USARJ Runners Test Pace at Sagami Half Marathon Ahead of National Stage

CAMP ZAMA, Japan - Two Soldiers put their endurance to the test Oct. 4 at Sagami General Depot during the 10th annual East Japan Half Marathon, using the 13.1-mile race to evaluate their progress for the upcoming Army Ten-Miler.

Capt. Jorge Vargas, team organizer assigned to U.S. Army Japan, and Spc. Junho Yi, a key runner assigned to the 311th Military Intelligence Battalion, participated as part of a structured training strategy established in June.

"Participating in the community half marathon was part of the USARJ Ten-Miler training plan," Vargas said. "Coordinating full team participation was challenging because of competing mission requirements and the fact that not all team members are co-located in the Honshu area."

Vargas posted a personal record of 1 hour, 37 minutes, a notable improvement over his previous half marathon at Sagami General Depot in April.

Meanwhile, Yi used the event as a strategic conditioning tool to prepare his body for the main stage. After setting a strong initial pace and giving a maximum effort, Yi monitored his heart rate and made a disciplined decision to step off the course-prioritizing health and recovery to ensure he remains in prime condition for the upcoming Army Ten-Miler.

"The team has trained diligently and put forth its best effort," Vargas said. "We remain focused on staying healthy, maintaining consistency in training, and supporting one another."