Women's land record holder Nozomi Tanaka talks about how to keep running "fun" [Supervised by an expert]

(photographed by Shimoyashiki Kazufumi)

No Japanese athlete has ever competed in the 1500m track and field event at the Olympics. In Tokyo, however, Tanaka proudly produced results. The Japanese record he set was 3 minutes 59.19 seconds. This time, Tanaka will teach beginners how to enjoy running for a long time based on his own experience since childhood.

Amidst the beautiful scenery, even if it starts with a jog

After the Dream Festival, a big change seems to have happened in Tanaka. “Because I was able to achieve results, I felt more at ease, or maybe it was a remnant of the Olympics, but it became easier for me to pick up speed while running, and it became easier for me to create a rhythm when jogging. (Nozomi Tanaka) After the tournament, Tanaka went to Hokkaido to recover from physical and mental fatigue and to once again increase her motivation to compete. Even so, running there is a daily routine. “I go to Hokkaido for training camps, but this time I went to places like Furano and Hakodate to refresh myself. I looked at the map and found out, ``I was running in such a place.'' It was interesting because it felt very fresh.” is a runner who won the Hokkaido Marathon twice. Tanaka has been running everywhere with his parents since he was 3 years old. “I enjoyed being able to travel with my mother when she was invited to overseas competitions and my father holding a running event. If I get tired, my parents will carry me on my back. Ever since I was a child, I have traveled through many landscapes. That memory may be in her roots now. I decided to pursue a track-and-field path when I won the Gold Coast Marathon, a four-kilometer race along Australia's beautiful coastline. I was in the 6th grade of elementary school. "It may be difficult for people in the city, but it's fun to run in a place with beautiful scenery and a running course. You don't feel any stress, and the time goes by quickly. There was no running course in Hokkaido this time, but there weren't many people, so it was comfortable (laughs).I always practice on the track, so I was able to run with a completely different feeling." (Nozomi Tanaka) )