PUBLISHED 04/14/2007
Toshiko Seko has won ten marathons, including the Fukuoka marathon four times, the Boston Marathon two times. In Japan his status as is as close to legendary as you get. The name Seko is synonymous with success, and every aspiring marathon runner knows how at one time a Japanese man ruled the world of Marathons. Marking his twentieth anniversary Toshiko Seko comes to Boston and talks about his Golden days.
What are you up to these days? Are you still coaching?
TS: No, I have retired from both running and coaching. I am now working with the Japanese federation.
And on Sunday you are throwing out the first pitch at the Red Sox game?
TS: Yes, and I have practiced for it too. When I was in school I was a pitcher. Maybe I'll have a new career after this weekend (laughs).
You trained under one of the great coaches. Looking back, what was the greatest lesson he taught you?
TS: Yes, I worked with Nakamura for ten years. The best thing he taught me was to be grateful, for the things I was given especially the gift of running.
There have been so many good Japanese marathon runners. In your opinion, why are the Japanese people so good at marathon running?
TS: It's simple: they work harder than anyone else. Japanese people are willing to make the sacrifices. Japanese women are really the best in the world.
Why do you think the Japanese men are not number one right now?
TS: I don't know. They don't seem able to beat the Kenyans. They have the motivation, that is for sure, but they don't seem able to do what the women in Japan are doing.
Is the training philosophy the same in Japan since you were a champion runner?
TS: The training is the same, but the thinking is different.
Can you explain what you mean?
TS: Nowadays runners run to train, and when I ran we trained to win. There is a big mentality difference.
You had a reputation for being extremely hard-core.
TS: I am very hard-core. I gave everything, sacrificed everything, for running. I lived only for running. But the reward is today I can sit back and relax.
Was any victory more special than the others in your career?
TS: I think Tokyo 1983 because I came back from two years of injury. I sat back and realized what the values of running meant to me.
Can you tell me a bit about your training back then?
TS: I ran seven days a week, and averaged a marathon a day in distance. There were no days off.
What was the furthest you ever covered in a day if 26-miles was normal?
TS: One morning I warmed up with 10-kilometers, then after I went for a long run, and I did 88km (55-miles). I can run forever once I start.
What speed work did you do?
TS: Obviously for the long runs it was slow pace, you can't do 55-miles fast! I did speed work on the track and on the road. An example of something on the track? 30 x 1km in 2:55 per kilometer with 200m rest. 6 x 5km in 14:30 with 1km rest jog.
RW: Wow, mind blowing workouts. These are brutal!
TS: I honestly believe that if they had had rabbits in my era, I could have run a 2:05. In my day you had to go out and do it by yourself from the front.
