Mamiko survives Mt. Fuji Marathon

Saipan’s Mamiko Oshima-Berger fought dehydration and fatigue to complete the 2013 Mount Fuji Marathon held last Sunday in Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan.

She finished the 42.195-kilometer race in 3:19:00 to place first in her age group (40 to 45) and third overall in the women’s amateur category.

“Mamiko would have been second but felt faint at 40K, got passed, and then ended up in the medical tent. She is fine now but scared me for a bit after the finish,” said Mamiko’s husband, Joshua.
It was indeed a scary finish, as Mamiko herself did not know how she managed to complete the grueling race.

“I must have been seriously dehydrated and depleted all of my gas when I saw the 24 miles marker. That was last thing I remembered. I could not even remember how I finished, as the next moment I was already in the bed at the medical tent. I had a terrible diarrhea that morning and I thought I had enough energy and hydration, but apparently I did not. That’s another big lesson for me,” said Mamiko, who returned to Saipan last Monday.

Despite the tough finish, Mamiko managed to surpass her time last year (3:20:12). Her time this year was also way faster that her 2011 record (3:16:00) when she first joined the event, which was formerly known as the Lake Kawaguchi Marathon with the course built around the famous Lake Kawaguchi. The annual event was changed to Mount Fuji Marathon or Fujisan Marathon just last year and included a lap around the nearby Lake Saiko.

“It was my third time there and second after the course and event name had been changed. Despite ending up at the medical tent, my time was better than last year and I am happy with that. I think I will be able to run faster next year. My place is getting higher although I am getting older,” the 42-year-old veteran runner said.

Over 10,000 joined the event and despite its huge participation, Mamiko said the race was well organized and a great weather greeted runners.

“It is very organized and there were amazing local volunteers. The weather was perfect and I should have done better,” said Mamiko, who thanked all her supporters.

“I want to thank Mr. Takatsu of the Tokyo Office of Marianas Visitors Authority for arranging our trip to Fuji and my biggest supporter, my husband Joshua Berger,” Mamiko said.

After the race in Japan, Mamiko said she will be back to training to finish the remaining events of the year, including tomorrow’s Turkey Trot Run and next month’s Hell of Marianas Century Race and Christmas Island Relay.

“There will be fun stuff for the rest of the year. I will join the Turkey Trot this Thursday and team up with my husband for the HOM Bike Race and with Joshua’s law office for the Christmas Island Relay. I am back to practice,” Mamiko said.

Mamiko was invited to the Mount Fuji Marathon after placing first in the 50K event of this year’s Saipan Marathon, which is a sister event of the Japanese competition. She timed in at 4:11:02 in the ultra marathon to break the record of 2012 winner Yoko Yamazawa (4:19:21). Mamiko also holds the Saipan Marathon record (women’s division) after submitting a personal best of 3:09:49 in 2012.