Having Been Ready to Retire, Sasaki Now Says, \“I Can Run Even Better\“ – translated by Brett Larner – Japan Running News

Having run 2:08:56 for 3rd and top Japanese honors at Sunday's Fukuoka International Marathon, at a press conference the next morning Satoru Sasaki (30, Team Asahi Kasei) revealed that he had been prepared to retire. 

"I told myself that if I had done this kind of training and still couldn't perform then it was time to give it up," he said.

Having quickly benefitted from changes to his diet and other improvements to his regimen, Sasaki ran a do-or-die race to take nearly a minute off his PB and earn consideration for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic team. 

His further race plans still undecided, Sasaki was optimistic about riding the upward swing in his performance further, saying, "I got this far in just three months since making some changes.  If we look at other things to improve then I can run even better."

translated by Brett Larner – Japan Running News

https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/12/08/kiji/K20151208011647480.html