Saipan runners complete Mt. Fuji Marathon

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Saipan runners pose with their friends after completing the Mt. Fuji Marathon last month in Japan. (Contributed Photo)

A small group of Saipan runners completed last month’s 4th Annual Mt. Fuji Marathon.

Perennial long-distance run champion Mamiko Berger led the group, finishing the circuit course around Lake Kawaguchi and Saiko Lake in the town of Fuji-Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi, Japan, in 3:25:00.

Mamiko’s husband Joshua, Tiffani Lin, and Steven Johnson completed the group. Joshua and Lin crossed the finish line together at the 4:56:00 mark, while Johnson made the four-hour barrier after submitting 3:50:22. Mamiko and Johnson got invites to the 42.19K race after their outstanding showing in the Saipan Marathon early this year with the former joining the race for the fourth straight time and the latter debuting in the event that was held last Nov. 29.

“This was my slowest but this race was the best one ever because I ran with a friend of mine from Australia (Vanessa Stewart) and we finished holding our hands together. She and her husband had been invited to Fuji Marathon for years because her husband used to organize Melbourne Marathon, which is one of sister marathons of Fuji Marathon,” Mamiko said.

“It was fun, especially when my husband did a marathon. I could not interact with them much during the race but I said hi to them couple of times along the course,” the 45-year-old runner added.

For his part, Johnson said he was happy to be reunited with his former running buddies and represent the CNMI to the annual competition.

“It was really fun getting to represent the CNMI with other runners. I had moved to Guam in August so I hadn’t seen any of them for quite some time. Getting to share that moment with some familiar faces made the race even more special,” Johnson said.

Lin, on the other hand, savored the beautiful course, which offers participants the scenic view of the snow-capped peak of Mt. Fuji and the spectacular autumn leaves surrounding the two lakes.

“The race/course was a beautiful course with views of Mt. Fuji and pristine mountain lakes throughout. The best part of the course was running it with friends from Saipan—we all had a great time and saw each other at multiple points during the race. We always had smiles on our faces,” Lin said.

Japan’s Yuta Koyama was the top overall finisher in last month’s race and notched his third straight men’s division championship after clocking in at 2:25:25, while compatriot Yuki Ogawa ruled the women’s field after logging 2:57:26. Japan’s Norio Kamijo holds the men’s course record (2:21:53/2012), while Mayumi Uchiyama (2:51:51/2014) owns the women’s mark.