Looking Back on the 2024 Races③ – The 22 km Race
Welcome to the third installment of our race recap, where we’ll be looking back at the 22 km race.
Participants: 177 (141 men, 36 women)
Finishers: 177 (141 men, 36 women), 100% completion rate
For the second year in a row, this category has achieved a 100% completion rate! While the course is known for being beginner-friendly with a relatively high percentage of road sections, it’s still impressive that every single participant completed the 22 km distance. This success might be attributed to the runners’ consistent training and perhaps the community’s enthusiastic support!
Before the 22 km race, we held an opening ceremony, and the venue was bustling with excitement! This year, two outdoor shops had booths, offering gear rentals, including trail running shoes, which attracted many visitors.The Boy Scout Troop 1 from Nagaoka, who helped us last year, came to assist us again this year.
One of the venue’s highlights is its spaciousness and abundance of shade. With a slightly smaller number of participants this year, everyone was able to relax before the start.
Interestingly, we had five international runners in this race, and I managed to find two of them. They were from Australia, traveling around Japan and participating in their second trail race of the trip, having first competed in the Fuji Oshino Kogen Trail Race on June 2nd. What a great way to explore Japan!
At the opening ceremony, we were honored to have the Mayor of Nagaoka, a prefectural assembly member from Niigata, and city council member in attendance. This sense of the whole community coming together is what makes the Echigo Country Trail so special.
the race started as scheduled at 10:30 AM. Runners dashed through the rice fields of Oguni and passed through the village of Suwai on their way to the water station.
Beyond the water station, runners faced a series of climbs and descents through the mountains as they made their way to the Housue Aid Station.
Located about 12 km from the start, the Housue Aid Station is the only one in this event that serves both the 63 km and 22 km races. While the aid station and support team were kept busy for a long time, the local women cheered the runners on with their voices, and the men encouraged them with bells and drums.
From this aid station, runners continue through the mountains for about 6 km. After emerging from the forest, they reach the Shinmachi Aid Station, located around 18 km from the start. There, the students of Oguni Junior High School and the lively residents of the Shinmachi community warmly welcome the runners.
The banners displayed at the aid stations and cheering spots were all hand-made by the students of Oguni Junior High School, who create them every year. With cheering spots along the route and the younger students from Oguni Elementary School who had finished their 2.5 km race earlier, runners found it hard not to reach the finish line. The 100% completion rate certainly owes much to the warm encouragement from the community!
Now, let’s talk about what happens after the race. Like many local races, the Echikan doesn’t end when the race does. While the runners were out giving it their all, the local community was busy preparing a feast of curry, pork soup (featuring wild boar meat!), and salad. There was even a small self-service market! I wonder how well it did?
Did you enjoy the food? It seemed like a great opportunity for runners to exchange information with each other. Seeing those empty pots was the best reward!
Although we don’t have photos, there’s also an onsen (hot spring) at the Yōrakukan near the parking area, perfect for washing away the sweat after the race.
So, how did you like it? Did you get a feel for the atmosphere of the 22 km race? With a start time of 10:30 AM and a cutoff time of 3:30 PM, this race is perfect for beginners and those who just want to enjoy the experience.
We’ll close with a photo of our two runners from Australia, who told us they had a fantastic time at the race.
Thank you for reading until the end! Whether you participated this year, decided to skip it, or are thinking about starting trail running, we’ll be waiting for you at next year’s Echigo Country Trail!
