Toshihiko Seko? was he really fast?

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He didn't only run for his country and himself, Seko like all Japanese Marathons run for there ancestors as well. Once in New Zealand Seko allegedly ran 90 miles a day for 2 weeks. He said his body felt confused but he got through it. Seko was odd in the sense that he prayed to his coach and his coach was essential the lord himself to Seko. Seko gave himself completely to his coach.

Go check out the book Running with Legends at the library. Many great stories and info on SEKO, Arturo Barrios and others you will like and you can find there PR's in there as well.

Japanese junior record holder 800 and 1500 m (3:53). 27:51 10000 m. Seems average compared to peers (Salazar, Lopes, Jones, Deek). Won a few races with a kick. Maybe he was just less tired.

gonzo wrote:

try GOOGLE

you're so lame

I think he ran 1.50 for 800m as a schoolboy, probably capable of some very fast 800/1500s but was quickly up into the long stuff. He was certainly had more legspeed than guys like Deek and Salazar. Deek's best 800 was 1.57.

He actually only had a good sprint at the end of a marathon. His leg speed as you put it wasn't conducive to fast times at shorter distances. Salazar at least was a much faster runner.

Seko's speed manifested itself the same way that a cycling sprinter can cruise with the pack for hours and then explode at the end. Doesn't necessarily mean that type of guy will excel at time trials.

Seko is remembered for as few blazing finishes but he actually liked to run away from everyone if possible. See '81 and '87 Boston and Chicago in '86 as well as London in '86(?)

Seko had a great, "Yifter the Shifter" kind of kick in the marathon. I hope that someone here can find video of his wins in Fukuoka, where he destroyed his competition over the last couple hundred meters on the track.

This is the race that Seko and Juma get away from Alberto Salazar and then they have one last lap together on the track...

My impression from talking to some people familiar with him (back in 83) was he was capable of being Japans No1 800/1500 runer. He was directed into the longer events because they thought he would only be maybe a 1.48/3.38 runner. It was also thought he had untapped 5/10 potential. He was a mad little bugger in training as were many of the Japanese of that era. He seemed to be doing pretty huge volume (over 1000kms per month) and some very long runs. Several of the Japanese of the 80s seemed to like solid 5-8hr runs and he was one of them.

I remember watching Seko win Boston in '81 when I was a kid. I also was just reading an essay by the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami about how he (Murakami) became a runner in his early 30s and now runs every day and has done 26 marathons. Anyway, in the article Murakami (Kafka on the Shore) recalls interviewing Seko and asking him if he ever feels like not running certain days. Seko said 'of course'. Murakami said it was the dumbest question he's ever asked.

This doesn't have much to do with the OP's questions. Just thought I'd add the anecdote.

mopak wrote:

My impression from talking to some people familiar with him (back in 83) was he was capable of being Japans No1 800/1500 runer. He was directed into the longer events because they thought he would only be maybe a 1.48/3.38 runner. It was also thought he had untapped 5/10 potential. He was a mad little bugger in training as were many of the Japanese of that era. He seemed to be doing pretty huge volume (over 1000kms per month) and some very long runs. Several of the Japanese of the 80s seemed to like solid 5-8hr runs and he was one of them.

i think you are right. i remember he went to the university of southern california as a 1:51 800 runner but had a miserable time adjusting and went home after his freshman year. if i find it in my files i'll post where i read it.

I saw a 5000 at Crystal Palace (in the mid 1980s) and he completely annihilated Wilson Waigwa at the end of a 5K. So, his ability to close was not only limited to the marathon distance. I want to say his last 200 was high 27....last lap in 56 or 57. The final time was, I believe, his PR with a 13:24 clocking. I don't think he would be considered crazy fast compared to today's standards. However, back then, he could fly if he was in the mix. Also there is something inherently cool about watching a pure marathoner run well over 5K.

was he really fast? it's all relative....for a marathoner? Yes, he would be considered fast for a world class marathoner. He won many races over the last mile or less with his kick and he ran a pretty fast 10k (by marathoner's standards 25 year ago, not today's).

runr over wrote:

http://www.juanjosemartinez.com.mx/Files/fukuoka_1983.rm

This is the race that Seko and Juma get away from Alberto Salazar and then they have one last lap together on the track...

Thanks for the video. That was an amazing last lap at the end of a marathon!!