http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20080129-OHT1T00034.htm
translated by Brett Larner and Mika Tokairin
The 42nd Ome Marathon* is fast approaching. Once again this year, runners from across the country, male and female, amateur and professional, will converge on the mountainous town of Ome in record numbers. This year 20,000 athletes are entered, 5000 in the 10 km and 15,000 in the 30 km. This is the first in a series of 6 articles profiling runners who will be travelling Ome's early spring roads.
Among such runners is Japanese men's full marathon national record holder Toshinari Takaoka (2:06:16), running with a new theme and motivation. At the Beijing Olympics selection Fukuoka International Marathon last December, Takaoka fell behind the lead pack after the halfway point and finished 10th and failed to make the team. His road to Beijing was cut off, and he almost lost his reason to run. Many observers, considering Takaoka's age, speculated that he would retire, but Takaoka himself had no such plans."To better understand what the marathon is I will keep running."
His theme from now will be to master the marathon. Since his first marathon in December 2001 he has run 9 marathons, becoming famous since setting the national record. Takaoka admits, however, that, "The marathon is deep. There is much more to learn." Regretting his failure in the Olympic selection race, he wants to look thoroughly for the right answer to the question of the marathon.
"There isn't only one way to prepare for a marathon, although I haven't changed my approach so far." If you are trying to win, you cannot take risks. Since Takaoka no longer has a chance of making the Olympic team he no longer has anything to lose. "It's interesting when you can change your race strategy and try something different. This is my new ambition." At the age of 37, Takaoka wants to approach his races with the flexible thinking of young, inexperienced runners.
The first step toward this goal is Ome. Takaoka plans to run a marathon this spring either overseas or in Japan and chose Ome because of its difficult up and down course. "30 km is long, so I can gain confidence from it." Having run the Kumamoto 30 km in 2001, Ome will complete Takaoka's west-east tour of the country's two greatest 30 km races. "Up to now I've always planned my races 4 years in advance. Being free to choose now that I can't make the Olympics makes me miss those days a little." To fill the hole in his heart he will begin again in Ome.
Toshinari Takaoka: b. 9/24/70, Yamashiro-machi, Kyoto. 186 cm, 64 kg. Began running track at Yamashiro Junior High School. Attended Rakunan High School, then Ryukoku University. Joined Team Kanebo in 1993. 7th place in Sydney Olympics 10,000 m. Set Japanese 10,000 m national record of 27:35.09 in Stanford, California in May, 2001 and Japanese marathon national record of 2:06:16 in Chicago, Illinois in October 2002.
*Translator's note: The Ome Marathon is actually a 30 km road race. The term 'marathon' is often used in Japan to denote any distance running event regardless of length. 'Full marathon' is used to describe the marathon itself.
translated by Brett Larner and Mika Tokairin
The 42nd Ome Marathon* is fast approaching. Once again this year, runners from across the country, male and female, amateur and professional, will converge on the mountainous town of Ome in record numbers. This year 20,000 athletes are entered, 5000 in the 10 km and 15,000 in the 30 km. This is the first in a series of 6 articles profiling runners who will be travelling Ome's early spring roads.
Among such runners is Japanese men's full marathon national record holder Toshinari Takaoka (2:06:16), running with a new theme and motivation. At the Beijing Olympics selection Fukuoka International Marathon last December, Takaoka fell behind the lead pack after the halfway point and finished 10th and failed to make the team. His road to Beijing was cut off, and he almost lost his reason to run. Many observers, considering Takaoka's age, speculated that he would retire, but Takaoka himself had no such plans."To better understand what the marathon is I will keep running."
His theme from now will be to master the marathon. Since his first marathon in December 2001 he has run 9 marathons, becoming famous since setting the national record. Takaoka admits, however, that, "The marathon is deep. There is much more to learn." Regretting his failure in the Olympic selection race, he wants to look thoroughly for the right answer to the question of the marathon.
"There isn't only one way to prepare for a marathon, although I haven't changed my approach so far." If you are trying to win, you cannot take risks. Since Takaoka no longer has a chance of making the Olympic team he no longer has anything to lose. "It's interesting when you can change your race strategy and try something different. This is my new ambition." At the age of 37, Takaoka wants to approach his races with the flexible thinking of young, inexperienced runners.
The first step toward this goal is Ome. Takaoka plans to run a marathon this spring either overseas or in Japan and chose Ome because of its difficult up and down course. "30 km is long, so I can gain confidence from it." Having run the Kumamoto 30 km in 2001, Ome will complete Takaoka's west-east tour of the country's two greatest 30 km races. "Up to now I've always planned my races 4 years in advance. Being free to choose now that I can't make the Olympics makes me miss those days a little." To fill the hole in his heart he will begin again in Ome.
Toshinari Takaoka: b. 9/24/70, Yamashiro-machi, Kyoto. 186 cm, 64 kg. Began running track at Yamashiro Junior High School. Attended Rakunan High School, then Ryukoku University. Joined Team Kanebo in 1993. 7th place in Sydney Olympics 10,000 m. Set Japanese 10,000 m national record of 27:35.09 in Stanford, California in May, 2001 and Japanese marathon national record of 2:06:16 in Chicago, Illinois in October 2002.
*Translator's note: The Ome Marathon is actually a 30 km road race. The term 'marathon' is often used in Japan to denote any distance running event regardless of length. 'Full marathon' is used to describe the marathon itself.
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