Inoue Returns from New Zealand Training Camp Ahead of Boston: "More Than Just Running It I Want to Win"

Don't set limits on yourself. 2018 Jakarta Asian Games marathon gold medalist and all-time Japanese #5 man at 2:06:54, Hiroto Inoue (26, MHPS) returned to Japan on Jan. 31 after three weeks of training in New Zealand for the Apr. 15 Boston Marathon. Even though New Zealand was hit by a severe heat wave with temperatures going over 30˚C, he completed a 50 km run and two 40 km runs. Inoue was positive about the training camp, saying, "I built up a good base and ran according to purpose. The sunshine was brutally strong and there were days when it was really windy, but by training hard in the midst of tough conditions I've put in the groundwork to be able to handle the distance." His coach Jun Kuroki, 47, was also positive, saying, "He had no injury issues, trained well, and had a good time."

The ability to win is what he is honing now. In preparation for September's MGC Race 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon trials, Inoue will give March's Tokyo Marathon a miss in favor of the Boston Marathon, a part of the World Marathon Majors series of the world's best marathons. "When you're planning to compete against the best you have to become stronger if you want to be number one," Inoue said. "I'm focusing on competing more than time. I want to be able to handle the changes in pace that the foreign runners will drop in a race without pacers, and to be able to use my strength to make some moves of my own. More than just running it I want to win."

In not having pacers Boston will give Inoue the same kind of experience he will face at the MGC Race, and with uphills late in the race the two courses are also similar. But in competitive level they differ. "Boston is higher-level than the MGC Race," said Inoue. A competitive race in Boston against some of the world's best will be a big boost to his self-confidence at the MGC Race. "Developing experience and ability is a cumulative process," he said.

Inoue also showed the motivation to deliver Japan's first 2:04 marathon. When he won the gold medal in Jakarta Inoue outkicked Moroccan-born El Hassan El Abbassi (Bahrain) in the home straight. In December El Abbassi ran 2:04:43. Asked about El Abbassi's time Inoue said, "I can't see how he did it at all," but of his own chances for a 2:04 he said, "I think I can do that." Quoting world record holder Eliud KIpchoge he added, "No human is limited."

Inoue's first race after returning to Japan will be the Feb. 10 Karatsu 10 Mile Road Race, where he will get an early shot at 2018 Boston winner Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't). "I'm still a bit tired, but I want to see how competitive I can be over a distance like 10 miles," Inoue said. After Karatsu he plans to run the Mar. 3 Tamana Half Marathon in Kumamoto. Following that is Boston. Balancing speed and competitive ability, each race is just one more step in Inoue's buildup to September's main event where he will face Yuma Hattori (Toyota), Suguru Osako (Nike Oregon Project) and Yuta Shitara (Honda) as one of the four favorites for the Tokyo Olympic team.

source articles:
https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190131-00000130-sph-spo
https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190131-00465644-nksports-spo
https://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20190131/ath19013119180002-n1.html
translated and edited by Brett Larner

photo © 2017 Mika Tokairin, all rights reserved

Wanjiru Breaks Own MR, Fuwa and Ishida Return - Kanto Regionals Day 1 Highlights

Japan's best college meet kicked off Thursday at Tokyo's National Stadium at the 103rd Kanto Region University Track and Field Championships . Looking like she was doing a controlled tempo run, 2nd-yr Sarah Wanjiru (Daito Bunka Univ.) lapped the entire field to win the women's 10000 m in a meet record 32:02.87, almost 15 seconds under the record she last year in her debut. 3rd-yr Aoi Takahashi (Josai Univ.) was 2nd in 33:29.22 and 2nd-yr Nana Nagashima (Josai Kokusai Univ.) 3rd in a PB 33:30.28, but the other main news alongside Wanjiru's new record was the return of collegiate 10000 m record holder Seira Fuwa (Takushoku Univ.) in her first 10000 m in 19 months. Fuwa hung at the back of the chase pack for the first half, made a move to lead it in the second half, and ultimately faded to 9th in 33:40.20. Every comeback has to start somewhere. The D1 men's 10000 m had a tight group up front with the top 6 all finishing within 6 seconds and under 28:10. 3rd-yr Jam

Two-Time Olympic Marathon Medalist Erick Wainaina Referred to Prosectors on Suspicion of Assault

According to investigators, two-time Olympic marathon medalist Erick Wainaina has had his case referred to prosecutors after allegedly injuring a railway employee by striking him in the face at a station in Setagaya, Tokyo. Wainaina, 50, was the bronze medalist in the marathon at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and won silver in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Wainaina is suspected of assaulting a woman in her late teens and a male Tokyu Denentoshi Line employee by hitting them in the face during an altercation at Komazawa University Station in March this year, resulting in minor injuries to the man's face. According to investigators, the incident began on the train between Wainaina and the woman, and after getting off at Komazawa University Station he hit her in the face when she asked him to go to the station office with her to report it. When the male railway employee responded to the situation Wainaina reportedly hit him too. In response to questioning Wainaina is said to have answered,

Police Arrest 20-Year-Old Man Charged With Assaulting Female Runner at Popular Tokyo Running Spot

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a female runner along the banks of the Tama River in Ota Ward, Tokyo. "I've been stuck at home because of the coronavirus, so I wanted to go for a walk and move my body a bit," the man told police. Local resident Hirai Muroyama , 20, of no known occupation, was arrested on charges of sexual assault. He is accused of acts including grabbing the breasts of a woman in her 20s at around 10 p.m. on May 31 along the banks of the Tama River. According to police, the woman was taking a break in her run when Muroyama approached her silently from behind and grabbed her breasts before running away. Under police interrogation Muroyama told investigators, "I've been stuck at home because of the coronavirus, so I wanted to go out for a walk and move my body. I'd had a few drinks and was feeling pretty hype. She was totally my type." source article: https://news.tbs.co.jp/newseye/tbs_newsey

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