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XTERRA Japan Championship Preview

In less than a week, the 5th annual XTERRA Japan Championship will kick off in historic Marunuma Kogen, Japan! The world class off-road triathlon and 30km trail running championships will be held in the majestic Marunuma Kogen (sometimes known as ‘Malnuma’), located in the northeastern area of Gunma Prefecture. With the magnificent Mount Shirane as a background, Marunuma Kogen is well-known as offering excellent skiing and outdoor adventure. The surrounding area is also full of ancient history, especially the town of NIKO. There will be a lot of elevation gain as the course goes up several steep climbs throughout mountains, open fields and dense forest. Last year, several hundred athletes from all over the world participated in the off-road triathlon, 10km, and 30km events. This will be my 5th XTERRA championship level event that has been highlighted by strong finishes at the 2008 and 2009 XTERRA Trail Running World Championships and winning the title of 2009 XTERRA New England Trail Run Series Regional Champion.

XTERRA Japan Championship Preview:

This year’s race will feature quite a few elite and amateur athletes from all over the world, representing numerous countries.  The event has grown tremendously over the past several years, and a diverse, strong field is expected.

Schedule of Events:

Saturday, August 28th

XTERRA Japan Championship
SWIM: 1200m / MTB: 25km / Trail Run: 10km

XTERRA JAPAN DUATHLON1ST RUN:1.5km / MTB: 25km / 2nd RUN: 10km

XTERRA RELAY
SWIM: 1200m / MTB: 25km / Trail Run: 10km

08:30- Registration
10:40- Mandatory Briefing
12:10- Championship & Relay start
12:20- Duathlon start
17:30 Course Closure
18:15- Award Party

Sunday, August 29th

XTERRA TRAIL RUN
Trail Run: 30km

XTERRA light TRAIL RUN
Trail Run: 10 km

XTERRA KIDS & LIGHT
SWIM: 200m / MTB: 4km / Trail Run: 2km

XTERRA FAMILY WALK
Walk: 5km

05:30- Trail Run Registration
06:30- Trail Run Mandatory Briefing
07:00- Trail Run start
07:10- Light Trail Run start
07:30- Family Walk start
08:00- Kids&Light Mandatory Briefing
09:00- Kids&Light Start
11:30- Kids&Light/Light Trail Run Award Ceremony
15:00- Trail Run Award Ceremony

For more information, contact Mai Chiku at XTERRA Japan.

Mai Chiku
XTERRA Japan Office
office@xterrajapan.net
c/o ATHLONIA Corp.
1F, 17-10 Sarugaku-cho,
Shibuya-ku, TOKYO
JAPAN 150-0033
TEL: 03-6277-5131
FAX: 03-6277-5132
URL: www.athlonia.com

http://www.xterrajapan.net

About the XTERRA Trail Run Series:

XTERRA is on a mission to produce the most recognizable, enjoyable, root slipping, mud hopping, tree ducking, river crossing, hill climbing, dirt on your shirt, sweat in your eye trail runs this side of Grandma’s house!

More than 50 races across the U.S. comprise the XTERRA Trail Run Series and offer age group athletes the opportunity to become regional champions. We’ll also crown National Champions in Bend, Oregon on September 13 and World Champions in Hawaii on December 6.

Along the way XTERRA Trail Runs give back to the community by involving not-for-profits as beneficiaries at our events.

Disaster at XTERRA Beech Mountain!

Trailing the leaders with about a mile to go, I made a wrong turn and ended up running most of the course twice! Awesome course though, super beautiful, challenging and scenic. The mountain mist was cool, and so was racing along the vistas. Dirty Spokes did a great job putting this event together! Luckily, I still finished the race and earned points, keeping any hopes alive of a second consecutive XTERRA Trail Run Series Regional Championship. Unfortunately, this was my first dead last finish ever and a very humbling experience, to say the least.

Athlete Chat: Four-time London Marathon Masters Champion and Elite UK Marathoner Darran Bilton

As the Track & Field Contributor for Access Athletes®, the premier educational resource for athletes and the sports industry, I had the amazing opportunity to interview one of the best Masters marathoners in the world. Darran Bilton is an elite marathoner from the UK, who is the only athlete ever to win four consecutive Masters Titles at the London Marathon. Darran has been a member of several national teams and is also a sports ambassador to the United Kingdom. Darran’s story and accomplishments are an inspiration to us all, so check it out at Athlete Chat: Four-time London Marathon Masters Champion and Elite UK Marathoner Darran Bilton.

