Fujiwara Explains His DNF In NYC
- By Duncan Larkin
- Published Nov. 9, 2010
- Updated Sep. 12, 2012 at 12:56 PM UTC
Arata Fujiwara hopes to make a comeback in Tokyo next year. Photo: Photorun.net
Japan’s top marathoner pulled out because of “intense abdominal pain.”
Arata Fujiwara had high hopes for the 2010 ING New York City Marathon, but those hopes were dashed near the 22-mile mark when the Japanese runner dropped out.
“That was the worst pain I’ve felt since my first marathon,” a dejected Fujiwara recalled afterwards.
Fujiwara had been running with the lead pack through the half-marathon point, which was reached in 1:05:20. But near the point where Haile Gebrselassie pulled out, the Queensboro Bridge, he experienced sharp, stabbing pain in his lower left abdomen.
He managed to keep running after the bridge and was bolstered by the crowd. ”I thought about dropping out there but the cheering on 1st Avenue was too loud and I couldn’t stop. Every time I slowed to a walk people shouted, ‘Come on! Come on!’” he said.
Fujiwara won the 2010 Ottowa Marathon and has hopes to come back to form in next year’s Tokyo Marathon, which he will be competing in.
For More: Japan Running News
FILED UNDER: New York City Marathon / News / NYC Marathon News TAGS: Arata Fujiwara / ING New York City Marathon / Japanese Runners / Ottowa Marathon / tokyo marathon
Duncan Larkin
Duncan Larkin is the news editor at Competitor.com and a freelance journalist who’s been covering the sport of running for over five years. He’s run 2:32 in the marathon and won the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race in 2007. His first running book, RUN SIMPLE, was released last July.