For the full race recap, including lots of pictures, visit my blog: http://bradleyontherun.com/2017/04/01/kumagaya-sakura-marathon-2017/ - because the race website is entirely in Japanese, reading the report would provide some great context!

Quick Recap – Kumagaya Sakura Marathon

Social Media: If there was one thing I truly missed in this race, it was social media. The Kumagaya Sakura Marathon has no Facebook page, no Twitter, no Instagram…just a website. So although I hashtagged furiously in both Japanese and English, the race organizers will never know…

Packet Delivery: That’s right – as long as you have a Japanese address (and this is your only option), your bib gets delivered to your door!

T-Shirt/Swag: The t-shirt is a fun hot pink-on-black deal – but that was the only item we received. That, of course, and our finisher certificate!

Course: Winding through city streets, by the river, along the railway tracks, and among the fields – this is a fast, flat course. The winds buffeting us in the final 5k, however, made things a bit challenging…

Post-Race: The food options were a bit limited, especially for a vegetarian like me. We went out for lunch!

Would I Run It Again? If I lived in the Tokyo area, I might give this race another try. It was run and well-organized, and I imagine if the cherry blossoms had been blooming, it would have been absolutely beautiful. However, if I travelled all the way back to Japan for a race, I’d probably try a different one next time!