Running 21km on Yoron Island with only 400 yen and a burning passion.

"Intuition exists to make people happy."

This is something I tell my students like a mantra.

I visited Yoron Island for the first time on a trip.
The hotel I chose on intuition without any research was "Aokaizo," and right in front of that hotel was the start and finish line for the Yoron Island Marathon and Half Marathon.
When I looked it up, the circumference of Yoron Island is about 24km.
My intuition worked here too.

"I have no choice but to run the Yoron Island Half Marathon around the island."

I decided on the morning of my second day on Yoron Island that I would do it.
Running from early in the morning on the last day of a 3-night, 4-day trip (the first night was in Okinawa)... even my wife voiced her concern.
But my motto is "If I decide to do it, I do it."

Up at 5:00 AM on the last day, starting at 5:30 AM.

My only belongings were "400 yen" and "a burning passion." Haha.

I didn't know the ruggedness of the island at the time.

I realized it once I started running,
"Yoron Island has a lot of hills."
I had imagined a flat coastline, but in reality, it was a series of intense ups and downs. I was keeping a pace of around 4'30" until the 7km mark, but halfway through, something happened to my physical condition...

The sun beating down mercilessly. The humidity with nowhere to escape.
My water and salt levels were depleted, and my legs felt as heavy as lead. I was struck by a sense of fatigue I had never experienced before, and finally, my feet stopped. I gave up on continuing to run and started walking sluggishly.

There was a vending machine at the 9km mark, and I was finally able to rehydrate.

From there on, it was a dialogue with myself.
"Why am I doing something so painful?" "Wouldn't it be okay to quit and call my wife?"
Such weak-hearted voices crossed my mind. However, by being pushed to the limit, I began to notice the existence of things I usually take for granted.

The preciousness of "shade."

Even though I usually think, "I want to soak up the sun," on this day, the shadow of the street trees for just a few meters looked like a gift from God.

The gratitude for "vending machines."

The inorganic machines that are everywhere in the city were a lifeline connecting life on this island.

The emotion of "water."

As someone who loves juice, I have never felt such vitality from a single sip of water. The sensation of it passing through my throat and soaking into my cells. I was filled with trembling gratitude for its coldness.

Because I set out with nothing, the joy of the moment I obtained it was maximized.
I understood at a cellular level that "arigatai" (grateful) literally means "it is difficult for it to exist."

The last 3km. An old man from the island passed me with a light gait while I was walking with my head down, my legs unable to move.

"You are incredibly cool for being able to run while sweating buckets in this heat."

Those words lit a fire in my heart again.
My running, as I chased the old man's back, was different from when I started. It wasn't just training. Accepting the pain, knowing gratitude, and taking a step forward. There was definitely"an updated version of myself"there.

It was tough. I wanted to quit.
But because I didn't quit, I was able to see this scenery.
This feeling makes me stronger again.

With conviction, I tell myself once more.

"Intuition exists to make people happy."