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Incoming Federation Marathon Director Takeshi Soh on Kawauchi: "Keep Doing It Your Way"

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2012/11/10/kiji/K20121110004519660.html

translated by Brett Larner

Incoming Japanese federation men's middle, long distance and marathon director, Team Asahi Kasei head coach and former marathon great Takeshi Soh, 59, spoke about Japan's strongest amateur runner, civil servant Yuki Kawauchi (25, Saitama Pref.) on Nov. 9, saying, "I want him to keep doing things in his own style."

Kawauchi incorporates races into his schedule as part of his training, racing virtually every weekend.  In the past, Federation leadership has taken a "wait and see" attitude on the question of whether Kawauchi was overdoing it.  Following his shot at making the 2013 World Championships marathon team at the Dec. 2 Fukuoka International Marathon Kawauchi plans to run the Dec. 16 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon, January's Egypt International Marathon and other races, but, said Soh, "Back in our day there were amateurs in the general division who would be running 2:18ish too."

Soh strongly hopes to include Kawauchi in the Federation's overseas training camps in the future.
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