I wanted to challenge Mr. Seko-a game for the Olympics-September 10, 21:16
A marathon runner who has been working hard from Aomori and wants to be glorified, grabbed a ticket to the Olympics in a single game. However, when he is suspended from holding a ticket, the runner tries to play a reckless game. The Olympic Games will always highlight the meaning of athletes. (Network reporter reporter Matsutaro Kotaro)
To the stage of the Olympic dream
This month, the Tokyo Olympic marathon representative will be decided. Both males and females are to decide two of the three representatives in a race called MGC in a “one-shot game” and “no complaints”.
There was once a race to try to decide Olympic athletes by one shot. However, the situation goes in an unexpected direction, and the fate of one young runner is tossed.
The name of the runner is Kazuyoshi Kudo. December, 1987, 32 years ago. 27-year-old Kudo was on the starting line of the Fukuoka International Marathon, dreaming of the Olympics.
I haven't had a very good time before. The highest time of the marathon at this time is 2 hours 11 minutes 58 seconds, which is 4 minutes 23 seconds later than the Japanese record at that time.
Instead of standing at the beginning and pulling the race, it is a type that keeps the even pace and steadily raises the order from the back.
Kudo dreamed because this race was seen as a virtual one-off game to get a ticket to the next year's Seoul Olympics.
“The Olympics are a dream stage for athletes, and I always wanted to be on that stage. There were many other players who thought that there would be a chance if it was a one-game match. (Kudo-san)
One game
In selecting the three representatives of the Seoul Olympics, three international marathons including Fukuoka International were selected.
However, because it was compulsory to “participate in the Fukuoka International Marathon”, it was regarded as “effectively a one-off game in Fukuoka”.
The Japanese men's marathon at that time was extremely prosperous by players who could fight in the world such as Toshihiko Seko and Takeyama Nakayama. Seko, in particular, had run 14 marathons until this time, and had a tremendous strength of winning 10 times.
Kudo was thinking of getting a ticket in third place following Seko and Nakayama.
“Since it was a one-shot game, I was thinking that if I could n’t win, I would enter 3rd. Seko-san and Nakayama-san were very strong. (Mr. Kudo)
Don't come home with a loser
Kudo had something to expect.
Kudo's parents' family from Sannohe-gun, Aomori Prefecture, is a farmer who produces apples and cherries.
My father told me that “the land is good, so I helped with farming,” but I like to run.
I was invited by many universities to “run the Hakone Ekiden”, but I refused to say “I want to run while earning myself” and proceeded to a business group in Tokyo.
However, the marathon world is not sweet. Although he finished second in the first race, the record did not grow any number of times after that.
One night, Kudo went to a public phone near the training camp and grabbed the handset.
"I called my parents' house and said, 'I'm not going to record and go home.' By chance, my mother who answered me said, 'Don't come home as a loser.'
When I graduated from high school and left Aomori by night train, my mother sent me to the local station and was crying. That mother told me strictly. I was shocked because I thought I was going to come home. ''
“I think it was two years before the“ one-shot game ”. From there, I thought,“ I will do my best to please my parents ”” (Mr. Kudo)
From this point on, the feelings towards practice changed and the time began to grow sharply. Before the Fukuoka International Marathon, I ran 900 km a month to prepare for the race.
Turbulence
Disturbance occurs 12 days before the first game. The winning candidate Seko announced that he had missed because of a fracture of the left legbone.
“I learned from the newspaper. But I tried not to think of Seko-san's not coming out. I thought it would shake my mind. I decided to concentrate on my race.” (Mr. Kudo)
The race started with 152 people without Seko in a cold and windy condition with a temperature of 7.5 degrees noon and a north wind of 5 meters.
“I was able to convince and make adjustments.“ Yoshi ”. Anyway, it was 3rd in Japan and anything in 3rd. I started with that thought.” (Mr. Kudo)
3rd, but
Judging from the results, Takeyama Nakayama, who ran at a pace exceeding the world record of the time up to 35 km, runs alone and wins in 2 hours 8 minutes 18 seconds. 2nd place is 2 minutes 16 seconds later, Masaya Shinke.
Kudo was fifth fastest at the turn-around point, but showed a run that narrowed the difference with the previous player.
“I was checking the distance to the previous player and who was there, and I wasn't impatient. I thought it would be a chance to fall somewhere.”
As the word suggests, Kudo entered the stadium after passing 30 kilometers and passing one person after 38 kilometers and ranking one third among Japanese.
The announcer connects the words with excitement, saying, “Kudo showed great success.” The goal time was a personal best of 2 hours 11 minutes 36 seconds.
