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Nakamoto's Goal in Beppu-Oita: "A PB and My First Win"

http://kyushu.yomiuri.co.jp/news/national/20130129-OYS1T00326.htm

translated by Brett Larner

London Olympics marathon 6th-place finisher Kentaro Nakamoto (Team Yasukawa Denki) will run the Feb. 3 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon.  Of his first marathon since the Olympics he says with resolve, "My goal is to win a marathon for the first time.  I'm aiming to break my PB."

Beppu-Oita is one of the selection races for August's Moscow World Championships marathon team.  With a sub-2:08 necessary for a guaranteed place on the team the 2:08:53-best Nakamoto's theme in his preparations has been speed.  Up to now he has always taken the approach of running a steady pace, picking off people falling off the lead pack late in the race.  This time he is planning an active, aggressive run, saying, "After 30 km I want the action to be coming from me."

In order to achieve that target Nakamoto has changed his training methodology. Reducing the number of 40 km training runs in the leadup to the race he has increased the quality of his 8~12 km pace runs, polishing his overall speed. Since a disappointing performance at the Jan. 1 New Year Ekiden his motion and fitness have improved bit by bit. His coach Naoki Yamagashira commented, "It is important to try different things to find out what works best."
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