Aoyama Gakuin University, the top runner of the student long distance association, participates in the Kochi Ryoma Marathon for the first time!

"Aoyama Gakuin University Athletics Club" is known as a powerful school for university Ekiden, and boasts a six-time overall victory at Hakone Ekiden. We have been training camps in Kochi City since 2022, and in the spring of 2023, more than 50 people, including new first-year students, visited Kochi. This time, during the training camp, he also participated in the Kochi Ryoma Marathon 2023, which was held for the first time in three years.
In this article, we will provide plenty of interviews with players, running seminars by Aoyama Gakuin University held the day before the Ryoma Marathon, and the day of the Ryoma Marathon.

I heard from the players, the fun of running, the charm of Kochi training camp

Kochi training camp for long-distance blocks, Aoyama Gakuin University Athletics Club, which began in 2022. In 2023, the second time, we entered Kochi by air on February 12. Therefore, this time, we asked the four players who participated in the Kochi training camp about the fun of running, the impression of Kochi, and the richness of the future.

Players who heard the story

From the left
Yuto Tanaka (3rd year student from Fukui Prefecture)
Ao Ota (3rd year student from Fukuoka Prefecture)
Mr. Yuto Shiki (New 4th grader from Yamagata Prefecture) ※Captain
Mr. Kazuyo Sato (New 4th grader from Chiba Prefecture)

＞What sports did you play when you were a child? Also, what is the reason and charm of the land?

Mr. Shiki: When I was little, there was no particular sport that I was particularly good at, and when I was about 6th grade in elementary school, my father, an experienced person on land, invited me to try it. I think the fun on land is a battle with yourself, and the results are clearly visible. How much faster did I get than my previous one? I feel a sense of accomplishment when the result comes after the hard work.

Mr. Sato: I played football from senior to junior high school. Because he was good at running, he was invited by an advisor to a junior high school track and field club to this world. So I experienced Ekiden for the first time, was able to win, and learned about the charm of Ekiden. The joy of winning at that time still remains in my memory. I knew that the joy that everyone felt by connecting the crosses was many times greater than when they won by individuals.

Mr. Tanaka: Everyone at home likes running, and since I was little, I have had to run around. I experienced various sports, but after all, I thought that land was the best for me, so I started in high school in earnest. I actually had asthma when I was a child. However, thanks to the support of my family, I was able to grow to run at Aoyama Gakuin Univ. I can't say "Thank you" to the family who has supported me so far. But I'm working hard at Aoyama Gakuin Univ., hoping that my parents would be pleased with the results by running.

Mr. Ota: When I was a child, I played soccer, but I wanted to play sports that I could compete on my own, so I started on land from junior high school. When it comes to group sports, there will be places that are beyond your own strength. However, individual sports can control the game on their own. I think that's the charm of land, where the results are determined by how hard you worked.

＞This is the second Kochi training camp. What kind of impression do you have on Kochi?

Mr. Shiki: Kochi has a warm climate and easy to run, and is blessed with the environment and is able to practice well. It is a training camp that builds the foundation of the season. In Kochi, the food is delicious. Meal is directly linked to performance, so it is important for athletes. What I like about Kochi's food is Buntan Tosa.

Mr. Tanaka: At the Kochi training camp, citizens will support you, so you can get energy here. It's fun to run while watching the scenery. On the roadside, they said, "Please do your best," and I feel the goodness of coming to the local area and playing sports. As for food, I like bonito salted. I ate it for the first time last year and it was so delicious!

＞You are active as the main player of Aoyama Gakuin Univ., do you have anything you keep in mind when you go on land?

Mr. Sato: We take care of on-off sharpness. On practice well, drive yourself in, relax and switch off. As with individuals, I think that the whole Aoyama Gakuin Univ. track and field club is a sharp team whose practice is stoic, but usually bright.

Mr. Ota: Your motto is "Freedom". When stress accumulates, there are more mistakes. I think it is important to live a stress-free life in order to demonstrate your strength in the competition.

＞Please give a message to those who are planning to start on land and citizen runners who enter competitions such as the Kochi Ryoma Marathon.

Mr. Sato: There may be people who have the image of running equal "hard". But it feels good to run. If you are a beginner, try running at a reasonable pace. It's a short distance, so please move your body. I think life will change when I start.

Mr. Tanaka: You can start at a slow pace, so keep on. If you run for 30 minutes, you will feel the feeling of running. I want a lot of people to go on land.

