Kagawa Marathon Experience: Part 1 - A 42.195km Run with More Tenacity than Udon Noodles

Hello. I'm Boss, the representative.
I'm blogging about my experience at the Kagawa Marathon, which was held for the first time this year, in two parts: front and back.

Summer 2025―――

"They're doing a full marathon in Kagawa, you know."
Lunch in the summer is best with kamaage udon. As I slurped down my piping hot udon, thinking such thoughts, those words drifted over from the next table.

My chopsticks froze involuntarily.
A full marathon, in Kagawa. And its first-ever staging.

A course no one had run yet. A race no one had talked about yet.
The moment I thought that, a slight flutter stirred in my chest.

"Sounds interesting."
Before I knew it, I'd said it aloud. It was supposed to be a casual remark, but at that moment, something seemed to be quietly decided.

What was wavering beyond the steam wasn't udon. It was the as-yet-unseen 42.195km.

Autumn 2025―――

This time it wasn't a lottery, but first-come, first-served.
In other words, it was a "click battle" before even running. A race for 7200 people, first come, first served.

I tried to access it as soon as registration opened, but as expected, the server crashed.
I couldn't connect at all.

The same screen appeared no matter how many times I tried.
Thinking, "This might be impossible," I left it for a while.

Then, an hour later.
I opened it on a whim, thinking it wouldn't work, and got in easily.

I completed the entry flow just like that.
When I checked later, it was already full.
I just barely made it in.
I must say, I'm lucky only in these kinds of situations.

And so, the "Kagawa Full Marathon" began somewhat serendipitously.
From here on, a 42.195km journey awaited that was more challenging and more enjoyable than I had imagined.

――The continuation will be in the second part.