Two invited to marathon in Japan

Back-to-back Saipan Marathon winner Mamiko Oshima-Berger and half marathon top finisher Mieko Carey received invitations to join the 34th Lake Kawaguchi Nikkan Sports Marathon in Japan after their triumphs in Saturday’s 2009 Winter Festival of Runs.

Oshima-Berger topped the 42.195-km marathon in record-breaking fashion with her time of 22 minutes, 45 seconds, which was more than 28 seconds faster than her time (3:51:58) last year when she won her first marathon title.

For her feat, a representative from Nikkan Sports and Oakley presented Oshima-Berger with an envelope containing the invitation for the Lake Kawaguchi race.

“It is an interesting race. I knew about it because one of my Japanese friend lives nearby the lake (Kawaguchi) and the race is famous for its beautiful course,” Oshima-Berger said.

Lake Kawaguchi is a lake near Mt Fuji and is located in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi. It is the most popular of the Fuji Five Lakes in terms of tourists, and is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Oshima Berger said she has yet to decide if she will be joining the race in November, but said if she makes it, it will be her first time to join a marathon in Japan.

“It will be held in November so it is too far to think about it,” said the Niigita native who made Saipan her new home in 1994 and just started running long courses three years ago.

While Oshima-Berger has yet to make up her mind about the Japan race, Carey had already begged off from the invitation.

“I never heard about the race, but I know there are many great runners there and I would like to run with them,” said Carey, who ruled last weekend’s half marathon race with her time of 1:34:54.

“But I can’t go there. The race is in November and the weather will be different,” Carey added.

Weather in Lake Kawaguchi is pretty cold with the temperature usually in single digit. In last year’s races, the temperature was down to 2 degrees.

Carey also said she is used to and trained for triathlon, but not for sole running events.

“I appreciate the invitation. It’s an honor to be part of the race, but I want to concentrate on triathlon,” she said.

The half marathon queen said she used last weekend’s race to prepare for the 2009 XTERRA Championships. She also aims to make it to the XTERRA World Championships again this year in Maui.

The XTERRA World is scheduled in October, only a month before the Lake Kawaguchi Nikkan Sports Marathon.