Mr. Shiki: The most important thing on land is a sense of accomplishment. If you continue every day, you can feel your growth. Step by step, increase the pace and extend the distance, and continue. I think your growth will also be motivational.

Mr. Ota: Once you get used to running, I think it's very good to enter the tournament. The challenge to the tournament is to set an equal and goal. By setting goals, the joy and humor of life are born. I think that by continuing every day to achieve my goals, life will be enriched.

＞Finally, what are your goals for the future?

Mr. Shiki: Last season, there was a time when I was depressed without results, and I ran for captain, saying, "I want to change my weak self." This season, I want to act as a sample in practice and dormitory life, do my job as a captain, and lead the team to the Hakone Ekiden championship. Also, I would like to challenge new things in order to grow myself.

Mr. Sato: Last season I was really disappointed to lose at Hakone Ekiden, so I want to play a revenge this season. We aim to win the three major Ekidens of the University, including Hakone Ekiden. My dream for the future is not yet clear, but I would like to continue on land even if I become a member of society. I want to do my best to be a top player.

Mr. Ota: My future goal is to be the Olympic medalist. In order to achieve the goal, it is not only necessary to work hard on land, but also requires a variety of knowledge. I am also studying political economy, financial management, and leadership. I want to cultivate this knowledge without wasting time, move toward my goals, and move forward in my own way.

Mr. Tanaka: I want to complete my competitive life at university. I have only two years left, so I want to do it firmly without compromise. It is still undecided after graduation, but eventually I want to be in a position to convey the competition. I would like to make use of my experience and tell them that my friends and juniors run.

＞Guys, please work hard towards your goal. Thank you very much for sharing valuable stories during the busy camp.

The players themselves teach "blue training"! Running seminar

Next, on February 18, we will deliver a run seminar by Aoyama Gakuin University held at Haruno General Sports Park in Kochi City on the day before the Kochi Ryoma Marathon. This was the second time since the previous year. This seminar, which was very popular last year because you can learn the training "Aotre", which is the basis of Aoyama Gakuin Univ.'s strength, was a runner from inside and outside the prefecture who visited for the junior and senior high school track and field of the prefecture and the Ryoma Marathon. About 150 people participated.

Start with stretching. Before running long distances, what I needed was "preparation of heart, joint, and muscles", and I taught Aoyama Gakuin Univ.'s unique stretching to reduce the burden on the body. Participants who practiced immediately seemed surprised, "It's completely different" and "It's very light!" After a careful warm-up for about an hour, jog in the stadium with the players. Participants who were surrounded by friendly players and coaches and ran comfortably. "I'm very happy to be able to train with the players running at Hakone Ekiden!"

Except for junior and senior high school students, all of them have entered the Ryoma Marathon, and it seems that it was a very good warm up for the next day. Captain Yuto Shiki also said, "I want many people to practice today's blue training. Tomorrow, Aoyama Gakuin Univ. players will run in the lead, so please follow us. And give me your best!" he sent an ale.

Finally, Kochi Ryoma Marathon, run fast on Tosa Road in New Year!

The Kochi Ryoma Marathon was held for the first time in three years after repeated cancellations due to COVID-19 on February 19, 2023. Aoyama Gakuin Univ. Athletics Club participates in the tournament as well as practice during the Kochi training camp. "I want to play the role of a pacemaker," said the players who started with the gun. As originally planned, we set the pace accurately in about 1km3 minutes and 30 seconds to reach the 30km point and led the race.

Captain Yuto Shiki came to the goal Haruno Athletics Stadium in the top of the team and fourth place for men's overall.
Running on the runway inside the Haruno Athletics Stadium with a smile. I waved my hand on the stand to respond to cheering. After the goal, "From the beginning to the end, I was able to run really comfortably with the support of Kochi citizens. After seeing various scenery such as Katsura-hama Beach, I thought it was a really good marathon course. Thanks to your support, I think it was this harvest that we were able to increase the pace in the second half. It was a good experience because I wanted to try the marathon again before graduation. I think it was really fun to run 42km,” he showed a fulfilling expression. Ryodai Tokumaru and Kei Kitamura of the university also won the prize, said with a refreshing expression, "Thank you for coming, I was able to run happily thanks to the support from the roadside!"

Aoyama Gakuin Univ. Track and Field Team finally five players won the first digit place for men's overall. As expected, he added sinter to the Kochi Ryoma Marathon as an invited player and excited it. Thank you very much to everyone at Aoyama Gakuin University Athletics Club.