(The following is translation of the e-mail which was sent to Japanese customers.)
I'm Y from YOUYOUANG.
How are you doing?
After the exhibition, I was always very busy. I am very thankful for that.
While I was busy working early and working overtime, the crocuses in my garden started to bloom. It's spring, isn't it?
Despite such lack of training, I ran the Tokyo Marathon.
The day before the race, I went to Tokyo Station and had Hiroshima okonomiyaki as a carbo-loading exercise. It is a kind of Japanese crepe with large bowl of julienned cabbage, meat, seafood, eggs, and yakisoba (Japanese noodle) (carbohydrate).
I held back on the beer.
At the reception venue, the winner's trophy was on display. It is a crystal trophy for the Tokyo Marathon. I wonder if it is because Tokyo has glass specialties like Edo faceted glass. It was clean and beautiful.
On the day of the race, from this year's event, the participation of people from overseas and the cheering along the roadside became as usual, and the event was as exciting like a festival.
I started the race excited thinking " I can run around Tokyo's famous landmarks! I usually just drive past them, how nice!
I didn’t get tired at all in the first half of the race, so I thought, "Can I just keep going?” But after 25 km, I started to slow down. The cheering along the roadside in cold never stopped. I was so sorry that I couldn't walk.
From around 35km, I was sprayed with air salonpas (anti-inflammatory) by strangers along the roadside and was offered frozen mandarin oranges at a private aid station (a place to receive water and energy supplement) to refresh myself.
After making it to the finish, the pain was over in a flash, and it was fun! It was a great event with a great location and great support. I hope to run again. I hope I will be selected in the lottery.
After returning to the office, I have been busy with work and haven't been able to practice. It must have been a good break for my legs. (Laughs)
Plum blossoms are in full bloom and some types of cherry blossoms are already in bloom.
I hope you will all go out to see the cherry blossoms while they are still in bloom.