This is IBUKI STATION. We are going to the interview after the race.
First of all, the women's finish at 5th place, Stepanie, and Gill is here.
First of all, where are you guys originally from?
I am from Newcastle in Australia.
I am from Australia as well, from Sydney.
Are you guys old friends?
Yeah, we've done races together in the past. It was a coincidence that we were doing this one as well.
I saw Gill's name on the start list and I was like, oh, a familiar face.
We've known each other for a long time, but when I saw the start list, I was like, oh, a familiar face.
Did you guys run that together?
Only at the start.
Only at the start?
To the first stop.
No, only to the second.
To A1.
We ran together to A1 in Edo.
I see.
So when you were in Australia, you didn't know each other?
Yeah, you guys are not old friends.
Like, you guys met here, just here?
We met in Australia. We're friends from running.
We've met in Australia.
I see.
So you guys came to this race called Lakeview 100 in Japan.
Why did you come to this race?
So it's ticked all the boxes and a lovely place for a holiday as well.
So it's been good.
Okay.
What about you?
I wanted to come and visit Japan for a holiday and to see your mountains and to see the trails here.
And it's beautiful.
How did you know about this race called Lakeview 100?
I don't think many people know about this race.
So how did you know about this race?
Google.
The internet.
I searched it on the internet.
Stephanie said that she wanted to participate in the Hard Rock 100.
Stephanie?
Stephanie, do you want to join the Hard Rock 100 trail?
I would like to at least get a spot in the lottery.
It's like a bucket list thing to do.
So it would be nice to do it.
Can you tell us about your activities as a trail runner?
As a trainer?
No, as a racer.
How do you guys in Australia, how do you guys join the race?
As a racer?
I don't quite understand.
How do you guys run?
How do we run in Australia?
How do you enjoy the trail run in Australia?
How do we enjoy?
Oh yeah, the trail running in Australia is really good.
We've got some big mountains.
This trail here is very technical.
The Suzuka mountains is hard.
Some of our trails are a bit easier.
Definitely.
What about in Australia?
In Australia?
We've got some mountains near Sydney.
There are lots of trails.
In Japan, it's a custom to run the mountains in Sydney.
In Japan, especially in this race,
the Suzuka mountains are very technical and hard.
That's why we joined this race.
What's the name of the Sydney mountains?
In Sydney, we have the Blue Mountains.
Oh, Blue Mountains.
Blue Mountains.
What about Stephanie?
The same question.
There are not many mountains near where I live.
The tallest mountain is like 400 meters.
In Australia, we take a long time to get to the top.
While in Japan, it just goes straight up.
We have a more leisurely route to the top.
It was very difficult terrain here.
But very beautiful as well.
The sun sets.
I was on top of the mountains.
It was very beautiful.
Very beautiful.
I think.
In Australia, Newcastle,
the highest mountain is only 400 meters.
We don't usually run on such a high mountain.
When we run, we go up slowly and gently.
But in Japan, it's different.
Suddenly, there is a high mountain.
A steep mountain.
It was a very different feeling.
I see.
So, you participated in the Japanese race, Lakeview.
First of all, you tried to reach the goal.
Unfortunately, you retired halfway.
What was your impression of the race?
How was the race?
Totally?
How was the race?
It was very difficult.
Very technical.
I fell down a lot.
But that's okay.
I'm better at running than the technical.
So, I liked the running bit.
But then, by the end, my legs were gone.
The last 30 kilometers, I just walked.
Even when I tried to run,
I was running slower than walking pace.
But I really enjoyed the challenge.
It was very difficult.
It was nice to do something so difficult.
That was good.
Okay.
First of all,
I had a lot of difficulties in the technical course.
I was in a bad mood.
I think I walked a lot.
But I enjoyed this challenge.
It was very good.
What about you?
Yes, I also found it hard.
I enjoyed it.
I do like running technical terrain.
And where I live,
I do have some steep hills
that are on mountain bike tracks
that we train on.
But here, it's bigger.
Bigger hills.
So, my legs got really sore.
And then, after I came off,
and I was running on the flats,
and then from A4 to A5,
I couldn't run.
I couldn't go down.
My legs were too sore.
And I had to stop,
and turn sideways,
and then hop down.
