A marathon is a place where you can be the protagonist.

RRC member interview
text:Shun Sato

15th Season, Team C (Goal: Sub-4 Marathon) MVP: Ms. Hikaru Kinoshita

Joined RETO, Achieved Sub-4 in Six Months

The Tsukuba Marathon, where I achieved my sub-4 goal, was my first race of the season.
It was my first time running the Tsukuba Marathon, and there were few ups and downs and many straight sections, so I was able to run without breaking my rhythm. The weather was also good, and I felt a bit of pressure because I knew I wouldn't have any excuses if I didn't achieve sub-4 in those conditions, but the cheering really motivated me. I was so happy to achieve my sub-4 goal (3 hours, 58 minutes, 41 seconds) within six months of joining RETO, and I feel it's all thanks to RETO, so I'm grateful to be a part of the team.

Why I Started Running

I've always enjoyed exercise. I was on the track and field team in junior high and the handball team in high school. However, I injured my ACL there and drifted away from sports. After becoming an adult, I tried hot yoga, but the fixed class times meant I had to adjust my daily rhythm, which became bothersome, so I quit. At that time, I started running, thinking it was a sport I could easily pick up. I began in 2014, and when I run, I can focus on myself, and sometimes it feels like meditation. I usually enjoy experiencing the seasons with all my senses, so running outdoors suited me well.

A Bitter First Marathon Experience

My first full marathon was the Yokohama Marathon in 2018. That time, the cutoff at 35 kilometers closed, and I ended up with a DNF. I tried my best to get through it, but my legs just wouldn't move forward... I experienced the gate closing right in front of me. At the time, I was only running 50 to 60 kilometers a month, so I was completely undertrained. It was so tough that I thought I'd never do it again, but as is often the case with marathons, I'm still running now (laughs).

Igniting My Passion for Marathons

The biggest reason I wanted to get revenge on the Yokohama Marathon was that I had more time to run during the pandemic. I had plenty of time and steadily kept running. Then, I ran the Saitama Marathon in February 2024 in 4 hours and 21 minutes. The continuous cheering along the roadside and the support from friends and colleagues made me feel like the main character, and it was truly enjoyable (laughs). On the other hand, I thought I might be able to achieve sub-4 if I trained a little more, so I started participating in a running circle in Tokorozawa and doing intervals. But I wanted a place where I could push myself even further, a team with fellow runners striving towards a goal, so I joined RETO.

A Place Where I Can Feel Myself Getting Stronger

I'm shy and reserved, so I'm not very good at chatting, but I really look forward to practice. Sometimes when I see the practice menu, I hesitate about going, and I get nervous. But after I go and finish practice, I feel confident that I've become a little stronger today. I think I can continue to get stronger through this repetition.

Running is a Panacea

Now, I try to run 7 or 8 kilometers on weekday mornings, and 20 kilometers or more on weekends for long distances. I used to work a lot of overtime, but I changed jobs last year, and now I can secure my own time. It's become a good environment for running, and running has completely become a part of my life. I'm good at steadily and quietly working on things, and while consistent daily effort is important in marathons, I think that suits me well too.

Besides, my skin condition is good when I run (laughs). Since I started running, more people around me have told me, "Your skin looks nice," and I started going to bed early and waking up early to run, which has also improved my health. I feel like many things are turning for the better with running at the core, so I really enjoy running now (laughs).

Why do you run?

At first, it was about feeling refreshed after sweating or mentally recharging by seeing beautiful scenery. Now, the more I run, the stronger I get, and the faster I can become. Achieving sub-4 has changed my phase. I want to test myself to see how far I can go. I run to discover my own potential.