The event will take place at the Marunuma Katashina Tone District, located in Japan’s Gunma Prefecture – more specifically around the Marunuma Hot Springs, a well-known site for previous Xterra competitions.
Carey will start with a 1200 m swim followed by a 25 km bike ride through off-road terrain, and end with a final 10 km run.
Carey stressed that the Japan Xterra bike course is “one of the hardest courses in the world.” She mentioned that in some parts of the race, she may have to carry her bike through the trail.
Though dangerous, Mieko Carey looks forward to the championship with excitement, especially because it gives her a personal challenge to outdo her past records.
This is the fourth time that Carey will conquer Marunuma trail, having done 4-5 Xterra races each year.
When not competing in any major events, Carey regularly trains six times a week on island. She recently left to Australia for a month-long training session with a personal coach.
Over-training and injuries are nothing but a learning experience for Carey, who stated that they only made her “stronger every time.”
She constantly improves herself by training on Saipan’s technical courses. Carey even noted, “All my friends who ride with me are my great mountain bike coaches!”
Carey is not nervous at all about the upcoming Xterra Japan Championship, saying that the outcome is unpredictable to all racers. A self satisfaction of doing her “best” is all she needs to get through the event.
Carey will leave island on August 25 and will return in about a month, on September 21. Aside from the championship, other events are also listed on her agenda. She will head to Australia after the Japan Xterra Championship, and will return again to Japan to compete in her very first bike race.
Carey represented the CNMI at the 7th Micronesian Games, where she earned a gold medal after dominating in the overall and female divisions.
