Ayahashi Road Race marks anniversary of birth of Uruma City

NO DATA

The race course follows the Sea Road connecting Henza and Hamahiga island to Katsuren on Okinawa main island.

The 15^th Ayahashi Road Race is coming up in Uruma City on April 5^th, but the race is more than just a running event, as this year marks the 10^th anniversary of the birth of Uruma City but the merger of four municipalities in central Okinawa into one.

The racecourse is on the bridge connecting Okinawa’s main island with the outlying islands of Henza and Hamahiga. Runners set forth on a course that takes them though the sea while enjoying a fantastic view of the blue ocean on the both sides of the road.

3,000 runners are expected to participate in the half marathon.

Registration is now open through February 20^th, for the series of races. People can register through the official website and Fami Port terminals in Familymart convenience stores, or at the counter in Uruma City Hall. The guest starter performer at the event is HY, a music group well known throughout the nation that is a representative of Okinawa from Uruma City.

The races won’t take place until April 5^th,, but runners are invited to take part as the deadline for submitting an application is Feb. 20.

The Ayahashi Marine Road Races are a half-marathon, trim marathon and a third race for runners younger than high school age. Runners can still sign up for the 21.097 kilometer half marathon, which starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 5^th, the 10km trim marathon that begins at 9:50 a.m., and the junior high school and younger race that begins at 12:10 p.m. All start from the Uruma City Marine Road. The Half marathon is for eligible people who were born before 1999. Adults pay ¥3,500 while children are charged ¥1,500. For the 10 km trim marathon, people who are junior high school students and older pay ¥3,000, while younger children pay ¥1,500. For the 3.8km trim marathon in which anyone can participate, registration for adults is ¥3,000, and ¥1,500 for kids.

Registration is still possible at the website, http://www.i-sam.co.jp/ayahashi_roadrace/entry.html , at JTB Sports station at https://jtbsports.jp/, and at Family Marts across the island. Final registration will be a week from Friday at the Uruma City Hall Yonashiro Branch, Yonashiro Community Center Hall. Organizers say no entrants may sign up on race day, but spectators are welcome..

The races run a common route of quiet settings on the island, a beach at Hamahiga Island, and the 4.7km stretch on Nakamichi way on Miyagi Island. The theme is “Let’s run the Marine Road, enjoying the scent of the sea” as a watchword from the Katsuren peninsula to the main course.

Traffic restrictions will be in place at the entrance to Marine Road in Uruma City Yonashiro general park athletic field 8:30 a.m ~ 1:30 p.m. with all traffic stopped,, at the entrance of marine road at the crossing to the entrance of Hamahiga bridge 8:30 a.m. ~ 10:45 a.m., when traffic will be single lanes, at the crossing of the entrance to Hamahiga big bridge and Henza turning point, where all traffic stops 9 a.m. ~ 10:45 a.m., and from 9 a.m. ~ 11:10 a.m. at Hamahiga turning point at the entrance crossing to Hamahiga big bridge, when all traffic will stop.

Details about the course can be checked at the official website: http://www.i-sam.co.jp/ayahashi_roadrace/course.html.