Pfitzenmaier and Whitmore Rule Marunuma

If you think “Japan” the images that come to mind are typically that of densely populated cities, high tech, the neon lights of the Ginza, and wall-to-wall people.  But what is offered up at Marunuma, the site for the 4th annual XTERRA Japan Championship, could not be further from this vision…it is Mother Nature at her best – a privately owned nature preserve set high in the mountains of rural Japan.  Wall to wall green – fir, ferns and birch, moss covered rocks, pristine lakes and streams, and some of the most technical single track in all of XTERRA.  Add to that the host hotel which is an old-style Japanese inn, complete with onsen (hot spring baths) – and you have the prefect setting for the XTERRA Japan Championship.

While temperatures in Tokyo soared into the high 90’s, the air was cool and refreshing in the mountains of Marunuma and the early morning mist cleared from the lake to reveal sparkling blue skies.  Championship competitors gathered on the shore to start the race with two 600 meter laps of swimming (you can literally roll out of bed to the swim start), a 25k mountain bike and a 10k trail run.   Ten minutes later XTERRA Duathletes started their first run before heading out on the same bike and run course, followed by XTERRA Lite and XTERRA Kids who raced a 200 meters swim course, with a 4k mountain bike and 2k trail run.  There was no shortage of action for spectators and media.

An international field gathered for the event and included defending 2006 XTERRA Japan champions Yasuo Takahashi (Japan), and Jamie Whitmore (USA).  Also in the line-up was Japan’s favorite son, Yu Yumoto – returning to XTERRA racing after taking a year off to complete his medical degree, Aussie Jason Chalker in his second Japan appearance, 4th time repeater Courtney Cardenas (USA), Germany’s Nico Pfitzenmaier in his first Japan race – a seasoned professional of the XTERRA European Series (finished 2nd in the Series last year), and mountain bike specialists Takahiro Ogasawara and Kyousuke Takei.  Ogasawara held Japan’s Under 23 Mountain Bike Champion title in 2004, and Takei is a pro mountain biker, who is hoping to make the Bejing Olympic team for Japan.

It turned out that the day belonged to Pfitzenmaier.  Pfitzy was second of the water to age grouper Takeshi Sueto, and once on the bike, he was unstoppable and literally blew away the field with his finish of 2:19:58 – almost 6-minutes ahead of second place.  “It was very, very technical, but I felt I could take the lead and do everything on my own,” he said.  “This is one of the most beautiful races I have ever done…I felt like I was in the middle of the jungle.”  

Jamie Whitmore took her 4th XTERRA Japan title in 2:46:27 with no real competition from pro women.  She finished the last 3-miles of the mountain bike with a broken shoe and said she was “just having fun.”  Her finish was good for 5th place in the overall pro field.

The real race was for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place pro male.  Second out of the water behind Pfitzy was Jason Chalker, who had picked up a cold on his flight from Australia and was forced to drop from the race after the first 4km bike loop.  Cardenas was the 3rd pro out of the water, but with a sore hip from a fall in training he couldn’t keep up and was passed on the bike by Ogasawara, Yumoto, and Takahashi.  Ogasawara’s mountain biking expertise shined and with a surprising 19:40 swim (good for 6th place pro), he was second off the bike, a position he was able to hang on to till the finish – a fabulous outcome for his first XTERRA race.  3rd off the bike was Yumoto with a 2 minute lead over Takahashi in 4th.  Takahashi, who at 40 was the oldest pro in the field, showed he is a force to be reckoned with and put in the fastest run split of the day.  He caught Yumoto on the run and was gunning for Ogasawara.  It was a sprint to the finish and Takahashi took 3rd, only 10-seconds back from Ogasawara with Yumoto in 4th. 

The following morning, the XTERRA “Scrambleg” 25k Trail Run was held and 180 endurance runners set off to conquer the steep mountain climbs of Marunuma.  Twenty percent of the field attempted the Japan Double – racing both the XTERRA Japan Championship and the Trail Run event within 24 hours.  Age grouper Taeywng Kim, known unofficially as Japan’s XTERRA ambassador and representing Japan at XTERRA events all over the world, was one of the many Double finishers.  Kim was 3rd amateur overall in the XTERRA Japan Championship and with a broad grin, let out his traditional “wooooooo!” cry as he crossed the line.

The highlight of the XTERRA Japan Championship was Saturday night’s party – a fabulous outdoor feast accompanied with traditional taiko drumming, a live jazz band, awards ceremonies, and a group of Japanese African drummers and dancers that it was impossible not to join (with the help of a few beers….)

This is an event not to be missed – authentic Japanese culture, friendly people, and a technical course that will challenge and delight all comers.  It is a must for those wishing to experience the true LIVE MORE spirit of XTERRA, where “Mother Nature is truly your greatest challenge”.

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