Ichibata Marathon

My son took part in a road race event last week. The race, the 36th Ichibata Yakushi Marathon, has 5km and 10km course. Just before the goal line, the participants have to run up 1138 of stone stairs. It seems a kind of torture. 

About 1500 people enjoyed the torturous running course. I don't want to run that course. I prefer flat one. Those runners have quite strange habit.