My First Time Watching the Hakone Ekiden in Person (Part 3)

When I got off at Kozu Station, there was also a boy who was supporting the team as a pair with the manager.
The manager explained why I was accompanying them, and for a split second, there was an atmosphere of, 'Huh? Who is this person?' (lol),

but they let me tag along.
Along the way, they even asked if I was okay with stopping at a convenience store, and they were truly such good kids. 🥺
For a complete stranger to suddenly tag along,

if you think about it normally, it's way too scary, lol.
That boy was a second-year student in the Soka University track and field club,
and he said he was there to support his seniors at the Hakone Ekiden!
We secured a spot about a 10-minute walk from Kozu Station toward Odawara.

I believe we arrived around 11:10.
The managers were reporting our arrival and the wind speed.

I was also given a Soka University megaphone.
After we talked for a bit,
the male team member moved to a point further ahead.
The manager was on the phone,
calling out the passing of the universities running ahead and the Soka runners.
The male team member would then signal the gap to the runners ahead using a sketchbook.
Just knowing the gap to the runners ahead
allows for pace control,
and I imagine it boosts their motivation in some cases, too.

Behind the scenes, the managers and team members of each university
are doing this kind of work at every section. 🥺
The Ekiden isn't just about individuals running.
There are so many people supporting them,
and it made me realize all over again that they are truly fighting as a team.

And seeing that, I don't know how to put it into words, but
it was a strange feeling, almost like envy.

As we were doing that, the lead police cars and motorcycles came by one after another,
and a car announcing, 'The runners will pass in about 10 minutes,' drove by as well.
The manager said to me, 'The runners are all really fast! Isn't it exciting?'
My excitement must have been obvious. lol
Ah... they're finally coming! So this is what it feels like to have your heart race! lol

In less than 10 minutes, Okada-kun from Chuo University passed by.
It felt like meeting a celebrity, thinking, 'I saw you running in the first section at the Izumo Ekiden!' lol
It was my first time seeing Ekiden runners in person!
And they really are fast.
They passed right in front of me in the blink of an eye.

A little later, Waseda University passed by.
Huh? Waseda!?
When I last checked on TVer, Josai was in second place.
Right after that, Komazawa and Kokugakuin ran side-by-side and passed in front of me.
Isn't Suzuki-kun from Waseda incredibly fast?
And maybe it's because he's tall, but
his stride was clearly long, and he was fast.
Even a track novice like me could tell.

After that, the runners continued to pass by one after another.
I couldn't help but cheer for them!
I didn't feel embarrassed at all!
When someone who is trying so hard is right in front of you,
you can't help but naturally call out, 'Go for it!'
Using the Soka megaphone, I didn't hold back,
shouting, 'Go Komazawa! Go Murakami-kun!' lol

I think it took about 20 minutes for all 20 teams to pass, starting from the leader, Chuo.
It felt like only 10 minutes.
That's how absorbed I was.

After all the teams had passed, I said my final goodbyes and thanks to the male team member who had been working at the spot further ahead, and I hurried to the station.
There was a long line from the station ticket gate to the rotary in front of the station, but
I was able to get through the gate surprisingly easily.
The path on the opposite side of the NewDays at Kozu Station felt like it moved quite smoothly.

The train back was crowded, so
the first time I was able to properly watch TVer was when Asahi Kuroda-kun was overtaking Kokugakuin in the 5th section.
Whoa! How did it end up like this?! 🫨
Where is Komazawa?!

I couldn't process what was happening,
and honestly, my head couldn't keep up.
But one thing I can say for sure is that
it had become something completely different from the Hakone Ekiden I had been watching on TV until now.
Rather than just cheering for my favorite team,
I want every single team to do their best.
I hope the dreams of all the teams who have dedicated themselves to these two days come true.
That's how I feel.