Kawauchi Scores Huge Win on Gravel Road Marathon Course – translated by Brett Larner – Japan Running News

Moscow World Championships marathon team member Yuki Kawauchi (26, Saitama Pref. Gov't) won the June 2 30th anniversary Chitose JAL International Marathon in a course record 2:18:29.

 His time improved the course record, set 25 years ago, by one minute and 32 seconds, beating the 2nd-place finisher by more than nine minutes.  With more than 80% of the course consisting of gravel and dirt roads and an elevation difference of more than 150 m Kawauchi more than overcame whatever doubts he may have had about the World Championships.

In May Kawauchi ran five half marathons.  Post-race he told reporters, "My time wasn't bad, but it's been a long time [sic, 6 weeks] since my last marathon so my legs weren't moving well.  

I wanted to run a little bit better than this."

https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/athletics/news/f-sp-tp0-20130602-1136884.html