Japan woman to run her 1114th marathon at 70

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Noriko Sakota with her marathon medals.

Noriko Sakota with her marathon medals.

KOTA KINABALU: The Borneo International Marathon (BIM) will see veteran marathoner Noriko Sakota from Japan running her 1114th marathon (42km).

Noriko’s best time is 3:32:07 set in 1998 at Gyeongiu Cherry Marathon Korea, and she will be one of 99 Japanese runners at BIM this weekend.

Noriko’s record is 15th in the World Megamarathon Ranking (achievers of 300 and above marathon finishes) and is the third female in that list.

The Megamarathon list is mostly made up of world runners aged between 60s and 80s.

Noriko, 70, ran her first marathon at the age of 46. Her first run was a 10km race during a holiday with friends.

She said that her reason to keep running was to discover new places and meeting with local people.

In an email interview, Noriko who is a pharmacist by profession, said, “I am really looking forward to go to BIM. I have never been to Sabah but everybody says it is a wonderful place to visit. I know the weather is very hot there, so my target is to finish within seven hours.”

About 1,000 international runners will take part in BIM on May 1, which will see a total of 8,500 runners and 600 volunteers on the road.

“We are pleased that BIM is getting more international attention. It is a tourism event that is held close to another tourism event, which is the Sabah Fest. Next year is our 10th year and we are expecting BIM to be bigger,” said race director Datuk Dr Heng Aik Cheng.

BIM is organized by Kinabalu Running Club and is sponsored by Sabah Tourism Board, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu, Little Italy, Suria Sabah, AirAsia Cargo, Revive, Milo, Medal Depot, Salonpas, Raintree Furnishing, 2XU, Soleus, Moma Water, Shangri-la Tanjung Aru and Shangri-la Rasa Ria Resorts, Hard Rock Cafe KK, KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital, KPJ Damai Specialist Hospital, Hobbies, Gogo Sabah, Boon Creative Productions and Brooks.

This charitable race is supported by City Hall, Royal Malaysian Police, Health Department, Fire Department and the Association of International Marathon and Distance Races (AIMS).

Race pack collection starts today at sixth floor, Suria Sabah between 10am to 6pm.