japan running news

Primarily known for his work in women's long distance, coach Manabu Kawagoe passed away suddenly on Aug. 22 after suffering a stroke. He was 63. A native of Kagoshima, in his days as an athlete Kawagoe ran at Kagoshima Minami H.S. and Waseda University . He was a member of 2 Hakone Ekiden champion teams at Waseda and won both the 5000 m and 10000 m at the National University Championships. After graduating from Waseda Kawagoe joined Shiseido , going on to serve as assistant coach and then head coach. He coached top female athletes like 2008 Chicago Marathon 3rd-placer Kiyoko Shimahara , 10000 m national champion Yoshiko Fujinaga and marathoners Yuri Kano and Akemi Ozaki , and in 2006 led Shiseido to its first National Corporate Women's Ekiden victory. In 2007 he left. Shiseido to form the Second Wind pro team, a new model that brought together his top pro women together with amateurs and junior athletes. In 2011 he became head coach of the Edion corporate team, and in 201...

Born Dec. 22, 1976 in Yamaguchi. Graduated from Kokushikan University and joined the Shiseido corporate team. Left Shiseido in 2007 with head coach Manabu Kawagoe and three teammates to form the independent Second Wind AC. Hot-weather specialist. After a good marathon debut off the beaten path at the 2003 Katsuta Marathon, Shimahara had a remarkably consistent run of 2:26 performances from 2004 to 2006. The streak ended with her silver medal performance at the hot 2006 Asian Games, and for the next three years she was more consistently in the 2:30-2:31 range. In August, 2009 Shimahara ran a PB of 2:25:10 at the Hokkaido Marathon, her first sub-2:30 in three years, a new course record, and faster than the winning time at the previous week's World Championships in tougher conditions. In just over 100 days following Hokkaido Shimahara went on to break 2:30 twice more, both in warm weather. In part one of her interview with JRN Shimahara talked about that fall season, what went...

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20161216/ath16121617340001-n1.html translated by Brett Larner The Shiseido corporate women's team announced on Dec. 16 that Manabu Kawagoe , 54, will return to his former position as head coach in January next year.  "I want to bring the team together to target winning the National Corporate Women's Ekiden Championships and to inspire women everywhere through their running," Kawagoe commented. Currently leading the Edion corporate women's team, Kawagoe was head coach of Shiseido for three years beginning in 2004.  A native of Kagoshima, in 2007 he resigned from Shiseido to found the club team Second Wind AC .  In 2011 he moved again to become head coach at Edion.  Kawagoe will leave Edion to return to Shiseido.  In March this year Shiseido head coach Toshitaka Anyoji resigned to take over the top position at the Panasonic corporate women's team.  Shiseido assistant coach Masahiro Inoguchi has been serving as inter...

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/athletics/news/f-sp-tp0-20140512-1299913.html translated and edited by Brett Larner On May 12, representatives of Shiseido announced that 2009 World Championships women's marathon 7th-placer Yuri Kano  (35) will retire, leaving both the Shiseido team and company on May 31.  Following her departure she plans to be involved in outreach activities.  "I'd still like to be able to take part in marathons at my own pace," she said. A native of Hyogo prefecture, Kano left the Second Wind AC team in 2011 to return to Shiseido, from which Second Wind had separated several years previously.  After her return, however, she was hit with repeated injuries and setbacks.  The May 11 Sendai International Half Marathon, where she finished 6th in 1:16:16, was her final race.

http://swac.jp/news.shtml http://sw-ac.jugem.jp/?eid=2656 translated by Brett Larner photo by Dr. Helmut Winter Our sincerest thank you to all of Second Wind AC's regular supporters.  Our club athlete Eri Okubo has decided to leave Second Wind AC at the end of March. Following her departure from Second Wind AC she plans to continue to pursue her own personal goals in a new environment.  Okubo has posted a personal statement about her decision to leave on the Second Wind AC blog.  We hope that all of you will continue to support and encourage her as she follows her dream and thank each of you for the encouragement you have given up to now. Okubo's statement: Thank you to everyone who has helped me and supported me. Unfortunately, I dropped out of Sunday's Nagoya Women's Marathon.  Thank you to all of my regular fans and to everyone who came out to cheer along the course.  I am truly sorry that I was not able to live up to your expectations and that I...

