Honolulu Ekiden
Teamwork is the best kind of work and relays are our favorite kind of racing. In Hawaii, the Honolulu Ekiden is a fun break from the norm.
Many people are drawn to running because it’s an inherently solitary pursuit. One friend of mine, a super busy mom, describes her daily 4am runs as “the only teen-free time of my day” — I think most of us know that feeling. Even in the world’s largest races, like the New York City Marathon, the experience is deeply personal, albeit alongside 50,000 like-minded strangers and friends. Everybody is out there alone, monitoring their own pace, their own breathing, their own unique dashboard of in-race diagnostics. Nobody can race for another person; the decisions, doubts, and triumphs must ultimately come from within.
During the 2015 Chicago marathon, I suffered the archetypal marathon experience. By this I mean that I started off at a pace much too fast for my fitness level, which led to me slowing down tremendously between miles six and 22. Wave after wave of sheer apathy washed over me, even as the crowds were — inexplicably — urging me on. This onset of apathy is something most long-distance runners can relate to; with nobody holding us accountable, and a PR well out of reach, what is it that keeps us running? Why bother putting ourselves through this ordeal when, really, who cares? If there’s one thing road running lacks, it’s the comradely competition and coercion found in team sports. If only there was a way to bring the best of both worlds together…
The term “Ekiden” is Japanese, and can be loosely translated to “transit station”. This refers to the original practice of relaying messages from one location to another, usually using stagecoaches or runners on foot. The modern interpretation has runners passing a sash to one another, to cover a long distance quickly. While the first Ekiden was run over three days and 500+ kilometers, current Ekidens are usually of marathon length, with 2–10 runners. Hugely popular in Japan, Ekidens are often used to determine high school and collegiate championships, while the Chiba Ekiden draws world-class runners from around the world to compete as a relay team. In contrast to a traditional American cross country race, where every competitor runs the same distance over the the same grassy terrain at the same time, Ekidens are run on roads and the distances can vary.
After high school (or for some, college), there are few opportunities to compete in a team setting, so Ekidens are always a special treat. For me, it’s a chance to call up all of my running friends to put together a fast combination, hopefully with the chance to place among the winning teams. In Japan, there is usually a men’s division and a women’s division, but in Hawaii, the Ekidens have no age or gender division — may the fastest team win!
Unlike some other relay races, there is a lot of strategy involved in putting together a fast team for the Honolulu Ekiden. The race is run (mostly) on the same course as the Honolulu marathon, and the distances of the individual stages vary from 2.9 miles to 5.9 miles, across very hilly or very flat terrain. In Hawaii, temperature can also be factor. As the sun comes up, the racing conditions become much more difficult. Is it better to put our fastest runner on the long flat stretches, or is it better to utilize her on the hills? Should we make our youngest teammate run in the later, hotter part of the day, or should we give her a cooler, but potentially more competitive earlier race section? Who do we want as the anchor in case it’s a close race? Who can push the pace early on so we can hopefully get a lead? Most importantly, what do we wear? Do we need to practice our handoffs?
We spent many hours discussing these questions, strategizing and ultimately constructing what we thought was a pretty unbeatable combination. My leg? The long, hot section near the end of the race.
As we drove alongside our runners, making it from stop to stop, we were able to commiserate with many other teams, cheering on their runners. Because I didn’t have to run until later, I got to experience the spectator’s viewpoint (and get a good glimpse of our competition).
Waiting for my turn to run, I became more nervous than I have been for a race in a long time. Seeing my teammates come through after giving all-out efforts, it’s hard to imagine trying less than 100%. As I saw my teammate running towards me with the relay sash, I felt the same nervousness I used to feel in high school cross country — more “I can’t mess this up” than the typical internal “race dashboard”.
I had a teammate who used to say, “It’s not a real race unless you want to quit three times”. In a marathon, it is easy to let the negative thoughts take over; nobody else is depending on the result. Even though each leg of an Ekiden is run by an individual, the sash won’t move forward without the efforts of the whole team. This overarching pressure is not only performance-enhancing; it’s terrifying! If I have a “bad race”, so to speak, everyone does! No longer is each step getting me closer to the finish line; each step is propelling me towards our anchor Eri, who will (hopefully triumphantly) carry our sash across the finish line. The heat is searing, the pavement scorching — no matter. Gotta get to her! Even better (or worse?), our team van drove by shouting encouragement — oh great, an audience too!
A recent study out of Michigan State found that many individuals perform better as part of a relay than they would do otherwise, due to the motivational factor of being on a team (Osborn et al., 2012)*. There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence to support this (Kerri Strug of the 1996 Olympic team comes to mind, as does the classic film Cool Runnings). This seems like a no-brainer: we don’t want to let our teammates down, and as stressful as the added accountability can be, it is unmatched by the support, camaraderie, and enjoyment that comes from finishing a team race.
Many athletes’ best memories revolve around team competitions, as opposed to those in which individual glory is gained. Marathons will retain their appeal for me (as well as millions of other runners), and I enjoy the goal-setting, pacing, and internal racing aspects of the long road races. There will always be a time to chase, an age group to win, or a course to conquer. Even my terrible experience at the Chicago marathon was an important and overall positive experience. So although I will still be racing many solitary, potentially disastrous road races in the near future, I always make time for the team Ekidens when they come around. When else do I get to race in a team alongside five of my closest friends?
For the record we place fifth overall in Hawaii, behind a pro-women’s team and three men’s teams. Teamwork really does bring the best out you — it did in us.
Relay Kits are available now from Tracksmith. Teamwork is the best kind of work — passs the baton and join the team.
