The second half of the race is underway. A hard climb awaits.
The next boss awaits you as soon as you leave the Shomaru Aid. A strenuous climb begins at about the 30km mark. In the 14 km from here, the elevation gain is a whopping 1,400 meters.
Just before the Alpine Aid, the ascent was so hard that it was painful to watch. While all the climbers were in agony, Yasuda was the only one smiling. He even had time to take a selfie, perhaps for his Instagram. Two and a half hours, just as he had declared. At one point, 40 riders passed him and came to the alpine aid station.
My ankles are slightly sore, but I'm fine!"
After plenty of refueling at the alpine aid station, lined with oden, miso fries, fruit punch, etc., we unwind and depart.
Up to this point, things have been going so smoothly as to be almost anticlimactic. However, there are still more challenges ahead. The altitude chart shows a series of saw-like ups and downs until the final aid station, where the stamina of many runners is being sapped.
