The Road to the Shonan International Marathon] Vol.2 Interview with RBRG! Running gear that must be used at the Shonan International Marathon.

The 15th Shonan International Marathon will be held on February 28, 2021. A major feature of this year's marathon is the introduction of a new rule: "runners must carry their own water bottles. Runners must start the race with their own water bottles (400 ml or larger) filled to the brim, and will be required to drink water at water supply points along the course.

When you hear the phrase "must carry my own bottle," many of you are probably wondering. "How am I supposed to carry my own bottle during a marathon race?" And.

We asked Mr. Masato Mizukoshi of "Run boys! Run girls! (RBRG), a running and trail running specialty store in Higashi-Kanda, Tokyo.

Mizukoshi-san loves trail running. He has completed ultra-long trail races such as the Shinetsu Gogaku 100-mile race and the MOAB 200-mile race in the U.S. He is also an accomplished trail runner.HOUYHNHNM RUNNING CLUB♡He is also an old member of the club, having participated since the first group run of the

01: If you want to carry your own bottle, a must-have, hand-held.

[left] Great Cossy Mountain "Mad Dog Bottle Holder" ￥2,500+TAX (bottles sold separately)
[Center] Salomon "Active Handheld" ￥2,600+TAX
[right] Welby "Shake Hands (RBRG logo version)" ￥2,200+TAX

Let's start with the bottles that will be compatible with the new must-have My Bottle rule.

We picked up a recommendation for the Shonan International Marathon, which requires a 400 ml or larger own bottle.

The Great Cossie Mountain Bottle Holder can be attached to bottles of all shapes and sizes. You can grip the bottle securely without effort and do not have to worry about dropping it.

Salomon's handheld soft flask is the standard for this type of product. It is easy to drink while running, and the key point is that the water inside does not shake even when the volume of water decreases.

The slim grip of the Welby bottle makes it easy to hold, and it can be carried by hand or inserted into the hip portion of the pants. However, since the capacity is 330 ml, you need to carry two bottles to meet the regulations for the Shonan International Marathon," says Mizukoshi.

02: If you store the bottle around your waist, you can run without it!

[Top left] T8 "Men's Sherpa Shorts V2" ￥9,000+TAX
[bottom left] Answer 4 "3-inch Shorts" ￥8,900
[right] The North Face "Flyweight Speed Shorts" ￥12,000+TAX

Some people may say, 'I don't want to carry a bottle during a marathon race,' or 'I want to run empty-handed if possible.' If so, he recommends storing the bottle in shorts with a large mesh pocket around the waist.

All of the shorts mentioned here can hold about 400 ml of soft flask in the mesh pocket around the waist. The highly elastic mesh material allows the flask to be held close to the waist, so it does not shake easily while riding. They are also useful for storing a cell phone, gels, etc." (Mizukoshi)

03: Prepare for cold and rain with a light jacket.

[left] Answer 4 "Wind Shell Jacket" ￥19,000+TAX
[right]The North Face "Strike Trail Hoodie" ￥19,000+tax

A marathon is a long race. Many runners wear light clothing because it gets hot while running, but in midwinter when the temperature is low or when it rains, a light jacket that can be quickly thrown on is very useful.

The Anser 4 wind shell jacket is surprisingly lightweight, making it easy to carry, and the fabric is supple and comfortable to wear. It has double zips and underarm ventilation for easy temperature control.

The North Face Strike Trail Hoody is a classic lightweight rain jacket that continues to sell well at RBRG. It is a favorite of many trail runners, but it is also recommended for road running in cold or rainy weather. In particular, the white color is ideal for marathon running, as the number attached underneath is slightly transparent," says Mizukoshi.

04：To prevent chafing that many runners suffer from.

[top left] New Hare "Patch" ￥360
[bottom left] Tomod's Pit "Teng Balm" ￥2,250+TAX
[right] T8 "Commando" ￥3,000+TAX

Chafing is a major enemy when running for long periods of time, such as in a marathon. Many runners suffer from this problem. We asked them to tell us about items that can prevent chafing.

New Hare's patches are pre-cut, small taping strips. Simply apply it to nipples, heels, toes, or other areas of concern to prevent chafing.

Teng Balm is a protective cream that prevents chafing by creating a film over the skin. It is non-sticky and comfortable to apply.

Born in hot and humid Hong Kong, T8's running underwear is highly fitted and breathable, so it does not chafe or get stuffy. They prevent all kinds of problems that can be expected in a marathon," says Mizukoshi.

05: Keeps skin dry and cools perspiration.

[left] Fine Track "Women's Dry Layer Cool Tank Top" ￥4,300+tax [right] Fine Track "Men's Dry Layer Basic Sleeveless" ￥3,700+tax

Sweat chill is an issue when running or trail running in cold weather. Sweat soaked clothing and wind can cause a sudden drop in body temperature, possibly leading to hypothermia.

If you've ever suffered from sweat chill during a marathon race, you might want to try some functional underwear to wear under your T-shirt.

Typical of this type of product is FineTrack's Dry Layer. By wearing this under a T-shirt, sweat is efficiently dissipated, keeping the skin dry and reducing perspiration chill," says Mizukoshi. It keeps the skin dry and reduces perspiration chill," says Mizukoshi.

The above is a list of gear recommended by Mr. Mizukoshi of RBRG from the perspective of a running goods specialty store with a strong trail running background. If you are planning to run the Shonan International Marathon, please take a look at them.

Run boys! Run girls!
Agata Takezawa Building 404, 1-2-11 Higashi-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-5825-4534
rb-rg.com

By the way, while writing this article, I received an e-mail from the Shonan International Marathon Secretariat. The subject line was "Change of the marathon event to 25 km" in response to the new coronavirus infection situation. According to the announcement, the 15th Shonan International Marathon to be held on February 28, 2021, will be changed from a "full marathon" to a "25km course. It is unfortunate, but now that the decision has been made, we have no choice but to change our minds. Regardless of the course, we hope that the event will go off without a hitch, and we will continue our preparations for the day of the event.

Photo_Erina Takahashi
Text_Issey Enomoto