Consecutive PBs that showed growth

RRC member interview

Text: Shun Sato

11th Course C+ Team (Goal: Full marathon sub 3 hours 45 minutes) MVP: Ryosuke Kaguya

Thanks to the pacers

My personal best at the Katsuta Marathon (3 hours 42 minutes 51 seconds) was too good to be true. I achieved a sub-4 time (3 hours 54 minutes 31 seconds) at Tsukuba last November, and the lessons I learned from that experience helped me, but I also owe this PB to Osamu (Nakamura), who acted as my pacemaker.

The gap between image and reality

Tsukuba was my first marathon since joining RETO, and I had been training hard so I thought I could handle 42km. But after 25km, my legs suddenly became incredibly stiff. I felt frustrated that I could have run more, and I also learned the hardships of marathons. From then on, I did long runs every week for the two months leading up to Katsuta.

New Goals

My goal of finishing in under 3 hours and 45 minutes requires a pace of around 5 minutes 20 seconds per kilometer, but I explained to Osamu that I'd pushed myself at a 5 minutes 10 seconds per kilometer in Tsukuba and suffered a painful second half. I asked him to start at around 5 minutes 25 seconds. However, I let the fast pace of the others take over for the first kilometer, and started in exactly 5 minutes. That was too fast, so I slowed down to 5 minutes 10 seconds for the second kilometer. At this point, I wanted to slow down to 5 minutes 25 seconds, but Osamu suggested, "Why don't you keep going as far as you can?" I was a little worried about changing my plan after 2 kilometers, but I decided to go for it. The 35 kilometers of ups and downs were tough, but my legs kept moving until the end, so it didn't feel like I was running on my own two kilometers. When I finished, I was happy to have beaten my goal time, but I was also filled with gratitude to Osamu for bringing out my strength. He had seen my training and my early runs, and knew I could do it! He let me take on the challenge, knowing the risks. At that moment, I set a new goal for myself: to run for someone as a pacer someday.

A miraculous connection with RETO

My opportunity to join RETO came three years ago, when I was working in Hamamatsu. I happened to meet Kamino-san in Hamamatsu through a mutual acquaintance, and over dinner we got talking about marathons. He invited me to join him, saying, "I run a running club in Tokyo, so if you're transferred to Tokyo, why don't you run with me?" At the time, I had failed my metabolic syndrome screening test, and my exercise routine was little more than walking, so I only half-jokingly accepted his offer. Then I was transferred to Tokyo, and what's more, my workplace was in Otemachi, right around the corner from the practice area. I felt like this was fate, and I joined in May of last year, feeling like I was jumping off the cliff (no exaggeration, I'm serious).

Adult club activities

Although everyone in RETO is different in age and occupation, we all practice hard, working together in the same direction to achieve our goals. I never thought I would be able to experience this club atmosphere at this age, and it's fun every day.

Overcoming pain and turning it into joy

My times have been improving steadily up until Katsuta. I've only just started running, so if I practice hard I can see results relatively quickly, so right now it's fun and my motivation is high. I'm sure there will come a time when my progress stagnates and I struggle, but when that happens I hope to overcome that struggle and turn it into the joy of seeing a different world.

-Why do you run?

You set yourself goals, make plans, prepare, work hard, and the results show. Repeating that process over and over gives me a sense of accomplishment, a sense of fulfillment. I kind of enjoy the process itself. Also, for me, running is about giving it my all. As you get older, you experience a lot, for better or worse, and you sometimes feel like you're holding yourself back a little in your work or relationships. But with running, whether it's a race or practice or anything else, if you give it your all, you end up exhausted, almost to the point of death. And that feels better than anything (laughs). By giving it your all, it feels like something new is coming in, and it may sound a bit exaggerated, but it's like I'm reborn every day.