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Yoshimi Ozaki Back From High Altitude Training

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/other/090718/oth0907181857013-n1.htm
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/f-sp-tp0-20090718-520239.html

translated and edited by Brett Larner

Marathoner Yoshimi Ozaki (Team Daiichi Seimei), who will run the women's marathon at August's Berlin World Championships, returned to Japan on July 18 from altitude training in Boulder, Colorado. The lower back pain which bothered Ozaki in March has disappeared, and the month and a half she spent at the American training camp has brought her confidence back. "If I make the top eight in Berlin I think that'll be pretty good," she said.

As evidence of her complete recovery, Ozaki's training in Boulder included runs up to 40 km. "The goal this time was to get used to covering the distance again," explained Ozaki. "Consider that accomplished." Her coach Sachiko Yamashita looked toward the next phase of her plan, saying, "From now on out we need to get rid of the accumulated fatigue and bring in some sharpness. The way things look right now I'd say everything is coming together."

While staying in Boulder Ozaki rented a house belonging to Sydney Olympics women's marathon silver medalist Lidia Simon (Romania), who encouraged Ozaki by saying, "In Berlin let's run together up front."

The 28 year old Ozaki, who won November's final Tokyo International Women's Marathon, heads to Kumamoto Prefecture on July 25 for her final training camp. She plans to travel to Berlin on Aug. 16.

Comments

Brett Larner said…
By request, Dennis.
Kevin said…
Her run in Tokyo was great but she hasn't run at all in 2009. It seems like she's in really poor shape. She probably can't beat Mari Ozaki time of 32:04.

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