The weekend of July the 13th (Chris's 25th birthday for those keeping score at home) was also a 3 day weekend in celebration of Marine Day. And...it was also the 5th annual Obuse 1/2 Marathon. That's one heck of weekend so lots of news to report.
Chris was showered with cake and gifts all day on Friday. The GS team provided a surprise birthday cake in the afternoon and the day was capped off with a delicious dinner at a nearby French restaurant (Chris & Nicole only in case there's any confusion). Actually, it was capped off when Nicole instructed Chris not to salivate over the dessert menu because one more surprise was in store - fresh, homemade, fig sherbet that Nicole had made herself. Yum.
The next morning we met up with our friends Neil and Paddy from the running club for the drive up to Obuse (pronounced Oh-boo-say).
Obuse is part of the Nagano prefecture and is famous for it's chestnuts (so we're told). It's also becoming famous for its half marathon because it has a fun, friendly, small town vibe. But more on Obuse and the marathon later.
We arrived in Nagano on Saturday afternoon and we were handed the key to the palace that would be our room for the evening. We're not sure, but the giant plastic key chain (picture the crystals Superman used in order to summon up Marlon Brando) may have been bigger than our room.
Keeping with tradition, the night before a race is all about carbo 
loading. Fortunately, we were with a group of friends from our running club who are vets of the Obuse race so they are practically regulars at Bosco, the nearby Italian restaurant. We quickly rearranged 
some tables to suit our large group, managed not to get kicked out and sat back for a nice big meal. Chris was thoroughly amused by the wine "carafe".
loading. Fortunately, we were with a group of friends from our running club who are vets of the Obuse race so they are practically regulars at Bosco, the nearby Italian restaurant. We quickly rearranged 
some tables to suit our large group, managed not to get kicked out and sat back for a nice big meal. Chris was thoroughly amused by the wine "carafe".RACE DAY started at 5 am. What a great way to spend a Sunday morning. We met in the lobby at 5:30, hopped on the shuttle train at 5:40 and arrived in Obuse a little after 6.
After a few human waves rippled through the race field (yes, unlike in the US the wave has never gone out of style in Japan) the starting gun fired at 7:20 and we were off.
Now we'd like to say 'Chariots of Fire' started to play and we were nosed out at the finish line by a group of Kenyans but that would be a slight embellishment. But Obuse has a lot going for it - first, the course winds through grape & wine vineyards, apple orchards and other fresh delicacies; there are a ton of volunteers who staff water stations and musical stops (the blue grass / banjo band was Chris's favorite; Nicole was partial to the jazz bands). Not to mention that Nagano's mountain tops covered in early morning mist served as the main backdrop.
We lucked out because a typhoon was skirting its way along Japan all weekend but it never really made landfall. But it was pretty darn humid and the sun was doing it's best to crash the 
party so it got a little hot. When we crossed the finish line (Nicole at 1:55:05 and Chris at 2:01:42) we made a bee line for the giant fountain in the middle of the park to cool off - the hallmark finish of the Obuse marathon.
party so it got a little hot. When we crossed the finish line (Nicole at 1:55:05 and Chris at 2:01:42) we made a bee line for the giant fountain in the middle of the park to cool off - the hallmark finish of the Obuse marathon.
Yet another Japanese race with no medals for finishing but we did get sweet commemorative towels this time around and a coupon to the onsen (natural hot baths). Tune in later for more details on that.
For the record, we had dinner with the race organizer that evening and she told us that a 93 year old man finished in just over 4 hours. Obuse is the only race in Japan that allows him to run. Don't know his name but he rules!
