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22 Year-Old Yurika Nakamura to Bring "Courage of Youth" to Olympic Women`s Marathon

http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/sports/0001115236.shtml

translated by Brett Larner

Beijing Olympics women`s marathon team member Yurika Nakamura (Team Tenmaya) met the press at a conference in Okayama City on June 6. At age 22 the youngest marathoner on the men`s or women`s teams, Nakamura told the assembled crowd, "My biggest strength is my youth. [Thinking about the Olympics and] lasting until the end is scary, but I want to run a race which exceeds all expectations."

Nakamura spoke in front of 500 members of the Okayama Track and Field Association and assorted members of the press. Her mentor from her days at Nishinomiya High School, Kenkichi Hagiwara, as well as Asics` master shoe craftsman Hitoshi Mimura who made the shoes she will use in the Olympic marathon, also attended. The event concluded with a video of Nakamura`s victory in March`s Nagoya International Women`s Marathon, her debut and the race which qualified her for the Olympics. Nakamura`s pride in her accomplishment was clear as the auditorium filled with applause.

Nakamura`s coach Yutaka Taketomi also appeared at the meeting. He shed light on Nakamura`s training and preparations, revealing that she had just completed a training camp in Nagano Prefecture`s Sugidaira Takahara.

Quotes from Nakamura`s press conference:

Her Olympic goal:
"I want to run a race which exceeds all expectations. To this end I`ll be going to a training camp in America on the 11th to build my mind, body and self-confidence."

The theme of her training:
"It`s very easy to get discouraged, so building up stable self-confidence through solid practice is the most important thing. At the training camp in the States I`ll be focusing on improving my stamina and speed."

The Olympic marathon course:
"I`m studying the course to learn every corner and hill, the location of the water stations, and other details."

Her race plan:
"I plan to ride the pack`s flow as long as I can, then race the last section hard."
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