http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/LRR12/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=68052 2:26 marathoner and former Suzuki Hamamatsu AC member Noriko Matsuoka  made her international debut as a member of the Second Wind club at the Great South Run, finishing 10th in 56:08 ahead of next month's Yokohama International Women's Marathon.

http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/general/track/news/20110922k0000m050021000c.html translated by Brett Larner The Shiseido corporation announced on Sept. 21 that marathoner Yuri Kano , who left the Second Wind AC  running club and longtime coach Manabu Kawagoe  at the end of August, will return to its corporate running team on Oct. 1.  She is targeting the marathon at next year's London Olympics.  The 32-year-old Kano originally joined the Shiseido team in 2001 but followed Kawagoe in quitting the team in 2007 to found Second Wind.  Her achievements at the marathon distance include a 7th place finish at the 2009 World Championships and a win at last year's Nagoya International Women's Marathon.  Kano commented, "I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to run.  Running has given me the opportunity to live as an athlete and to grow as a person, now I want to let this tremendous flower bloom."

http://www.sw-ac.com/news.shtml#news110827 translated by Brett Larner Thank you very much for your continued support of Second Wind AC.  It is extremely unfortunate that I must announce that club member Yuri Kano will be leaving Second Wind AC effective August 31. Kano had been planning to run the Yokohama International Women’s Marathon in November in a bid to make the London Olympics but has been taking time off since July due to a leg injury. A few days ago I received notice from her that she wished to leave the club; in meeting with her face-to-face she said that she wishes to be in a new environment as she pursues a place at the Olympics. Despite the great generosity of the Second Wind Supporters Club members, each of our sponsors, and the many people who have offered their support up until now, I offer my deepest apologies that the situation came to the point that I must give you this bad news. I ask that each of you continue to give her your sincere support as she pur...

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20100905-OHT1T00267.htm translated by Brett Larner Nov. 27 Asian Games marathon team member Kiyoko Shimahara (33, Second Wind AC) has cancelled her planned altitude training camp beginning Sept. 5 in Boulder, Colorado due to illness. She has also withdrawn from her scheduled appearance in the Sept. 19 Philadelphia Half Marathon. Shimahara spent August training in Hokkaido, but after returning home to Nagano she came down with a fever. Exhibiting symptoms similar to those of dehydration, she was advised to spend at least a week allowing for total recovery. Departing for Boulder Sept. 5 with Shimahara's Asian Games teammate Yuri Kano (31) and other Second Wind runners, coach Manabu Kawagoe (48) commented, "Shimahara overtrained in Hokkaido. If she feels back to normal in time then she'll join us in Boulder (for the last part of the training camp)." He indicated that the situation is not a major setback for Shimahara's pr...

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2010050600753 translated by Brett Larner 2011 Asian Games women's marathon team member Kiyoko Shimahara (33, Second Wind AC) announced on May 6 that she is relocating her training base from Tokyo to the town of Saku in Nagano Prefecture. Last month Shimahara got engaged to Saku Chosei High School ekiden team coach Masaru Takamizawa (28). "I'm looking forward to training on the cross-country course the high school team uses and in all the great locations around Sugadaira," Shimahara said, promising that the new environment would be an excellent jumping-off point for the next stage of her career. With regard to her training, Shimahara will continue to be guided by Second Wind head coach Manabu Kawagoe. Apart from training in Nagano Shimahara will be going on the Rikuren-sponsored women's training camp in Boulder, Colorado in June. In July she plans to run the Sapporo International Half Marathon. "I'm not young an...

