Start and Finish at Osaka Castle

It was crisp and fresh morning on Sunday 8 December, around 8C, when I left my hotel in Namba to go to Osaka Castle Park. Quickly took Midosuji line to Hommachi, changed there to Chuo line to Morinomiya station and in less than half an hour I was at to the runners village.

Entry to the village was located maybe 3 min walk from the station exit 3 - B that I used. On my way there were many signs showing what’s where and even an information tent. To enter the village I had to show my special Osaka Marathon wristband that I got at the expo. Thousands of people were already there, but scattered in different parts of this huge, beautiful park it still didn’t look crowdy.

There were plenty of change rooms available in specially set up tents, separate for men and women of course, 6 for men and 7 for women. They did protect your privacy but on that cold morning it was quite chilly inside so I decided to postpone the undressing as long as I could. Just behind the tents there was an alley with a long line of numbered cages to drop off the clothing placed in a special drawstring bag given at the expo.

Went for a walk around the village and found a toilet block, also some portable toilets, a couple of cafes, and closer to the station, very well stocked small convenience shop with everything from water, food to rain ponchos and gloves.

Finally it was time to change and go to the start line located on the opposite side of the park. Now the crowd got very think and looked like we all had the same idea. According to the map provided at the expo we should expect to walk for about 30 min to the start line. It wasn’t that bad, it took me less than 20 min.

Usual stuff before the start… toilet. There were plenty of them, according to the organisers, exactly 300 toilets. Good, the queues were not very long and moving quickly.

Worth mention is also how well the rubbish collection was organised. There we clearly marked bins everywhere with volunteers helping to sort the stuff.

Starting blocks close 15 min before the gun and considering that it’s quite hard to navigate through the thickening every minute crowd, it is better to get your zone bit earlier than that. I entered my block at 8.49 am with my zone starting at 9.10 am.

Kaboom sounded more like a quiet pop!

I could see the first blocks starting at 9.00 am and then it was our time. Off we go!

The weather was perfect, people cheering and standing along the course everywhere. First we ran north, along the park, turned right, crossed the bridge on Tosahori River and continued south. Before I knew it we got to the first water station at 5km mark. Now we went on Midosuji Street, posh and beautiful, lined up with elegant ginkgo trees and many people. We turned right into Sennichimae-dori in Namba, just next to my hotel and ran towards Osaka Dome. Turning/cut off point at 12 km mark and back to Namba. Then continuing straight south along Naniwasuji Street for at least 4 km with our first food station at 17 km mark. Just before 20 km we turned back the same street, to Namba again. Another food station past 21 km, then right turn into Sennichimae-dori. This is one of the busiest parts of town lined with many shops and it was Sunday so there were crowds along the course everywhere. Cheering, shouting, singing… what a party!

I must say that some of the food stops, especially after 25 km, looked more like restaurants than quick giveaways, there were buns, cucumbers, mochi, fried tofu, lollies and a lot of local dishes that I didn’t know but looked absolutely delicious.

Toilets and medical stations were available all along the course near every water or food station, now 4 km apart. Then at 35 km mark we got on a straight, long stretch of Imazato-suji Street… I was super tired by then and the views were rather average, but dense and cheerful crowds made up for uninteresting scenery. Thank you Osakans!

Finally the long stretch finished just before we hit 40 km soon entering again the Osaka Castle Park. Narrow, windy roads lined with people led us to the finish line. Yay! Done it again!

We got some water, energy drink, a banana and… one of the most beautiful medals I’ve ever seen.

Thank you Osaka, it was an absolutely perfect marathon in every sense. Well organised, lucky with weather, easy and mostly flat course and fantastic, uplifting atmosphere.