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Noguchi Leaves for Boulder Ahead of Holland Race

http://www.sannichi.co.jp/kyodo/news2.php?genre=Sports&newsitemid=2011110101000535

translated and edited by Brett Larner

Athens Olympics women's marathon gold medalist and national record holder Mizuki Noguchi (Team Sysmex) left Nov. 1 from Osaka International Airport for an altitude training camp in Boulder, Colorado.  The goal of Noguchi's training camp is to strengthen her condition ahead of January's Osaka International Women's Marathon which she will run to earn a place on the London Olympic team.  "I'm excited to get away and focus," she said of her mental state before leaving Osaka.  "I want to build up a good distance base while I'm there."

Noguchi made a successful return to racing at the West Japan Jitsugyodan Women's Ekiden late last month, ten months after her latest round of injuries.  She plans to run a race in Holland this month and to return to Japan before the end of the year.*

*Translator's note: Sources say that Noguchi is planning to run Holland's Zevenheuvelenloop 15 km on Nov. 20 alongside former men's marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie.

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