Athlete Yuma Hattori recalls moments that allowed him ample space for mental and physical flexibility [Athlete Narratives]
Yuma Hattori's Journey to Victory at the Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship
Yuma Hattori, a long-distance runner and employee at Toyota Motor Corporation's Tahara Plant/Tahara Plant Administration Division, made history on December 12, 2018, by winning the Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship. This victory marked the first time in 14 years that a Japanese runner took the title.
Hattori's path to success was not without challenges. In university, he struggled with longer distances, but he persevered by focusing on increasing his monthly running distance and strength training. Despite these efforts, for two consecutive races, Hattori's body began to stall after running 35 kilometers, making the final seven kilometers a struggle.
However, Hattori managed to break his final-seven-kilometer barrier at the Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship. His pace in the final stages of the race was impressive, running at a pace of 3 minutes and 10 to 15 seconds for every kilometer.
Hattori's coaching played a significant role in his success. Head coach Sato suggested alternative training methods for the final stages of a marathon, such as pushing oneself extremely hard over two days, running for a distance longer than a marathon paced at a longer time, and running without rehydrating via sips of water.
Hattori was scouted by Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School, a school known for fielding strong ekiden teams. It was here that Hattori decided to switch to long-distance running in junior high school. He set a goal to keep pace with the strongest team members and it paid off, as he placed seventh nationwide in the 1,500 meter relay race in his third year of junior high school.
Despite his success, Hattori faced personal challenges. He had a hard time adjusting to living on his own in a dormitory during high school and was sidelined for five months due to a stress fracture in his right ankle.
Hattori's younger brother, Hazuma, joined the same school in his second year. The Shiroya Seaside Park in Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture, an ideal location for training for the New Year Ekiden due to strong salt air gusts, was a shared training ground for the brothers.
Victory in the Fukuoka International Open Marathon Championship qualified Hattori to run in the Marathon Grand Championship (MGC), one of the Tokyo 2020 qualifying events. As Hattori prepares for his next marathon, he continues to train hard, determined to make a mark in the world of long-distance running.
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