After the race, he spoke honestly on the TV broadcast, “I've come with a dream for the Olympics. I want to come out”.
However, Kudo's memory that night was reported to Nakayama and Shinke at a party after the tournament. My name was not called.
Direct complaint
In the midst of hazy habits, I heard that Seko participated in the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon three months later, which was positioned as one of the selected races, and was aiming to become the Olympic team.
This is a practical remedy for Seko. Kudo who knows it will make a game that seems reckless. He went to the supervision of the business group to which he belonged and complained directly with Seko.
“I will come out every day on Lake Biwa”
After running out of roots at the Fukuoka International Marathon, racing in just three months is a heavy burden. However, Kudo was serious.
"I wouldn't be chosen as a representative unless I won Seko-san. I wanted to make sure I could win and lose. At first I said that I would go into No. 3, but Seko-san did not come out, so it was a new tournament. I thought it would be strange to decide. ”(Mr. Kudo)
But the director just said, "Let's stop, wait." I didn't ask why.
“If I lose, there will be no way to become a representative, and I may have thought about that.”
Kudo talked so regretfully.
conviction
The Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon is March 13th. Kudo was shown a camp he wanted to see at a training camp to receive media coverage.
Since most of the top players participated in the Fukuoka International Marathon, there were no leading players in the race. Seko cuts the tape with the victory as expected.
The time is 2 hours 12 minutes 41 seconds. The marathon record was mediocre and more than one minute later than Kudo's selection race.
However, Kudo was convinced that Seko was represented.
“When I saw the winner and waving to the audience in a guts pose, I thought Seko-san was the right choice” (Mr. Kudo)
Three days later, the Japan Federation of Reinforcement Committee chose Seko instead of Kudo as the third representative player.
longing
Kudo is currently coaching the Aichi Steel Onshore Department.
I met in front of a private railway station in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture. It had a sharp eye, a humorous and casual way of speaking.
When I asked, “Why did you respond to the interview now?” “Because it has been a long time. It ’s okay. At that time, I was told that I should n’t speak anything. I answered.
I heard what you think of being the third Japanese and not being chosen.
“The Landren would have had a desire to give Seko who has a track record of doing anything. It was not a 27-year-old player. "
I also heard about Seko.
“I do n’t feel sorry for Seko.”
It was an immediate answer.
“Mr. Seko was a longing runner. When I participated, the national stadium was full of fans. It was a long-distance superstar. It's a presence on the cloud. I also ran with imitation of arms. ''
There is still regret that we lost the selection without fighting the longing runner.
“But I think I was able to become a leader because I had regret that I couldn't get out. I couldn't become stronger without regret.”
Kudo nurtured long-distance players who participated in the Olympics after becoming leaders.
“I thought about raising Olympic athletes earlier than Mr. Seko. That's right.
Confidence and sorry
Toshihiko Seko is now the leader of the Marathon Strengthening Strategy Project of the Japan Land Federation I asked about 32 years ago. Seko had the confidence to fight and win the world's top players.
“I have a track record in the world. I ’m fighting in the world and winning. I thought that if I went to the Olympics, I was strong.”
However, it seems that my thoughts have changed a bit since I was actually selected as a representative.
“I feel sorry for Mr. Kudo. The Olympics are a different kind of competition for track and field athletes. I think, I made the promises of the site a bit, and I ran in the Olympics thinking I'm sorry to Mr. Kudo. "
The two meet at the stadium, but only say hello and don't talk about the time.
When Kudo was told Seko's thoughts, he said, “It was the same thing that was swayed by each other's selection.”
Meaning
Kudo who leaked to the representative tries to dictate his feelings. He decided to participate in the London Marathon, a global race, six months before the Seoul Olympics.
“I ran thinking that it was my Olympics. I didn't want to choose Kudo, so I wanted to succeed in this race.” (Mr. Kudo)
The result is 3rd in top Japanese. The time was 2 hours 10 minutes 59 seconds, which was the highest record of Kudo's competition.
“To me, 2 hours 10 minutes 59 seconds is not a medal, but it is a meaning. It is a meaning as a runner.” (Mr. Kudo)
The last race ...
After this, Kudo decided to retire at a young age of 30 because his injury during his practice did not heal. The last race I chose as an athlete was the Fukuoka International Marathon, four years after the “one shot” race. The injured right knee entered the race without being completely cured. “I knew I couldn't run, but I had good memories and bad memories in Fukuoka, so I decided to end here.” (Mr. Kudo) Finished working.
Regarding the MGC race that will be a “one-shot game,” he says, “I want you to run after chasing a dream. It will end at the moment you give up.