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Post-Retirement, Arimori Finds a Second Life as a `Running Missionary`

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/top/sp200712/sp2007120304.html

translated by Brett Larner

Barcelona and Atlanta Olympic women`s marathon medallist Yuko Arimori unveiled her new NPO Heart of Gold on Dec. 2 at the 12th Angkor Wat International Half-Marathon in Siem Reap, Cambodia, a race which Arimori helped to found. Running Angkor Wat for the first time since retiring, this time she appeared in the guise of a `running missionary` with the aim of giving back to the world through the gift of her running. Together with a walking event the previous day, the 12th edition of the race attracted 2,327 participants from 37 countries.

For 2 and 1/2 hours from the start all the way to the finish tape, Arimori ran and talked with the wheelchair racers. In beginning her `second running life,` Arimori finds that her perceptions have changed. "Since I`m not racing, I`m able to appreciate more of the running environment. I can take in other aspects of the event and want to do all I can to make this something that will help people." Arimori retired from professional running this past February at the Tokyo Marathon. Angkor Wat was her first race as an `individual runner.` Being outside the track and field world, Arimori finds that she is now better able to do what she wants.

This year`s race was dedicated to Asics founder Kihachiro Onitsuka, who passed away in September at the age of 90. Onitsuka helped Arimori to establish the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon and believed that, "...always doing your best is important; we can learn how to live our lives through sports." Arimori owes a great deal to Onitsuka for everything he taught her and for how he helped the world learn to experience running as something to enjoy. His message echoes in Arimori`s aims.

This year`s edition of the event left favorable impressions on all participants, with many runners from other countries around the world coming to take part. Cambodians also took part both as runners and organizers, but as Arimori points out, "Japanese staff are still doing most of the organizational work. This is not really ideal. We hope that Cambodians will gradually take over much of the operations so that it can really be Cambodia`s own event."

Speaking of her running career, Arimori says, "I have no regrets. I did everything I wanted to do." An ambassador for Tokyo`s bid for the 2016 Olympics, she will also appear in the 10 km Myer`s Walk at the Honolulu Marathon. The running missionary continues to spread her message around the world.

Notes
Heart of Gold raised $16,000 (1,940,000 yen) through entries to the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon. The money will be donated to the Cambodia Red Cross, Cambodia Trust, and other charities for use in earthquake relief, AIDS treatment and other causes.
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