http://www.globerunner.org/blog/?p=306 An article by Pat Butcher about interesting Tokyo-based club Second Wind. One thing worth noting with regard to Mari Hirata is that the English word 'coach' is used in Japanese more in the sense that we would use 'trainer.' The word 'kantoku' denotes what we think of as the 'coach.' Manabu Kawagoe is the coach, while Hirata is one of the club's trainers. By contrast, 1991 World Championships women's marathon silver medalist Sachiko Yamashita is the coach of Team Daiichi Seimei and its star runner, 2009 World Championships women's marathon silver medalist Yoshimi Ozaki, the younger sister of Second Wind runner Akemi Ozaki.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/sports/global/29marathon.html Yuri Kano's NYCM debut has gotten some mainstream attention in the U.S. Coming as it does just days before the regional qualifying ekidens for the national corporate ekiden championship events it is extremely rare for teams to allow their runners to compete in New York, and almost never their best runners. Kano's team Second Wind AC exists outside the corporate team circuit, a fact which gives her more latitude to compete overseas. The New York City Marathon will be broadcast live online by Universal Sports. Universal's webcasts are usually blocked in Japan, but NYCM will apparently be available to view in Japan by clicking here .

http://www.plus-blog.sportsnavi.com/kmanabu/article/167 by Manabu Kawagoe, head coach, Second Wind AC translated by Brett Larner Kaori Yoshida racing in Albuquerque, NM. Photo by John Schrup. Kaori Yoshida, a member of Second Wind AC since its founding in April, 2007, has left the club following her appearance as a guest runner at the Mar. 15 Kusunoki Marathon. I would like to thank her from my heart for the help she has given SWAC over the last two years and for her competitiveness and dedication in her own running. Yoshida has taken a position with Amino Vital AC and, while working with that club, hopes to continue on as one of the top distance running women. We're all looking forward to seeing the new Kaori Yoshida! While we're sad that Yoshida has resigned from the club, Second Wind is still looking forward toward our future goals. We remain an organization dedicated both to supporting world-class athletes capable of reaching the Olympics, World Championships, and other m...

http://www.plus-blog.sportsnavi.com/kmanabu/article/128 translated and edited by Brett Larner Seki Kimura, a member of Tokyo-based Second Wind AC, had a tough day in the Dec. 7 Singapore Marathon, finishing 10th in 2:52:25. Second Wind AC head coach Manabu Kawagoe commented, "Kimura experienced some stomach trouble during the race, but this too is part of the marathon. I hope that she can learn from this experience and use it to help her move up to the next level." Kimura's teammates Kiyoko Shimahara, 3rd at this year's Chicago Marathon, and Kaori Yoshida, winner of the inaugural Casablanca Marathon earlier in the fall, are scheduled to compete in Sunday's Honolulu Marathon.

by Brett Larner JRN reader John Schrup reports that 2007 Osaka World Championships women`s marathon 6th place finisher and 2006 Asia Games women`s marathon silver medalist Kiyoko Shimahara is in Albuquerque, New Mexico for altitude training with Second Wind AC. Shimahara is a talented heat runner but was not selected for the Beijing Olympics team. Schrup reports that Shimahara is preparing for this year`s Chicago Marathon and came to his running shop during a break in training.

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/feature/niwm/CK2008020602085895.html http://www.daily.co.jp/general/2008/02/06/0000827072.shtml translated and edited by Brett Larner On Feb. 5, two of the top contenders for the Beijing Olympic women's marathon team, both of whom withdrew from last month's Osaka International Women's Marathon, were added to the field for the final Olympic selection race, the Nagoya International Women's Marathon on Mar. 9. Yumiko Hara (Team Kyocera) ran in the women's marathon at last summer's World Championships. She withdrew from Osaka, where she was the defending champion, the day before the race after coming down with a cold. Hara won her debut marathon at the 2005 Nagoya to qualify for the 2005 World Championships. She will be keen to qualify for the Olympics here as well. Also joining the Nagoya field after withdrawing from Osaka is Yuri Kano (Second Wind AC), the winner of last summer's Hokkaido Marathon. Kano retired from this year...