So then, because I was just going so slow,
and I couldn't run,
I decided to stop.
Are you still sore?
Still sore, yes.
Okay.
First of all,
I was looking forward to running
on the flats,
and I really enjoyed it.
But the hills were really steep,
so my legs were really sore.
And from A4 to A5,
it was really sore,
and I couldn't run anymore.
My legs are still sore,
so I want to do my best again.
That's what he told me.
I see.
Well, unfortunately for Jill,
Stephanie has won
the 5th place
in the competition.
How do you feel about this result?
So long before,
like 36 hours,
I'd only done 23 hours,
so it was so much bigger.
So I was very happy.
I'm glad to hear that.
Did you have any other impressive moments?
For example,
the aid stations,
or the people who run them.
How was the aid?
Like people,
and some food,
and massage, or something?
Yeah, the aid stations were very good,
and the food was really nice,
so it's really nice
to have rice balls,
because we're not used to having rice balls,
or those type of,
we don't have a lot of those type of foods
at our aid stations,
and the volunteers were very friendly,
and it was very nice to have a few people
that could speak English with us,
so that was, yeah,
very nice.
First of all,
the aid, each aid,
the food was very good,
especially the rice balls.
In Australia,
when I was in Australia,
I didn't have the opportunity
to run with the aid,
but I was able to experience it this time,
and it was very nice.
The volunteers were very kind,
and helped us a lot,
and even if we couldn't speak English,
they were very supportive.
Did you have any trouble
with the words?
Did you guys struggle?
I mean,
like,
people don't speak
the English well.
Is that so?
It's not too hard.
Everyone's very friendly,
and I know how to say thank you,
and excuse me, or sorry,
so that works.
Yeah.
Even if we didn't speak English,
everyone was very kind,
so it wasn't that difficult.
I see.
What about you, Stephanie?
Yeah, same question.
Everyone was very friendly,
and helpful.
Everyone could understand,
and spoke good English for me,
and everyone was very helpful,
and no problems at all.
It was so well organized,
and everyone,
especially at the end,
they would help.
Everyone was just so helpful,
and nice, and kind,
so it was very good.
Everyone was very kind,
and very helpful.
In Edo,
there were a lot of
gyudon and curry,
so-called Japanese food.
Did you have
anything like that?
Did you guys eat gyudon
and curry rice?
Yes, I had the curry rice.
It was very good.
Very good?
I didn't.
You didn't?
Oh, yeah.
And the calorie mate?
Yeah, yeah.
Just simple.
Jill ate
the curry.
She ate the curry,
and it was very good.
Stephanie
didn't enjoy the curry
or gyudon,
and ate the calorie mate and chocolate
in a simple way.
But you ate the calorie mate.
How was the calorie mate?
It was very good.
I would use that in Australia, if I could.
It was very good.
I see.
Anything else?
Did you feel
anything different
from the Australian race?
What's the difference
between Australian
trail race and
Japanese trail race?
This race in particular
was
it's nice
because it's
very intimate,
like not too many
runners, like you felt very
cared for.
It was, the course was
much harder.
But, yeah,
in Australia, we have
we have
races, but there's
thousands of people,
and it's quite commercial.
This was really nice, you felt like
it was like a family, sort of.
The difference with Australia
is that there are fewer people.
In Australia, there are
about 1,000 runners,
but the number is
limited.
Also, the course
is harder.
I think it's quite different.
I see.
What about you?
Yes, similar. So, I really liked
this race, and I think it's really well
organized.
Many races in Australia
and they're all
different. Some are big, some are small.
Do you guys
want to join your friends
to come to this race
with you guys?
Some
of our friends might want to come, but others
I think will find it hard.
Just certain
friends would like it, I think.
I see.
Do you guys want to say
something to
Japanese volunteer staff and
official staff?
Yes, I'd like to say
thank you to everyone that's helped putting
this race together, to the organizers
and all the staff and all the
volunteers and the medics
because that's what
makes this race so good.
Everyone was so helpful to all the
runners out there.
Thank you.
Just to reiterate,
just a big thank you to everyone
making such an awesome event
and
it was definitely one we'll never forget.
It was very, very good.
I'd like to thank everyone
involved in this race.
Thank you so much.
Thank you very much
for coming.
Thank you so much.
Thank you very much.