Mara Yamauchi set a brand new personal best of 2:25:03 as she finished third in the Tokyo International Women’s Marathon on Sunday.  It rounds off a fine year for the Oxford-born runner who was 6^th in the Olympic Games in Beijing in August and also won the Osaka Marathon in January.

In the last ever running of the elite race, Japan’s Yoshimi Ozakai won in 2:23:30 from compatriot Yuri Kano who was 2^nd in 2:24:27. The duo were amongst a lead pack of four, that included Yoko Shibui and Kenya’s Magdaline Chemior that set off at 2:18 pace.

Whilst the 35 year old Yamauchi took a more conservative approach and settled into the chasing pack, crossing halfway in 71:28. “The pace was just suicidal, so I thought I would sit back and go at 2:23 pace and they would come back to me. In the second half I caught the Kenyan and then I caught Ozakai.” said the Tokyo-based Brit.

“But rather than going past her, she then stuck on my shoulder for about 6k and then she surged away again. I caught Shibui at 41k, but the gap was too big to the others. I was aiming for about 2:23 and I was on course at 35k, but I really struggled in the last 7k. I need to work on that.

“I’m pleased I set a PB, but disappointed I didn’t win. But I have definitely progressed. I have won my first marathon, finished 6^th in Beijing and have set two PBs this year. Somehow I can’t seem to break 2:25, so I need to go away and sort that out.

“I’m going to have a bit of a break now, I’m going to jog a 10k next week in Kobi and a do half marathon in Okayama at the end of December.” 

Yamauchi’s third place ends a fine British tradition at this event, which was won by Joyce Smith in the first two editions in 1979 and 1980 and also by Liz McColgan in 1991. Smith was a special guest of the race organisers, she was the official race starter and also spoke at the post-race banquet.