http://beijing2008.nikkansports.com/athletics/f-sp-tp0-20080122-310478.html translated by Brett Larner Every step of Fukushi's run will be closely observed. The most dominant Japanese track runner, Kayoko Fukushi (Team Wacoal) has chosen the Beijing Olympics-qualifying Osaka International Women's Marathon this Sunday for her debut marathon. Fukushi has been sequestered at a secret training camp in preparation for this eagerly-anticipated debut. Defending champion Yumiko Hara (Team Kyocera), who had a difficult time in last year's World Championships marathon, will be running. Last year's 3rd place finisher Yuri Kano (Second Wind AC) and 2006 Vienna Marathon winner Tomo Morimoto (Team Tenmaya) are also on the start list. Foreign competitors include Sydney Olympics silver medalist Lidia Simon and 2:21:30 runner Constantina Tomescu-Dita, both of whom hail from Romania. Osaka World Championships marathon bronze medalist Reiko Tosa (Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) has alread...

by Brett Larner The 27th running of the All-Japan Jitsugyodan Women`s Ekiden takes place this Sunday, Dec. 16. in Gifu Prefecture. 26 teams will race the marathon-length 6-stage course. Course record holders Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo (2:13:17, 2004) are fielding a strong team including Osaka World Championships marathon bronze medallist Reiko Tosa and former marathon national record holder Yoko Shibui and look set to retake the title from defending champions Team Shiseido who suffered a major blow early this year when their coach Manabu Kawagoe and much of the top talent on last year`s team left Shiseido to form the independent Second Wind AC . The All-Japan Jitsugyodan Women`s Ekiden has 3 regional qualification races, all full marathon distance courses. At the East Japan Jitsugyodan Women`s Ekiden in Saitama Prefecture on Nov. 3, Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo swept the field for the 8th straight year, winning in 2:13:09. Team Daiichi Seimei were 2nd in 2:15:03 and Team Hokuren 3rd...

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/top/sp200712/sp2007121104.html translated by Brett Larner 17,000 Japanese runners in a field of 28,000 took part in the 35th JAL Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 9. Ambesse Tolosa of Ethiopia won the men`s race for the 2nd year in a row with a time of 2:17:26, while Alevtina Biktimirova of Russia took the women`s title for the 1st time, winning in 2:33:07. Among Japanese runners, Akemi Ozaki (Second Wind AC) was 2nd in the women`s race in 2:34:22 and Satoru Hori of Yamanashi Prefecture ran 2:29:12 to finish a strong 6th in the men`s race in his first appearance at this event. Marathon-loving model Rie Hasegawa, 34, ran in the 3:30 range in her 8th time to challenge the Honolulu course. Hasegawa hoped to run a 3:15 but said afterwards, "With the hills and rain making for tough conditions in the first half I just couldn`t do it this time. I love running, though, so I plan to come back to Honlulu again next year." At 90 years plus 5 months the oldest Japane...

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20071125i5z2.htm?from=main5 translated by Brett Larner This summer`s Osaka World Championships women`s marathon 6th place finisher Kiyoko Shimahara (Second Wind AC) finished 2nd in 2:35:41 at the Nov. 25 Toray Shanghai Marathon. The marathon course started from Shanghai`s Nanjing Road Century Plaza. 2000 Sydney Olympics silver medalist Lidia Simon (Romania) won the race in a course record time of 2:29:28. In the men`s race, Sammy Kipkoech (Kenya) won in 2:13:01, while Japan`s Koichiro Nagata (F.R.A.) ran 2:16:22 to finish 5th in his debut marathon. Translator`s note: Lidia Simon also beat Shimahara in the Osaka World Championships, finishing in 5th place only 14 seconds ahead of Shimahara.