Serious question...Japan men constantly puts together deep national lists in the 10,000m, half-marathon, marathon and are crazy about the Ekiden. Why do they stink it up in most championships? The just got slaughtered at World XC, they don't have anyone even factor in the distance track events at WC or OC and they don't put a heckuva a lot together in the marathons either. It seems like everything they do on the track and roads is designed to be a time trial, but they aren't equipped to deal with factors in championships. Just an observation.
Their main problem is consistency. Japanese runners actually can do well at championships type races, but they sadly more often than not can't replicate their peak performances (might have sth to do with old fashioned training systems and too many injuries). A good example is their last Olympic trial race vs the actual Olympics: At the trials, two guys (Shogo Nakamura and Yuma Hattori) managed to beat Suguru Osako in a rather tactical race, but in Sapporo Osako (who obviously coached by Pete Julian and not a japanese coach) placed 6th while Nakamura and Hattori were shadows of their former selves finishing in 62nd and 73rd.
Serious question...Japan men constantly puts together deep national lists in the 10,000m, half-marathon, marathon and are crazy about the Ekiden. Why do they stink it up in most championships? The just got slaughtered at World XC, they don't have anyone even factor in the distance track events at WC or OC and they don't put a heckuva a lot together in the marathons either. It seems like everything they do on the track and roads is designed to be a time trial, but they aren't equipped to deal with factors in championships. Just an observation.
Their main problem is consistency. Japanese runners actually can do well at championships type races, but they sadly more often than not can't replicate their peak performances (might have sth to do with old fashioned training systems and too many injuries). A good example is their last Olympic trial race vs the actual Olympics: At the trials, two guys (Shogo Nakamura and Yuma Hattori) managed to beat Suguru Osako in a rather tactical race, but in Sapporo Osako (who obviously coached by Pete Julian and not a japanese coach) placed 6th while Nakamura and Hattori were shadows of their former selves finishing in 62nd and 73rd.
He said this was the last race to count for their Olympics trials qualifications which would explain why so many went for it
How is the women's race looking? I see Wanjiru, Bekere, Gemechu, and Edesa went through 30k in 1:37:25 but that was a while ago. Have any of them started to drop off or have there been any major moves?
How is the women's race looking? I see Wanjiru, Bekere, Gemechu, and Edesa went through 30k in 1:37:25 but that was a while ago. Have any of them started to drop off or have there been any major moves?
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