Now it's time to hit the trails in Takao!
The three people who will experience The North Face's rental service this time are as follows.
[Left] Ms. Natsuo Okamura (select store employee in charge of EC)
[Middle] Ms. Sagiri Hobo (clerical work at a select store)
[Right] Hideaki Makino (Fashion Running Advisor)
Okamura-san and Hobo-san are beginners with no trail running experience. They did not have shoes or backpacks. Both used rental equipment this time.
Mr. Makino, a serious runner, owns a lot of shoes and backpacks, but this time he dared to rent one. As a shoe fanatic himself, he says, "This is a rare opportunity to try out the latest shoes released by The North Face in the field. I can't help but look forward to it! I can't wait to try them out!
After renting the items that each of us was interested in and getting ready to go, we got started!
The course this time started from "Mt. CAMP", and run about 3 km on the road toward the Mt. Takao Interchange, then from Umenokidaira and Misawa Pass to the Minamitakao ridge. From there, the trail heads north to the summit of Mt. Kusado-yama and descends from a branch at Yotsuji to Takaoyamaguchi Station, a round course of about 9 km.
The three run at a steady pace. After passing the road section, they enter a forest road.
This trail running event was organized by "The North Face," and I was asked to join in the event. Experienced trail runners led the participants, so we could rest assured that we were in good hands.
After a short break along the forest path, we take a short break. Trail running is not like road running, where you run all the way, but rather take breaks here and there to catch your breath. If you feel tired, it is OK to walk.
As they continue to run on the trail, their body temperature rises and they may feel hot. Okamura-san and his babysitter decided to take off their jackets at this point.
The jacket taken off is compacted and stored in a backpack.
Makino-san hydrates with a flask placed in the front pocket of his backpack. Only a trail running backpack can allow you to hydrate while carrying it on your back.
Rest for a while and when you are breathing well, start again. After climbing up the forest road, you will reach the trail of the Minamitakao ridge. From this point on, the trail is a series of gentle ups and downs.
It's so much fun!" It feels so good!" It feels so good! Okamura-san and Hobo-san ran down the downhill trail while shouting "It's so much fun! Their nimble and stable ride was hard to believe that they were beginners.
After a short distance, we reached the summit of Kusado-yama.
This is the viewpoint with the best view on the course this time. Although the day was cloudy, we could see the skyscrapers of central Tokyo beyond the eastern viewpoint.
Once you have had your fill of the scenery, move on.
After another 3 km from the summit of Mt. Kusado-yama, turn left at the Yotsuji fork and exit the trail downhill, landing on a road near Takaoyamaguchi Station.
And then the finish: all three of us successfully completed the 9-kilometer trail.
When you return to Mt. TAKAO BASE CAMP, return the items you rented. Simply clean the items in the washing area outside the building and return them to the return rack inside the building.
