The characteristics of the Tokyo Olympic marathon representative selection “1 game / MGC” course is September 9th 16:41

The MGC (= Marathon Grand Championship) will be held on the 15th of this month, with the Tokyo Olympic marathon representative representing Japan in a “one game”.
There will be 31 boys and 21 girls who have cleared the standards, and the top two will be selected as representatives of the Tokyo Olympics.

MGC is a "one-shot game" representative selection race where two men out of three Olympic representatives are selected in a single race.

The Japan Athletics Federation has so far selected Japan representatives of the Olympic marathon based on multiple races with different conditions such as course and weather. However, some players complained that the selection process was unclear, and so, for the local Tokyo Olympics, both men and women selected two representative players in a single race. Adopted.

Clarifying the goal of participating in MGC has led to an overall improvement in the Japanese marathon world.

In the boys, Yuta Shigaraki and Jie Osako updated Japan's records one after another, and women also won the summer Hokkaido Marathon, and Ayuko Suzuki, who won the Osaka International Women's Marathon last year, Mizuo Matsuda New power emerges. Of the players who cleared the rankings and times set by the Japan Land Federation in major domestic races held by spring, 31 boys and 12 girls except those who became representatives of the world championship held immediately afterwards Is scheduled to participate.

At the Olympics, the new national stadium will start and finish, but since it is still under construction, MGC Jingu Gaien's “Icho Namiki” will start and finish at MGC.

The athletes who started will head east through the side of the new national stadium, pass through Nihonbashi, etc., and turn back in front of Asakusa Kaminarimon, where the Tokyo Sky Tree can be seen at 15 kilometers. After going south again through Nihonbashi, Ginza, and Shinbashi, it is the second turn around Zojoji Temple in Minato-ku near Tokyo Tower.

After that, return to Ginza, pass the 3rd Nihonbashi, pass 30km and go south again in Jimbocho. After this, after the final third turn in front of the double bridge at the Imperial Palace Bund, the players squeeze their powers toward the mushrooms on the Meiji Jingu Gaien.

The point is ...

This course is a flat course with little ups and downs as a whole, but there are many points to match.

After the start, go down 30 meters above and below the first 5 kilometers. If you ride too fast here, you will feel the flat road after you get down.

Beyond the middle point, there are two turns around Zojoji Temple and in front of the double bridge, where the players can see the difference between the beginning and the following. In the area around the Imperial Bund where this double bridge is located, when it clears, there is nothing to block the strong sunlight, and the heat is likely to be a factor in the game.

And the biggest point is the ascending starting from the aqueduct that is over 35 km. The height difference is about 30 meters, and there are two steep uphills after 40 km.

Many players and instructors see the final 5km uphill as a game, and some players are expected to start before going uphill.

What are the watching points?

There are plenty of watching points to support players.
In addition to the `` Icho Namiki '' on the Meiji Jingu Gaien, which will be the start and finish, sightseeing spots such as the Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate overlooking the Tokyo Sky Tree and the vicinity of Zojoji Temple near Tokyo Tower are expected to be crowded with spectators The

In Jimbocho, which is 7 km, 31 km, and 35 km, and Nihonbashi, which is 10 km, 20 km, and 28 km, you can support players three times in one place. Furthermore, on Yasukuni Dori, where the uphill slopes of the final stage continue, you may be able to see the moment when the race moves greatly.

Named Mr. Masuda

Ms. Akemi Masuda, who is the navigator of NHK's NHK, asked them to “name” their eight highlight points on the course.

Point 1 “Hyuga road with a smile”

Near the “Yodobashi”, about 3 km shortly after starting. Mr. Masuda named it "Hyuga Road with a smile". The reason is "because I get the morning sun from the front on the downhill."

Mr. Masuda says, “If a marathon trip starts and people who can go down with a smile, Hinako Shibuno, a women's golfer, won with a smile.

Point 2 “Starting to identify yourself”

Next is Nihonbashi at 10km. I named it "the starting point to check myself". Nihonbashi was the starting point of the highway connecting to various places in the Edo period. Mr. Masuda says, “It's about 10 km after the race has started, and the point is that you can confirm that you can make a good rhythm while facing yourself.”

Point 3 “New and old“ competition ””

Asakusa Kaminarimon near 15km is called “old and new“ competition ””. Why is it a “competition”?
The reason is that if you turn around the corner of Kaminarimon, you can see the Sky Tree. The veterans and younger players will enter into the second half of the game when the game begins.

Point 4 “Oasis of Feelings”

Ginza around 21 km is a “feeling oasis”. There are lots of high-end brand stores along the road because it is shaded by high buildings such as department stores.

Mr. Masuda said, “Ginza is shade and there are a lot of high-end brand stores, so it might be a“ feeling oasis ”. If you have room, you should buy a branded product. “If you win a medal at the Olympics, you can have a parade here, it may be a place where you can enjoy such a“ parade feeling ””.

Point # 5 "Tokyo Tower is also surprised"

25km point after the race. This is where you can see Tokyo Tower. This place was named “Tokyo Tower is also surprised”.

Masuda mentioned this as one of the points of the race.

The inquiry was about Mizuki Noguchi, who won the gold medal at the Athens Olympics.

“Mr. Noguchi spurted around 25 km. There is a possibility that a person who has courage in MGC may spurt around here. If there is a person who increases the pace at about 25 km in the hot weather, Tokyo Tower is surprised. That's right"

(Photo: Mizuki Noguchi, leading at the 2004 Athens Olympics uphill)

Point 6 “I'm not going to be a point”

33 kilometers near the Imperial Palace was named “I ’m not a point”. The reason is that there is nothing to block out the strong sunlight and the tiredness comes out most. Meanwhile, “where to spurt”. It is said that it is also necessary to determine the timing in the group.

Mr. Masuda analyzes that “the point is that it is a good point of view, so you can see the difference between before and after and start thinking about the strategy in various ways, so you should not be bored”.

Point 7 “Slopes that cross over”

MGC ’s biggest challenge is the “slope” after 35 km. Mr. Masuda's name is "Slope that crosses herself".

“Jiwajiwa comes uphill, this is a place where you can really test your stamina. It ’s a difficult end to everyone in the heat. So it ’s not“ Amagi ”, but“ A hill where you can cross yourself ”. I think you can demonstrate that. "

Point 8 “28-second slope to delight”

And the final board. A steep uphill about 40 kilometers is awaiting after the hill that follows “Dradara”. Mr. Masuda named it “28 seconds to delight”. Mr. Masuda, who calculated the time since this hill was about 140 meters long. I said here that "I would be strong if I could climb up in about 28 seconds."

“It ’s a painful last hill, but if you ’re able to climb up at that speed, you ’ll be waiting for cheers. Isn't it more likely to get a representative? "

A ticket for the representative of the Tokyo Olympics, uphill.
Who will grab it?

The MGC race will start on the 15th of this month at 8:50 am for boys and 9:10 am for girls.