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Tosa Returns From Boulder After Training So Hard She Cried

http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/2008/06/04/0001107011.shtml
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/080605/spg0806050501000-n1.htm

translated and edited by Brett Larner

Beijing Olympics women`s marathon team member Reiko Tosa (31, Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) arrived at Narita Airport on June 4 after returning from a high-altitude training camp in Boulder, Colorado. She spoke to reporters at the airport, saying "I was training on a mountain 2200 m high. [The workouts were so hard] I cried three or four times, but it was solid training.

Tosa last trained in Boulder prior to winning the silver medal at the 2001 Edmonton World Championships. Her preparation this time included three tough, hilly runs over 33 km. Tosa`s coach Hideo Suzuki commented, "She didn`t get injured and everything went according to plan. Her times were better than before Edmonton."

Tosa is scheduled to head to Kunming, China for additional altitude training beginning June 12. She reported her current condition as, "about 60%," indicating that she still has much room for improvement.

Tosa`s staff also announced on June 4 that she had signed a deal to wear Oakley`s new "Q-chan" model sunglasses, named after Sydney Olympics women`s marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi, during the Beijing Olympics marathon. The sunglasses, which retail for 27300 yen, are designed for women and have a more comfortable fit than unisex models.

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