A group of runners show of their colorful costumes, which were but a small sample of costumes worn by many runners at the 21st annual Ekiden relay race Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
A group of runners show of their colorful costumes, which were but a small sample of costumes worn by many runners at the 21st annual Ekiden relay race Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Runners in the men's and women's under-40 age group take off at the start of the 21st annual Ekiden relay race Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
More than 10,000 runners and 5,000 spectators attended the 21st annual Ekiden relay race Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Runners keep up the pace as they run to complete the second part of a four-person relay during the 21st annual Ekiden relay race Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
A Japanese runner enjoys her leg of the relay race during the 21st annual Ekiden Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
A variety of runners, some wearing costumes, could be seen at the 21st annual Ekiden relay race Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Runners try to keep up the pace in their leg of the relay at the 21st annual Ekiden race Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Runners take to the pavement at Sagami General Depot for the 21st annual Ekiden relay race, Sunday. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Capt. Darrius Glover, center, a soldier at Camp Zama, runs alongside Japanese civilians at the 21st annual Ekiden relay race Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
A runner pushes himself during the 21st annual Ekiden relay race Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
This costumed runner was one of many to celebrate at the finish line of the 21st annual Ekiden relay race Sunday at Sagami General Depot. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
SAGAMI GENERAL DEPOT, Japan — It was a perfect day for running Sunday as a record number flocked to Sagami General Depot for the 21st annual Ekiden relay race.
More than 10,000 runners competing in four-person relays were cheered on by another 5,000 people, according to Bob Mcketa, co-coordinator for the event.
During warm-ups, Mcketa asked the crowd to raise their hand if this was their first time attending the Ekiden and said he was blown away by the number of people that raised their hands.
“We get a lot of new people each year from word of mouth,” Mcketa said. “People enjoy it so much they go and tell their friends about it and then those people come the next year.”
Jane Rosier, a teacher at Yokota High School, was a first-time participant. “I loved it,” she said. “I race back home, but I love running in Japan and all the Japanese friends I’ve made from running in Japan.”
Rosier also enjoyed the variety of costumes that were on display.
“Sometimes you see an eggplant, sometimes you see a monkey,” Rosier said.
Charlotte Hickingbottom, a military spouse and contractor at Naval Air Station Atsugi joked that her team was disappointed that a team of bumblebees had beaten them. Hickingbottom added she was slightly concerned for a few of the more scantily clad runners suffering a costume malfunction during the race.
The costumes weren’t the only thing standing out at this year’s race.
“The crowds were huge and (the race) was very fast…amazingly fast,” Hickingbottom said.
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