Descriptions:
Running classes in Nishikigaoka, Aoba Ward, Sendai City. The guest was coach Susumu Hara, who led Aoyama Gakuin University to seven Hakone Ekiden championships. The event was hosted by Toshinori Watanabe, a student of Coach Hara and two-time Hakone Ekiden champion from Sendai City, who invited Coach Hara as a guest to talk about the training he undertook during his time at Aoyama Gakuin University. On this day, Director Hara and Watanabe-san gave a lecture to the participants about the unique warm-up exercises of Aoyama Gakuin. The participants then ran around the field twice and sweated while Coach Hara looked on. The full-time training experience at the winning Hakone Ekiden school seemed to be an eventful time for the participants. Participants said, “I was worried about stretching before I started, so I thought it was right for me.” “I take care of myself before and after running, but I think this is even more necessary.” Director Susumu Hara: “I want you to think of running as a science. There are many factors such as psychology, physiology and management ability that enable you to run fast, so I would like you to see running from a scientific point of view.” “Event Mr. Watanabe, who organized the event, has been working to promote running in Sendai since his retirement and will participate in the Tohoku Miyagi Rehabilitation Marathon in November as a guest runner. Toshinori Watanabe: “Everyone did it with huge smiles. I think this is the most fun part of getting faster and stronger. Either way, it was a great experience to see their enthusiastic faces.”