7th Fuji Hill Climb

After Miyakojima,  Mount Fuji hill climb was one of my main goals for 2010. The race is in its 7th year now and more popular than ever with over 5400 entrants. The main race is 24km long and averages 5.2% gradient, with the steepest section being 7.8% and total ascent of 1270m. An athletes section starts lower down the slopes and covers 28km, ascent 1435m.

On the very same day, Mount Fuji International Hill climb is taking place - on the Azami line road, its half the distance, same ascent and so twice the gradient! Make sure you know which race you're applying for if you want to enter one of these races next year. Not sure why they're both on the same date, I can only guess it is an agreement with Fuji national park.

Kimm from the running group Namban Rengo had found a nice hotel/onsen to on the southern side of Kawaguchiko for 7 athletes and Phils family from Australia who are over visiting. But Kimm, Keren and Tim had made a big mistake - cycling from Tokyo west along the Doushi road, (long, steady climb) over 150km on the Saturday, lead by the Sergey who was out for a day ride and never cycles at a leisurely pace.

Instead I enjoyed a relaxing train journey, no express trains just reading the paper and listening to podcasts in preparation for the big race. After arriving at Fujiyoshida station, I cycled up through the torii to Sengen-jinja. In the past, climbing Mount Fuji was a pilgrimage and climbers would visit this shrine before starting the ascent. So it was a good place for me to visit the day before the event. Very atmospheric, huge cedar trees and attractive setting, it always seems like you're stepping back in time or to a different world when visiting temples and shrines in Japan.

After leaving the shrine I cycled up to Fujihokuroku park for registration, which was quickly done as I could see heavy rain clouds forming in the warm late afternoon. I had to wait in Fuji visitors center for some heavy showers to pass, then cycled over to the hotel, took and onsen and had some tasty local food in nearby restaurant.



And so the alarms were set for 4.15am. This was essential, as we had to cycle to the start before 6am when the buses carrying bags depart for the finish line. Crossing the lake, Tim got a flat - bad news, we all had to carry on as we had no time to spare at this point, but in the end Tim repaired the flat and got to the start in time.

Misty start to the day, no sign of the big mountain as we share coffee shotz and people drink Red Bull, energy gels and other products with caffeine. A real Floyd Landis breakfast for all. I was happy with water and the shotz, no point carrying extra weight up the hill in my stomach.

We were all in the 3rd group, 7:05am start after the mountain bikers and womens groups set off. It will mean we will be cycling past them all later, but at least if they start early, they'll be up and down sooner and the event will take less time. We roll out for 1.5km and this works very well in steadying everyone and sorting out the group before we roll across the startline after turning left onto the Subaru line road. From here its up all the way !

The gradient of this climb is very gentle, even though its up for 24km. With this in mind I knew drafting would be a possibility, but I was surprised at just how much drafting was possible and how significant this would be for my final time. We climbed on, the air cooled but I was sweating all the way up. Great views across and above the cloud layer to the snow covered southern alps.

The steepest kilometer of the course, 19km-20km has a prize for the fastest to complete this section so a small prize for the winner. I wonder if anyone purposely tries to win this prize? Everyone around seems to plod on at their comfortable speed.

22km-23km feels like its downhill, but its still up yet the speed accelerates and I find Im doing 39kmph, working well with a Japanese rider and we continue to fly past many racers through the final snow tunnels before the final kick of the climb up the the finish line, and I pay for the high speed here as Im out of breath, and crossing the line in 1hr 12min 21s I starting gasping for breath in the thin air.

Theres a special award for times, I might be receiving a silver spacer for my headset in the post next week - (gold 1hr 5, silver 1hr 15, bronze 1hr 30). Also 1hr 15min is the time to register as athletes class in next years event!

Kimm was several minutes behind me, and on training rides I havent been able to keep up with him, so I think the ride out yesterday had to have affected his and Kerens times.

Did I mention James and Tim were riding fixed gear bikes? Very impressive, but how about descending 24km on a fixie! James was wondering why there were no other fixed gear bikes on the climb, well for me, Im sticking with my 11 speed compact.

Then followed the amazing 24km descent, which this week was pleasantly warm compared to last week. In the rule book, we were supposed to be going less than 20kmph starting in controlled groups and not overtaking the lead vehicle, but the lead vehicle must have been moving as we sailed down the mountain. Otherwise, this would have been slower going down than on the way up!

Tasty udon was served at the finish, and I met Steve who had started in the 8th group along with the Positivo Espresso team members. They had made this trip in style with a  team bus to take them to Fuji Highland resort hotel and even designed a special team jersey for the climb. 4 of them were up for cycling back to Tokyo and we eventually left the hotel, after posting the towel/clothes/event junk back home rather than carrying it.

Between Fujikyu and Yamanako is heavy traffic, and not pleasant but once you're at the lake you get the final perfect view of Mount Fuji for the day across the water. A short climb follows (very short, almost didnt notice this one) then the Doushi road is one huge roller coaster road all the way back to Tokyo. Except this roller coaster is mainly downhill and very fast, its such a great road and we are quickly back in the outskirts of Hashimoto, where James takes us on an interesting alternative route to the more direct road I am familiar with, over what is known as the "tank road." This is a hilly area with a bike/running track which was used by Mitsubishi to test tanks many years ago. Today its a great break from the traffic, the build up starts around Sagamiko, before we hit the One kai and roll down to the Tamagawa. In total, its 170km for the day, but the main mileage is downhill, but oh yes there was one significant climb this morning wasn't there?



Results later............