japan running news

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/feature/niwm/CK2008022802091213.html

In the leadup to the final selection race for the Beijing Olympics Japanese women's marathon team, the Mar. 9 Nagoya International Women's Marathon, Sydney Olympics marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi (Team Phiten) returned to Japan on Feb. 27 after 2 months at her high-altitude training camp in Kunming, China.

Takahashi, 35, failed to qualify for the Athens Olympics 4 years ago. This last chance to make the Beijing Olympics will be everything for her. Speaking to reporters at Tokyo's Narita Airport, Takahashi said of her training in Kunming, "Everyday, I did exactly what I needed to do. I feel ready now. My goal is to run my own race."

While at the training camp Takahashi might have gotten discouraged when she ran into problems, but, she explained, "I try to live by my motto, 'Your dreams will come true if you don't give up.' The only thing I am thinking about is winning…

reported in Nikkei Newspaper, 1/9/08
translated by Brett Larner

In training for the Mar. 3 Nagoya International Women’s Marathon where she hopes to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, Naoko Takahashi (Team Phiten) announced that she will remain at her altitude training camp in Kunming, China through the end of Feb. rather than returning to Japan this month and then going back to Kunming as she had originally planned. Takahashi’s management told press on Jan. 8 that her preparation for Nagoya has been going extremely well and that she sees no benefit to interrupting it by returning to Japan for a short time. Furthermore, while most athletes who train in Kunming do so at 1900 m elevation, Takahashi has stepped up her plans to focus on training at 2400 m during the remainder of her time there.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20071213i401.htm
http://beijing2008.nikkansports.com/athletics/p-sp-tp0-20071213-294906.html

translated by Brett Larner

On Dec. 12, Sydney Olympics women`s marathon gold medallist and former women`s marathon world record holder Naoko Takahashi (35, Team Phiten) announced that she will attempt to qualify for the Beijing Olympics at the Nagoya International Marathon next March. Until now Takahashi had not announced whether she would try to make the Olympic team at January`s Osaka International Women`s Marathon or Nagoya.

Reiko Tosa (Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) holds one of the three slots on the Beijing Olympic Team thanks to her bronze medal performance at this summer`s Osaka World Championships. The course record 2:21:37 victory by Mizuki Noguchi (Team Sysmex) at November`s Tokyo International Women`s Marathon makes her an almost certainty for the second position on the team, leaving one space to be decided between Osaka and Nagoya.

On the same day …