TEAM XTERRA Trail Run (XTR) Ambassadorship

As of May 10, 2010, I’m very excited to announce that I’ve been named the first member to TEAM XTERRA Trail Run (XTR) Ambassador Program. The XTERRA Team Ambassadors are a select group of amateur athletes from across the US. They embody the soul and spirit of XTERRA. Through their daily activities, their love of the outdoors and their zest to live more, these avid supporters define the XTERRA lifestyle. Being part of Team XTERRA is a tremendous honor and a humbling experience. Since being introduced to XTERRA in 2008, through my friends Michelle and Brody at XTERRA’s Nottingham Xduro, I’ve fallen in love with the extreme sports nature of XTERRA Trail Running, and the amazing people who make up the XTERRA family. Over the last couple of years I’ve made some great friends, met many interesting people, have had the opportunity to travel extensively to exotic places that I otherwise wouldn’t have had visited, and have gotten to know the Team Unlimited staff on a first name basis. I’ve had many exhilarating experiences since competing in XTERRA’s Trail Running World Tour, for which I am grateful. You can view my XTERRA Ambassadors bio at XTERRA Community.

ABOUT XTERRA TRAIL RUNNING

XTERRA is on a mission to produce the most recognizable, enjoyable, root slipping, mud hopping, tree ducking, river crossing, hill climbing, dirt on your shirt, sweat in your eye trail runs this side of Grandma’s house!

More than 50 races across the U.S. comprise the XTERRA Trail Run Series and offer age group athletes the opportunity to become regional champions. 

The 2010 XTERRA Trail Run Series features runs across the country ranging from 5km to 25km. 

The Series is grouped into geographic regions, and each region has anywhere from 3-to-7 races that runners can compete in and accumulate points towards their regional championship.

Regional Champions are awarded free entry into the XTERRA Trail Running National Championship – an off-road half-marathon to be held in Bend, OR.

There are also several Xduro’s (endurance trail runs ranging from 18-to-42km in distance) in the U.S. and each one qualifies runners to compete in both the XTERRA Trail Running National and World Championship events. 

XTERRA trail runs have also gone global with off-road half’s in such exotic locations as Brazil, New Zealand, Japan, Italy, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. At the end of the year, runner’s from all over the world will unite in the majestic Kaaawa Valley at Kualoa Ranch on the island of Oahu for the ultimate Xduro – the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship on December 5, 2010. 

Since racing in the XTERRA Trail Run Series, there’s been many highlights. They include:

XTERRA HIGHLIGHTS: 

• 2009 XTERRA New England Trail Run Series Regional Champion 
• 4th Male 30-34 at 2009 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship 
• 33rd OA at 2008 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship 
• 2x Top 20% finisher at XTERRA Trail Running World Championship 
• 2x Top 20% finisher at XTERRA Trail Running National Championship 
• Competed in 8 events in six different states in 2009 

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS:

• XTERRA Planet Magazine “Tracking the Tribe” Featured Athlete [6/2010] 
• XTERRA Trail Run Worlds Press Guide Featured Athlete [12/6/2009] 
• XTERRA Trail Run Nationals Press Guide Featured Athlete [9/13/2009] 
• XTERRA Trail Mix Newsletter “Runner Spotlight” Featured Athlete [6/10/09] 
• XTERRA Trail Run Worlds Press Guide Featured Athlete [12/7/2008] 
• XTERRA Trail Run Nationals Press Guide Featured Athlete [9/27/2008]

One of my greatest XTERRA experiences has been being crowned the 2009 XTERRA New England Trail Run Series Regional Champion, where I won the Men’s 30-34 age group, and also the overall series points total. Another fond memory of XTERRA Trail Running has been the amazing experience of competing at Trail Run Worlds twice, in both 2008 and 2009. For me, the inaugural XTERRA Trail Run World Championship, held in 2008, was highlighted by finishing 33rd out of 358, or the top 10% overall. While my overall performance at the 2009 World Championship wasn’t as strong, I did manage to finish 4th out of 36 in the men’s 30-34 age group, as the second American, respectively.

RACE GOALS:

Some of my future aspirations, when it comes to XTERRA Trail Running, include, but is not limited to, winning several regional championships, and being a top 10 finisher at World Championships. I’d also like to medal in my age group at Trail Run Worlds. Additionally, my focus will be on the XTERRA Trail Running World Tour while educating, encouraging, and informing others about XTERRA – Trail Runs, Off-road Triathlon Races, Foundation, Gear and other XTERRA products.

I hope to see you at an XTERRA event sometime soon! Live More!

Learn more at http://www.xterratrailrun.com

Trail Running: Racing Towards the Top in Popularity

Check out my guest article in the Sports Networker about the boom in Trail Running! Trail Running: Racing Towards the Top in Popularity