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Run through nature! Trail running recommendations
Are you familiar with the term “trail running”?
Trail running is a type of middle-distance running that involves running in mountains and fields other than on paved roads. In Japan, many people are probably familiar with the names “cross country” and “mountain racing.” Unlike mountain biking and other competitions that use vehicles, trail running has the unique appeal of running through nature on your own. Because you run off-road with ups and downs, you can feel more connected to nature and enjoy the changes in the surrounding scenery than you would with regular running. At a time when various leisure activities are being forced to struggle to prevent infection due to the effects of the new coronavirus, trail running is attracting attention as a way to avoid crowds and have fun.
After doing some research, I learned that Hamamatsu’s running club “Smiley Angel”* has been promoting trail running in Hamamatsu in recent years. Although I had no experience with trail running, I decided to attend a Smiley Angel practice session to experience the new charm of the Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana area.
*A citizen running club operated by Kyorindo Pharmacy Co., Ltd., headquartered in Hamamatsu, since 2012.
Participate in Smiley Angel's practice session
Click here for the 3 training courses in Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana
Participate in Smiley Angel’s trail run practice session
On the day of the practice session.
Today’s course is about 10km round trip from Akiba Shrine Kamisha to Akiba Dam. Furthermore, the height difference is 600 meters, which is quite difficult. It seems to be positioned as a course for advanced trail running enthusiasts. I haven’t done any exercise since graduating from high school, and my heart is filled with anxiety as to whether I’ll be able to finish the race.
[This course (pink line). You can see that it is running in the mountains where there are no roads. ]
[This course (App “Yamap” screen). It can be seen that there is a difference in elevation of over 600 meters. ]
The meeting will be at the upper shrine of Akiha Shrine.
A T-shirt was fine in the city, but it was quite cold in Akihasan without a jacket. Arriving a little earlier than the meeting time, I visited Akiha Shrine at the top of the mountain and prayed for my safety for the day.
[Scenery from Akihasan Sancho Shrine. The scenery that spreads out in front of you is spectacular. ]
At 9:00 a.m., participants for today’s practice session gathered. Participants were of various ages and genders. “One of the appeals of trail running is that people of all ages can enjoy it together.”
Smiley Angel staff says. Trail running puts a lot of stress on the body, but it can be done at your own pace and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get started, so trail running has many fans regardless of age or gender.
Of course, when tackling trail running for the first time, there are at least some rules and etiquette that you should know. Be sure to have some simple food and drinks with you in case you run out of energy while running. As for clothing, long sleeves and long pants are recommended to avoid damaging your skin from the trees. For more information, please see the references at the end of this article.
[First, we all took a commemorative photo. In mountain pose. ]
Do warm-up exercises and get started.
[Carefully stretch not only the lower body but also the upper body! Make sure to wear a mask during gymnastics. ]
The outbound route is mainly downhill.
The early part of the trail passes through a mountain forest lined with tall cedar trees. I take care not to get caught in fallen leaves or tree roots, but every now and then I look up and notice the early morning sunlight filtering through the trees.
[Scenery seen while driving. The sunlight shining through the layers of dead branches and moss-covered rocks creates a mysterious landscape. ]
[When I suddenly look up, I see trees with autumn leaves. Feel the seasons with your eyes while running. ]
As you go down for a while, the plants growing and the surroundings change. It seeps out from between the rocks,
Near the stream of mountain water that flows into Lake Akiha, short plants with lush leaves grow thick, and here and there there are ruins of private houses, which keep us from getting bored as we run.
[The scenery you see changes as you descend Mt. Akiha]
[As you descend, the number of paved roads increases. ]
As I was enjoying the changes in the scenery around me, I realized that I was approaching Akiba Dam, the turning point.
[Scenery towards Akiha Dam (center). The dam that rises between the mountains is overwhelmingly large. ]
At Akiha Dam, we rejoined the group that was leading the way and took a group photo. After replenishing water and nutrition and taking a short break, it was time to start heading towards the summit.
[Group photo at Akiha Dam, the turning point. Mountain pose! ]
The return route is the same as the outbound route, but there are many interesting discoveries that we didn’t notice when we arrived, such as the fresh water gushing out from between the rocks and the remains of stone walls hidden in the vegetation.
[The spring water is cold and feels good! ]
[Wild birds and other creatures gather near the water. If you’re lucky, you might even see wild deer! ]
As I reached the halfway point on the return trip, fatigue began to accumulate. When I take a step, my feet feel so heavy that I can’t believe they’re my own. The wind from Akihsan felt chilly in the morning, but now it feels nice on my tired body.
I take off my jacket and do my last spurt. The feeling of exhaustion and accomplishment competing with each other is indescribable, and it feels a bit of a waste to reach the goal.
[Towards the end, I had to go downhill and uphill repeatedly, and my legs were at their limit of fatigue. ]
By the time I climbed the last stone staircase, my fatigue had reached its peak, but I mustered up all my energy and made it to the finish line!
This time, I reached the goal approximately 4 hours after the start. Personally, it was quite tough physically, but the feeling of accomplishment after finishing the run was indescribably good! I naturally feel like I want to run again.
There are several other spots in the Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana area where you can enjoy trail running. With mountains, rivers, and lakes, this region is perfect for trail running.
At Smiley Angel, we offer two other courses in addition to this “Akihasan Course”: the “Okuhamanako Course” in the Jogamine-Tonmakuyama area, and the “Prefectural Border Experience” in the Okuhamanako area. We plan to set up a trail running course.
The set courses will be posted on Daisuki Net ( https://hamamatsu-daisuki.net/ ) and Smiley Angel’s website ( http://smileyangel.kyorindo.co.jp/ ), so please keep an eye out for them. sea bream.
We encourage you to try your hand at trail running on a course where you can enjoy the nature of Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana, either by yourself or with a running buddy, whenever you like.
Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana can be enjoyed by a wide range of people of all ages, men and women, from beginners to experts, thanks to its rich nature and terrain suitable for trail running, where you can choose from courses tailored to your level.
[Trail running can be enjoyed by people of all ages. ]
[Many women also participated! ]
Trail running allows you to enjoy sightseeing and exercise at the same time.
Trail running in the Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana area has a variety of levels and spots, so even beginners should be able to find a course that suits them!
Why not try trail running to stimulate your body, which has become dull from staying at home?
“Notes”
Before going on a trail run, please check the etiquette and rules beforehand.
<Reference>
Click here for Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana trail map
