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Yoko Shibui Duels With Mizuki Noguchi During Training Run in Kunming, China

http://www.daily.co.jp/general/2007/10/30/0000723759.shtml

translated by Brett Larner

Beijing Olympic women`s marathon hopeful Yoko Shibui returned from a 2-week training camp in Kunming, China on Oct. 29. Shibui, the all-time 2nd-fastest Japanese woman, will face Athens Olympic gold medallist and Japanese national record holder Mizuki Noguchi, `07 Rotterdam Marathon runner-up Hiromi Ominami and other elite women on Nov. 18 in the Tokyo International Women`s Marathon. As an Olympic selection race, Tokyo will feature no pacemakers.

Shibui reported that during a training run in Kunming on Oct. 28 she encountered Noguchi, who was also training in Kunming. "I was doing a hard tempo run and saw Noguchi ahead. I tried to catch up to her but couldn`t make it. She was fast. Maybe." Complementing a rival is a grand gesture, even if it`s weakened with a "maybe."

Getting to the Olympics is everything for Shibui. "I don`t usually pay attention to who else is going to be there. I just want to win." When told that she looks to be in excellent shape and to have lost some weight she replied, "When I take off my warmups on Nov. 3 check out how good I look." The East Japan Jitsugyodan Women`s Ekiden on Nov. 3 will be Shibui`s final tune-up before Tokyo.

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