World Snow Shoe 15k Championship

The Championship for the long course (15k) had a very exciting finish just as the sprint. Early on the pack included two top Japanese trail/mountain/snow shoe runners, myself and David LP of Canada. The two Japanese runners quickly fell off pace. At one point due to the deep snow, one runner who was ahead of me pulled off to the side of the trail and literally stopped running for a few seconds. The race was more a snow trek rather than a snow shoe race. There were no aid stations so runners were to carry their own packs for hydration.

Little did I know some of the other runners in the race had people on course who would hand them water so I carried extra weight for nothing. It was Canada and America up front and we exchanged the lead over the next few kilometers. The snow was literally so deep that you could not make a move. Neither of us could break away and I could sense we both were just waiting for the finish area where we would have another sprint finish as we did in the 400 Championship.

Yasushi and staff!



The best sashimi I've had

Coming into the last stretch I swung out wide and pulled close to passing him and he surprised me with a strong surge so I quickly responded once again and we were even, heading into the final kilometers. With maybe 4 steps remaining I pulled ahead and cross the line in first, so I thought. Some of the spectators came down to congratulate me and even the race director congratulated me then I hear from a judge across the trail that I had in fact lost the race. I asked him if there was some mistake because I was sure I won and being that he was not even looking from the side view at the finish I felt he had no business judging the finish. I accepted it with a bitter taste in my mouth because unfortunately, there was no photo or video of the finish. To make matters worse, after the awards a member of the staff and camera crew came by and said I have a video to show you. 



I thought I ate more than most runners until I met him. He can take down food like a Sumo

 From the video it would seem I won and he himself thought I won, but the awards had already been given out. So, a very painful way to lose a race. Nothing to do now accept bounce back and get ready for the rest of the year. Japan was a great experience, the people were above and beyond polite. On many occasions Japanese locals would walk me to my destination when I was lost even though it was out of their way. That is very selfless, so I was happily shocked to see a culture of such helpful individuals. I hope to visit Japan again in the future and check out more of the Eastern & Southern cities.




Night before heading out I stayed in Shinjuku



The streets of Shinjuku

Not too sweet not to bitter

Before leaving Japan I finally got some Udon



Osaka