent neutral trainers for the longer runs, and may even fit in as a pair of speedy racers for the heavier runners.

And I saw it in the Puma Stores recently that  there are plenty of colors to choose from.

Adidas Energy Boost 2 : A review

I always wanted to try the Boost series from Adidas ever since it was launched, and I finally get to try on the Adidas Energy Boost 2.

When I was in Hong Kong recently, I have noticed that Adidas has already fast replacing most of the models that are made from traditional EVA based midsole materials, and the newer models are constructed with the 'boost' material, also known as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material found in the dashboards of BMW automobiles.  

This material looks like the foam used for the packaging, but the feel is totally different.  In fact they feel very springy and bouncy and I suppose that is the basis of greater energy return in the shoe design concept. And that is a bit of the technical background about the TPU material used in the all the Boost models.

Overall Structure: the shoe is built with a solid plastic like frame structure that wraps around the feet from the heel cup to the of the middle of the feet. In the middle the 3 stripes logo is also part of the cage like structure, offering a real snug fit that feels like an easily adjustable shoe lace.

The upper is also different from those traditional Adidas models; they are made of a stretchy mesh that feels like a pair of thick socks, but it is much thicker and is reinforced with a printed thin black structure that says Techfit.  The feeling is as though the shoes wrap around the feet like a pair of socks.

I found the upper to be exceptionally comfortable, but from the look of the mesh, I suspect that it will retain water which makes it not a very good shoe for the runners whom sweat a lot especially during a very long race such as marathon.  I will need to run in them during rainy days to confirm this.

For me, since this is the first pair of Boost I have ever tried on, my focus is always about the midsole of the shoe every time I wear them.

Overall, the foam is much softer than  the typical materials that are used in the midsole of most running shoes, and they gives the firm bouncy response every you feet land. The shoes are pretty good in terms of stability despite the heavy cushioning.

The Energy Boost 2 is a trainer, so it is slightly heavier due to the more TPU material packed in the midsole, but there are other lightweight models such as the Boston Boost etc.

The cushioning of these shoes are fantastic, and screams cushioning at the heels, so if you are a heel striker and you like good cushioning at the heels, these shoes are made for you.The forefoot area has less cushioning and that provides a firmer and more responsive feel during lift off.

Finally, in terms of the higher and heavier profile, thicker cushioning, I must say that the Adidas Energy Boost 2 will make a good training partner for the heavier runners whom prefer plenty of cushioning. For the rest, the shoes promise durability and much more comfortable ride for the longer runs.