GO ASIA TRAIL 
Following last year's race, I ran the Akiyoshidai Karst Trail Run again this year. Last year's race was my first time visiting and running in Akiyoshidai, and I wanted to go back again this year because of the spectacular view unique to the karst plateau and the great view from "Ryugo Peak" at the end of the race.
I live in Osaka, so Akiyoshidai is a long trip for me, but I think it is a very attractive race because there are few races in the Kansai region where you can run in such a spectacular setting.
About the 2023 race
This year, I ran the Extreme Course, which is a very unusual course that consists of two laps of a long course (30km).
Last year, the Extreme Course was 72km, but this year the course was short-cut by one section to 60km. The official accumulated elevation is 1940m, which is not so high for a 60km course, so it can be said to be a runnable course.
However, it is still an extreme course because it is runnable, so it is possible to run at a certain speed, and it is a 60-km run through the mountains.
Access and Accommodation
Last year, we stayed in the center of Mine City where Akiyoshidai is located (around the city hall), but there are not many hotels, not many restaurants, and it takes about 25 minutes by car to get to Akiyoshidai.
This year, we decided to change our strategy and stay near JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station. There are many hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores in the Shin-Yamaguchi Station area. Also, access by car to Akiyoshidai is not that much different from central Mine City, and it takes only 30 minutes from Shin-Yamaguchi if you use a toll road for part of the way.
So, if you are planning to participate next year from outside Yamaguchi, please take a look at this page.
After actually running the race
It was cooler than last year, but still hard w
When I ran last year, it was not hot during the first lap because we started early in the morning, but when we started the second lap, it was extremely hot because it was very sunny and Akiyoshidai has few trees to block the sunlight. It felt as if we were running on a different course on the second lap, even though we were running on the same course.
This year, the weather was good for runners. It was cloudy almost all day and the wind was blowing fairly well, so it was easier to run compared to last year. The weather was a balmy 19 degrees Celsius at its lowest and 25 degrees Celsius at its highest.
However, as we entered the second lap, the pace was slower because of fatigue, and the temperature rose in the afternoon, so we felt as if we were running a different course than in the first lap. This was reflected in the times.
I checked the records of other competitors, and they all showed the same tendency. I don't think there is anyone who can run the second lap faster, but I think the key to running faster in this race is how much you can shorten the gap here.
Early signs of heatstroke, but covered by experience in Asia
The first lap was fine, but as we entered the second lap, my energy level started to drop and, as I knew, the temperature would rise in the afternoon. Partly due to this, in the middle of the second lap, I began to feel a dry sensation in the tips of my hands and a light headache. My stomach also began to suffer, and I found it difficult to eat solid food and drink sweetened beverages.
I had experienced this symptom many times in races in Taiwan and Hong Kong, where it was hotter than in Japan, so I dealt with it by controlling my pace and taking supplements.
In such cases, I would first take Umedan's 2RUN and use it as a kind of oral rehydration solution to get through this crisis. For stomach symptoms, I dissolve two sticks of MAGMA ATHLETE Barley in 500ml of water and drink it. I have been using MAGMA for about 10 years, and it is an essential supplement that I always carry with me in every race. It is a supplement suitable for my army, which has overcome many crises.
The rest of the time, I run at a slower pace and don't push myself too hard. I take more breaks than usual at aids, and if there are aids with ice, I use it to cool my armpits and neck.
My experience of running in hot Asian countries has helped me to be able to notice even the slightest change, which I think has improved my finish rate. As I get older, I become better at race management.
JAL cabin crew (ground staff?) Aid with JAL cabin crew (ground staff?)
At the aid where JAL cabin attendants were stationed (CP2 at Chojagamori parking lot), the background music of "I will be there with you," which is the song played on JAL's in-flight flights, was also relaxing. I like this song a lot, and whenever I board a JAL aircraft at an airport overseas, this song is always playing, making me feel like I have already returned home.
JAL is the main sponsor of the Honolulu Marathon in Hawaii, and they often co-sponsor road and trail marathons around Japan, so it is not unusual to see their cabin crew standing at the aid stations. It is not uncommon to see cabin crew members standing at aid stations like this.
The view from Ryugoho Peak is exceptional!
It may be difficult to convey the charm of this place from a photograph, but the view from Longgobo Peak is spectacular. The summit of Ryugo Peak is located at the 28.5km mark of the first lap and the 58.5km mark of the second lap, almost before the finish line, and is truly a final reward for the runners. It was as if I was running to see this view "twice".
Well, it was great. Of course, if you just want to see the view, you can run a long course or a short course. However, only the Extreme Course allows you to enjoy the view of Longgangbong twice in one day! And on the second lap, the sun was out a bit on Longgangbong, so it was just like Go to Heaven on the WWW.
The Akiyoshidai Karst Trail Run has a reasonable number of runners participating, I think 300 per event, so there is no traffic jam and it is a stress-free run. The event also had an at-home atmosphere, and the race producer, Mr. Okumiya, had a short distance to cover, which I think makes it a great event. I think this is an event that will make me want to run it again next year.