I can't let the younger generation overtake me just yet.

RRC member interview

Text: Shun Sato

2023 Team Overall MVP: Koji Karatsu

At the Gold Coast Marathon in July last year, he set a new personal best of 2 hours 48 minutes 18 seconds, achieving a sub-second time. It was a fantastic run, shaving nearly five minutes off his previous time of 2 hours 53 minutes 03 seconds (Tokyo Marathon 2023).

"I was confident I could run because I had been doing tough training sessions once or twice a week and had been covering long distances. But when I actually achieved my goal, I was incredibly happy."

Finishing the Gold Coast Marathon with a satisfying race and a new personal best

Encounter with RETO

Karatsu, whose expression showed joy, was on the track and field team in junior high and high school. He competed in the 400m and long jump, and only started long-distance running after joining the workforce. He was transferred to Sendai for work and didn't know anyone, so he wondered if there was something he could do alone and started jogging. He says he would run around the area around Rakuten Stadium. He then participated in the Matsushima Half Marathon, finishing in 1 hour and 40 minutes, and a year later he ran in the first Tohoku Miyagi Reconstruction Marathon, achieving a sub-4 time.

"After the marathon, it was so tough I thought I'd had enough, but after a while I felt like running again. That's a common thing in marathons (laughs)."

After returning to Tokyo, I ran alone around Jingu Gaien and the Imperial Palace. I was aiming for a sub-3 time, but I couldn't quite beat it, and I thought, "I've reached my limit on this alone," when I saw Daichi Kamino's YouTube channel and joined RETO. A little over a year later, I reached sub-3.

In June 2022, I participated in the first training camp since the RRC was established.

"I'm surprised because I didn't think I'd be able to come this far. I'm inspired by people of my generation. Seeing the efforts of people like E-san (E Katayama) and Tsuchi-san (Yusaku Tsuchimoto) who are aiming for similar times made me want to do the same. E-san was in good shape, so I thought I'd be overtaken during the season, but I'm glad I managed to hold on (laughs)."

In Beyond2023, he fell behind the pack at 12km and had a tough run.

Two books used as reference for the practice menu

After achieving sub-second-second time at the Gold Coast Marathon, Karatsu ran in the Tsukuba Marathon in November (3 hours, 8 minutes, 22 seconds) and the Beyond2023 Marathon in December (3 hours, 7 minutes, 36 seconds). However, he was unable to achieve the results he had hoped for.

"For Beyond, I was thinking of running at marathon pace in preparation for the Tokyo Marathon. I started at around 3 minutes 55 seconds, and thought I could at least make it to the half marathon, and if possible, try my best to make it to 30 kilometers. But I gave up at 12 kilometers (wry smile). I had had an injury before that, so my body wasn't ready, and I thought I'd have to start again before Tokyo. It gave me an idea of ​​my current situation, so it wasn't that much of a shock."

Karatsu had changed his training menu shortly before Beyond.

He uses "Daniel's Running Formula" and "Advanced Marathon Training" as references. For running care, he often looks at "The Best Running Care" supervised by Nakano James Shuichi. "Advanced Marathon Training" is said to have detailed training menus.

"I also search on YouTube and watch things that I find interesting. I don't keep a training notebook or anything like that; I create a weekly menu in my head. I don't record my impressions after training either. I don't write much on Strava either. I probably should, but I remember things surprisingly well, so I don't write anything down except for races."

Karatsu practices with the highest level A+ team.

Reasons to complete practice

He switched his training from high-stress points like those before the Gold Course to points that were "a little tough," and increased the number of times he did so. Since his free time was limited due to the birth of his child, he started practicing points in the morning and evening on certain days, and then jogging the next day. He continued with a style of two training sessions a day, and as a result, his monthly running distance increased from his usual (around 500 km) to 550 km. As RETO members will know, Karatsu rarely participates in RETO's individual training or Tamken training, and instead practices alone.

"I don't make long-term practice plans, but rather organize them in weekly increments. I don't mind doing it alone, but if I can't practice or it doesn't go well, I feel uncomfortable or frustrated, so I try to force myself to do it. Also, at RETO, I was really inspired by their motivation. Amane (Shuto Arimoto) and other young people have grown so much, but I felt like I still couldn't let them overtake me (laughs)."

I first felt confident about the Tokyo Marathon three weeks before the race. I joined a RETO training session for the first time in a while and completed six 1600m intervals (5 minutes 44 seconds) with ease.

"At that time, I thought Tokyo would be okay, I could go."

That's right, at the Tokyo Marathon, Karatsu recorded a time of 2 hours 47.30 seconds, breaking his personal best by 48 seconds.

"I was able to get good times in the first and last races, so I felt like I had accomplished everything I had this year."

He said with a satisfied smile.

Except for official training sessions, he generally practices alone.

Improving practice efficiency

After achieving his big goal of becoming a sub-Ega, he has not been able to participate in RETO training sessions recently. Last year, his first child was born, and he has had to spend more time with his family. As a result, it has become difficult to practice long distances as before, and he now has limited time to practice points.

"Recently, as I did before the Tokyo Marathon, I've been doing key training on a treadmill at a gym called ANYTIME FITNESS near my house, and I also do strength training. The key is to do intervals quickly and finish in about 30-40 minutes. On the treadmill, you can improve your cardiopulmonary function by going fast, and it puts less strain on your legs. I place a lot of importance on it because it allows me to get good training in a shorter amount of time."

Karatsu's training is rational and efficient. He says that while he's running, he chants encouraging words like "Do your best" like a spell, and he has the mental strength to complete tough training sessions on his own. Perhaps it's because he understands himself so well and is able to complete everything from the training to the menu on his own that he finds it easier to achieve his goals.

He has been able to achieve results by practicing rationally in a limited amount of time.

RETO from the perspective of the first generation members

Karatsu has been a member of RETO since its inception (first generation), but how does he view RETO today compared to back then?

"I never thought it would become this big (laughs). At first, it felt like everyone on the management side was pulling it along, but now it feels like each member is taking action and the team is moving forward. There are all kinds of people, and we've created many communities that accept all kinds of people, and we hold practice sessions in all kinds of places, which I think is really amazing. However, as the number of people has increased, it's hard to remember everyone's faces and names (laughs wryly). It's hard to talk to people just at practice sessions, so I really want to attend individual practice sessions and training camps, but right now my children are still small, so it's quite difficult."

Karatsu is able to maintain a stable speed, so members often ask him to be a pacer. He sometimes responds to such requests, but the Karappe-ren has never been held before.

"I'd like to work as a pacer if I can. I don't particularly dislike individual training sessions, but there are other people who do it, so I think I'll leave it to them (wry smile)."

Katayama E (right) and I were fellow first-year students and have worked hard together

Karatsu's next goal is to break 2 hours 45 minutes. He will need to work on improving his 2 minutes 30 seconds, but he has already decided to take part in the Hokkaido Marathon. Two years ago, he finished in 3 hours 4 minutes 58 seconds, failing to achieve a sub-3 time.

"First up is the Hokkaido Marathon. I was disappointed two years ago, so my first goal is to achieve a sub-45 minute time there. After that, I'd like to break 45 minutes in the autumn race. This year, several of the A+ members were aiming to break 45 minutes, so I want to do my best to break 45 minutes so I don't want to lose."

Many people use Karatsu's training methods as a reference. After he achieves a time under 2 hours and 45 minutes, he will likely share his know-how with the RETO members. At that time, perhaps the "Karappe Training" will be held for the first time.