The Nago Half Marathon – full of warm people and reminders of spring

The 22nd of January 2017, Nago City. Here, the cherry-blossom buds are already swelling in this place that gives a sense of where spring first arrives in Japan. This year marked the occasion of the 58th Nago Half Marathon, which is one of the oldest marathon competitions in Okinawa.

The Nago Half Marathon is a competition officially recognized by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, and has categories including Half (21.0975 km), 10 km, 3 km, and 3 km Parent/Child, in which a total of 3,240 runners with ages ranging from 6 to over 75 competed. The weather and warmth at the venue made the cold of winter up to that point seem like a lie. The runners were naturally all smiles, with couples, co-workers, and parents with children in strollers all impatiently waiting for the start signal.

The greeting at the opening ceremony from the Mayor of Nago City, Susumu Inamine, who also voluntarily participated as a runner, only added to the hopes for the event.

He says, “Nago has many locations we can be proud of, including the shopping district, Haneji Inland Sea, which offers unbroken views of islands such as Yagajishima Island and Oujima Island, famous Kanhi cherry-tree spots and fields of cosmos flowers. This competition is an opportunity to give visitors from outside Okinawa and overseas a sense of the appeal of this town, and to that end it is a course that makes use of the advantages of its location. Since last year, we have made it easier for runners to participate by ensuring that the event doesn’t clash with the professional baseball camps and also securing accommodation facilities. We have also realized services catering to the safety and language needs of participants solely through the efforts of local businesses, volunteer staff and exchange students at Meio University. We hope that everybody enjoys their time at the Nago Half Marathon, which offers comfort for both mind and body, and where running, eating, and drinking are all welcome.”

Digging into the charm of the historical Nago Half Marathon!

We did a full report on the Nago Half Marathon, covering the local situation and Nago attractions.

At the start command, the runners commence running, and are absorbed into the urban areas of Nago. Cheers of support can be heard from the townspeople lining the sides of the roads. Children who have come to cheer on their fathers are fascinated by the speed of the top runners who pass by in front of their very eyes. Perhaps they too will run one day, when they get older.

The next thing to come into sight was the Hinpun Gajumaru Chinese banyan tree. Estimated at 300 years old and designated a national natural treasure, this tree has no doubt kept watch over many a runner.

By the time the runners were out of the urban areas, the temperature had steadily risen, with many shedding their jackets and streaming sweat from their foreheads. Immediately afterwards, they received a push of support from a location colored in successive stages of pinks and whites.

A pleasant sea breeze blows through from the Haneji Inland Sea, which is visible after the 10 km mark. The Haneji Inland Sea is also known as the “Matsushima of Okinawa,” and here the runners lighten the pace as they cast sidelong glances at tranquil Nago scenery that seems to spring from your earliest memories and makes you want to stop in spite of yourself.

Water is available at the 5 km, 10 km, 16 km, and 19 km marks, handed to the runners by local volunteers under the blazing rays of the sun. We could feel the warmth of the locals as they joked amongst themselves about having to work as hard as the runners while at the same time cheering them on.

Of the 2,179 participants in the half marathon, 2,026 runners completed the course, and watching them high-five their friends and celebrate their efforts after crossing the finishing line left an impression.

Spectator support, Nago-style The people keeping watch over the Nago Half Marathon

The Nago Half Marathon has been held 58 times, solely due to the efforts of its runners, volunteer staff, and roadside support. We talked to 2 families who had come to show their support alongside the course.

“Our daughter loves marathons, so she often participates in the competitions held within Okinawa Prefecture. But they were always far away from our home, so we weren’t able to go and show our support. But the whole family can go and support her in marathon competitions close to our home, and that is one of the good things about this competition.” (Tomoyose)

The family was restless as they answered our questions, wondering when their daughter would pass by.

“Tom-tom, Tom-tom” – sending a noticeably rhythmical form of support from afar.

My son participates in many different competitions, including the Nago Half Marathon, so I get to enjoy cheering him on in places I don’t know. I also got some brown sugar from the company where my son works, and so I hand it out to the runners, hoping they can cross the finish line with the taste of Okinawa in their mouths.” (Fujimoto)

Maybe it is because she was cheering at the 18km mark where the runners’ legs are about to give out, but there is a natural strength to the drumstick beating on Fujimoto-san’s drum.

“You’ll want to come back”The enduring Nago Half Marathon

We spoke to some of the runners who completed the Nago Half Marathon.

“I was running, and a field of Cosmos flowers suddenly came into view. It was so beautiful I just had to take a photo (laughing)” (Miyazato)

“We ran together, so we were able to finish by helping each other through the tough times. Our times were so-so.” (Kudaka)

“I’ve competed in a number of different competitions, but this is the only one where they cheer by the roadside using drums, and sometimes saucepans. It really gave it an Okinawan flavor, and it only adds to the emotion that you can run together with your friends like this. People tend to think that running is something you do by yourself, but it is your friends waiting at the finish line who help you through the tough times until the end.” (Yoshida)

“I have been participating in marathons in Okinawa for 10 years now, and it really is the warmth of both the people and the weather that makes it so pleasant, no matter how many times I visit. There is also a hotel close to the venue, which makes it easy for women to participate. I intend to participate in marathons all over Japan, but the Nago Half Marathon will always be the place where it all starts for me.” (Matsuda)

“Heading to the venue, we were waiting at a bus stop, and a local asked us if we were running in the Nago Half Marathon and wished us luck. It was so reassuring.” (Asai)

“That kind of friendly interaction with the locals also enabled me to relax while running. I am coming again next year for the 59th one!” (Hayakawa)

The appeal of the Nago Half Marathon lies in the kindness of the people of Nago, who value interpersonal connections, and we were able to catch a small glimpse of the reason why it has lasted for so long.

“We want people to enjoy their time at the Nago Half Marathon, which offers comfort for both mind and body, and where running, eating, and drinking are all welcome.”

Next year will see the 59th Nago Half Marathon, and the year after that the 60th. In this competition there is time to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and switch off both mind and body.

【Website】
Nago City Tourism Association (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
https://nagomun.or.jp/