Fukushi beats Noguchi...

She wants to break 10000 national mark held by Shibui first before even think about a marathon. This was her first half and it surprised her how well it went. She said she had a bad patch at around 17k and thereafter and said could not believe people run twice as long.

Thanks for the reply Nobby. I only saw the results on NHK and they did not give her too much air-time.

Nobby wrote:

She said she had a bad patch at around 17k and thereafter and said could not believe people run twice as long.

I love that comment, it seems so like her. She is such an honest runner and just seems to love running and doing her best.

Kafka & Nobby,

Just gotta love Fukushi. She is cute and very humble. I'm not a Shibui fan, so I hope she breaks her 10km time and then goes on to do well in the marathon. However, my personal favourite is still Q-chan. Can't beat that smile (although Fukushi comes close).

Nobby, I disagree. I think that Fukushi shouldn't really give a rat's ass about the 5km/10km anymore. Her future is plain to see.....The Marathon. She's wasting time trying to beat the Ethiopians in track races.

I am very much a Shibui fan. Nippon Marathon, perhaps you have not met Yoko in person. She is a tomboy. She is not particularly feminine, but for some strange reason I really like her.

Hey, I didn't say she should run 5/10. I totally agree with you, Jason. Anybody who can't sprint, shouldn't hang on to 5/10 too long. You need to seek the event that you can win. It all comes back down to the question of basic speed (the Lydiardism), doesn't it? Getting the national record for 10 is all sweet and nice but here it goes again, she's thinking nationally, not internationally. I feel Takaoka wasnted many years, staying on track perhaps more of a sentimental reason than anything, not moving up to the marathon.

And, though I'd hate to agree with you too much (just kidding!), I do like Shibui too for some strange reason. I liked her "cracked butt" comment after her first marathon! One of her team coaches is a good friend of mine. He spent several months staying at Arthur Lydiard's house in NZ, studying the Lydiard method in the 90s.

Nobby wrote:

Hey, I didn't say she should run 5/10. I totally agree with you, Jason. Anybody who can't sprint, shouldn't hang on to 5/10 too long. You need to seek the event that you can win. It all comes back down to the question of basic speed (the Lydiardism), doesn't it? Getting the national record for 10 is all sweet and nice but here it goes again, she's thinking nationally, not internationally.

She is still very young (24 this year) and probably can get faster over 10km. If she can run consistently fast 10km's then she can probably run a very fast marathon when she gets older. I mean she will only be 30 in London.

I think she should move to the marathon as well. But, it is only our place to speculate.

I like Fukushi because she just seems to have a genuine passion for the sport. After the 5km final in Helsinki in the post race interview she walked up to the interviewer and asked who won the race and did the Ethiopians get 1,2 and 3. When she was told they did, she just said they were amazing, then the interview started.

All due respect, I personally think she should try a marathon now and see what happens. I don't necessarily believe in "waiting" till you run a good 10k to turn to the marathon. I think you're either suited for the marathon or you're not. It's not the matter of your age or how fast you are over 5 or 10k. We can argue all we want but the fact is that there have been way too many examples of a runner who pops a good (or great) marathon off 28:30 or something. It would probably help; but as an athlete, I don't think you should wait till you run a certain time over "other" distances to run a marathon. I think Shibui is aa perfect example (2:23 at 22). And, yes, I think Lynn Jennings could have run a great marathon had she tried it earlier--but it's just me. And I'll tell you what; I think Fukushi could run even better 10 after she tries a marathon.

What I like Fukushi, and Shibui as well, is their relaxed attitude toward sport. I was asked one time by a Japanese running magazine guy what's the reason behind teh recent success in track & field by Japanese. I think (personally), number one, they really tried to do well for 1991 World Champs in Tokyo 1991 and the results really came about 3~4 years later; but also the athletes really start to take up more relaxed attitude to the sport. When I saw Japanese skiers (jumpers) getting their hair dyed and paiting flag on their faces; I really thought they would start doing well internationally. They did. Shibui dyed her hair and pierced her ears--things that were absolutely unheard of in the 60s and 70s and even 80s. Fukushi is an entertainer as well as a competitor. Gotta love what you're doing and enjoy what you're doing.

i dont know why most people think you have to do either a marathon or5/10k, when the training complements each other, meanining marathoners should run 5/10k pace in their workouts and 5/10k runners benefit from long runs, fukushi could run berlin or chicago in september or october and run a fast 5/10k during track season, basically june to august,to break radcliffes record i think a women (maybe fukushi) will have to be capable of at least under 3020 for 10k, at the top levels speed is very important to the marathon for women about 105 consecutive quarters under 78 and for men about 71 per quarter.

It's because not everybody is Eric Heiden. Seriously, you've got a good point--a damn good point. Salazar had that attitude and did really well, didn't he? Like I said, I think running a marathon would help her 10 (or even 5) but because she cannot sprint, she should seriously consider marathon as her ultimate event (till she runs one). Particularly in the Olympics, if you can't sprint, you will NOT have a chance in 5 or 10 (unless you can pull "Wang") but in the marathon, with 10 favorites, 7 or 8 WILL make mistakes and bomb out. If you DON'T make any mistake, you can pull "Deena".

I agree her future is definetely in the marathon - her time is about 2 minutes faster than Radcliffe ran on her debut, but if she wants to think about running really fast marathons ie. sub 2:17 then working on her track speed would be a big help to her.

Oh also in that half marathon race she went through 10km in 30:53 which is only 2 seconds slower than her 10,000m PR, so she was probably capable of running even faster.

Sounds like quite a talent, has anyone got photos of her?

no stop asking. fuku-shi thead

Nobby, you are probably right, she should give the marathon a go, just to see. When she does it I hope she runs well. You are also right about it often being hard to judge how well one will run a marathon.

Look at the results in Osaka last week with Masami Sakata pulling out a 2hrs 27minute marathon without running under 33mins for 10km; I would not have picked that ever.

Here is a picture of Kayoko...not smiling, well she is running...she is the one running for Japan...not the blonde.

http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/news/photo.aspx?id=20050923000068&no=2

Here are some other links. Enjoy!

Greetings from a netcafe in Shinjuku!!! Free Porn!!!

Here are photo of the whole team. Tomomi Yuda is hotter than hot.

I wonder what brand of panties they wear????

HA HA HA HA

Just did a nice little session on the track at Yoyogi park.

Jason

(Click on the names in the pink column, the names in the blue column are the coaches)

thanks for the picture, the girl moriko horimoto is really cute and my psychologist says i really have to think of other girls after last weeks heartbreaking news (for me) that werknesh kidane is getting married and having a baby soon.

Jason,

Love the track. Free, lockers, VERY close to Harajuku and Jangara Ramen, and lights! See any corporate teams out there? Where are you staying? I'll let you know about Otsu. Waiting for USATF to confirm times. Email me.

NM

Did not see any corporate teams there, just a zillion high school runners.

I will email.

Jason