The practice notebook in which I wrote everything down was a great help.

RRC member interview

Text: Shun Sato

7th Course B+ Team (Goal: 3 hours 19 minutes 59 seconds) MVP Megumi Sasanabe

Thanks for the support from RETO

You were awarded the MVP after your personal best time at the Tsukuba Marathon (3 hours 25 minutes 18 seconds).

I updated the time I set in Tsukuba four years ago, but it had been a while since my last race, so I wasn't sure what time to set. Tsuchiya (Yusaku Tsuchimoto) told me, "You'd better try to go for a time no bigger than 4 minutes 50 seconds," and just as he said, I was able to push forward at a pretty good pace. The support was amazing, and I was given water and other teamwork, which I'd never experienced before, so I was really grateful (laughs).

The source of improved running ability

I think my running ability has improved over the past year thanks to my practice notebook. I started keeping it after joining RETO. At first, I only wrote down the menu, but when I did key exercises on Seiya's menu, I started writing down my impressions and how I felt at the time, such as how tough it was or how well I did it. I often practice alone, so when I go through a menu, I look back at my notebook and think, "If I did it this time, I can do it today too," and try to have a positive attitude before practice. This is because the damage is great when you can't do the menu.

To build self-confidence

To begin with, I'm not particularly nervous, and I'm not mentally strong. Even during RETO training sessions, Seiya would give me the menu beforehand, but when the settings weren't announced, I would find myself wondering, "What speed am I supposed to run at?!" and my stomach would start to hurt even before practice. Once the settings were announced, I would check them, and then I would get pumped, thinking, "I can definitely do this," before participating. Even during races, I go to the bathroom about three times after waking up in the morning. If I don't carefully complete my regular training and build my confidence, I'll get anxious. Plus, in a race, I have to run alone, and it's a competition against myself. I can't use the fact that I can't attend various training sessions due to work or family commitments as an excuse to run away. I have to follow my notes and complete the menu according to the settings, even if it's just by myself, or I won't gain the confidence to run a marathon alone. Seiya told me that this is what makes me "strong."

The importance of thinking and practicing

However, even with good practice, there are periods when I plateau. When that happens, I'm required to think for myself and practice. Currently, RETO has about 100 members, so it's difficult for the coach to keep an eye on everyone, and I don't think it's good to ask for everything. I write down anything I notice in a notebook, and I think the fact that I've been able to think for myself, such as ``Today this was not good, so I need to do this,'' is also a factor in my improved running ability.

Based on heart rate

Recently, I've stopped focusing solely on my pace and started watching my heart rate while I run. E-san (E Katayama) told me, "You should check your heart rate to see if you're pushing yourself," so I bought a HR sensor and check my heart rate while training, thinking, "If I keep running at 160, I need to slow it down a bit."

A fulfilling 2023-2024 season

Since joining RETO this season, I've been running as much as I can, running in the morning and doing "beautiful witch training" at night. If I hadn't gotten results from this, I might have died (wry smile). My results at the Tokyo Marathon were mediocre due to an injury, but I was able to achieve the bare minimum by setting a personal best in Tsukuba. I can't be completely satisfied, but I think I managed to give it my all. In that sense, this past year has been a truly fulfilling season.