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World Championships Marathoner Oda Talks About Stagnation, Perseverance and the Payoff

http://www.rikujouweb.com/tokushuu/2011/wghpro2011/oda-1.htm

interview by Tatsuo Terada
translated by Brett Larner

Yoshinori Oda (Team Toyota) - PBs:
5000 m: 13:42.67 (2007)
10000 m: 27:53.55 (2010)
half: 1:01:47 (2009)
marathon: 2:09:03 (2011)

Daegu World Championships marathoner Yoshinori Oda (Team Toyota) never attracted much attention as a contender.  In university he turned some heads for running in the 28:20`s for 10000 m, but he never won a Hakone Ekiden stage or a national title.  After heading to the corporate team ranks he couldn't quite manage to break 28 minutes, and the Japanese national team remained out of reach.  Once reaching his 30`s Oda made the jump to the marathon finishing February's Tokyo Marathon in 2:09:03, 4th overall and the 2nd Japanese finisher.  His time put him at all time #3 on the Japanese marathon debut lists and finally scored him a place on the Daegu team.  Coming in his eighth year as a corporate runner, what changes did Oda go through in his trans…

World Championships Marathoner Yoshinori Oda Gets Send-Off Party From Alma Mater Kanto Gakuin University

http://happy.ap.teacup.com/applet/wako5ac/20110716/archive

translated and edited by Brett Larner
click here for photos of the KGU party

On July 15 marathoner Yoshinori Oda (Team Toyota) attended an official send-off party held by his alma mater, Kanto Gakuin University.  Oda attended the ekiden powerhouse Omuta High School before running at Kanto Kaguin University and going on to the Toyota corporate team after his graduation.  Although busy with his World Championships preparations, through the considerate cooperation of the Toyota company Oda was able to attend the party in his honor.

Kanto Gakuin University President Ono, Dean of Student Life Oyama and other members of the school administration made up most of those in attendance at the party, giving Oda their wholehearted support.  As an academically-oriented school Kanto Gakuin is far-removed from the Hakone Ekiden powerhouses, but inspired by Oda's success the administration has pledged to strengthen the school's track pro…