Road cross-country with the god of running

The track and field team of the local Hiroshima Prefectural Sera High School, which has won the National High School Ekiden 11 times, has been training here for over half a century. At Shuzen-in Temple, the starting point of the course, there is the only stone statue of Idaten, the god of running, enshrined outdoors in Japan. The rough and uneven footing strengthens the cardiopulmonary function and leg strength of runners. It takes determination to complete the 4.85 km round trip cross-country course. Will you be able to swing your arms and run well on the steep uphill slope at the halfway point today? The mountain path covered with trees is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Nature provides high-level training. Volunteers such as elderly people maintain this course. The team's strength and tradition are nurtured with the support of the local community. We will run today without forgetting our gratitude.