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Shibui Returns From Kunming 'Satisfied'

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/f-sp-tp0-20081029-424073.html

translated by Brett Larner

On Oct. 29 Yoko Shibui (Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) returned with a teammates from a three-week training camp in Kunming, China. Shibui is in preparation for the Nov. 16 Tokyo International Women's Marathon. "I did everything [on the practice menu]," she commented. "I'm satisfied." Shibui saw news of Naoko Takahashi's retirement on TV. "It takes a lot of courage to say you're going to retire. It gave me many things to think about."

Shibui also talked about her teammate Reiko Tosa, who dropped out of the Beijing Olympics marathon with a foot injury. "She basically back to regular jogging. Her foot doesn't really hurt any more," said Shibui. Both runners plan to compete in December's All-Japan Jitsugyodan Women's Ekiden.

Translator's note: Last year Shibui returned from Kunming and ran a stage record on the 10 km anchor leg of the East Japan Jitsugyodan Women's Ekiden two weeks before Tokyo, where she failed utterly. East Japan is scheduled for Nov. 3 this year but this article and others do not mention Shibui's participation, so she may be saving her energy this time around.
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Anonymous said…
I just find it difficult to get excited about Shibui these days. She always comes up with some boastful comments prior to marathons and in her last 2-3 marathons, she's run really badly...I'd still rate Yamauchi as the favourite for Tokyo - very consistent runner, finished ahead of Kosgei and Zakharova in Beijing, is just as good as Kano but it depends which Shibui turns up on the day.
November 2, 2008 at 10:23 AM
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