
I’ve just returned from a two-day running camp with RETO Running Club in Chiba, a prefecture just outside Tokyo. It’s known for its sprawling farmland, rolling hills, and the kind of tranquility that feels miles away from the city’s buzz. But this was no relaxing getaway.
It was an intense, nerve-wracking, yet profoundly rewarding experience that taught me a lot about stepping out of my comfort zone.
The idea of committing to two full days of rigorous training alongside a group of runners (some I know well, others not so much) was daunting. Sharing meals, log cabin accommodations, and even communal baths added another layer of vulnerability. But I decided to buy in and embrace the experience.
Challenging the Mind, Body, and Routine
The camp kicked off with an afternoon track session at the Medical Training Center, a dream setup with a track, dining hall, and bath facilities all in one place. My group’s session was a set of eight cruise intervals: 2km repeats at 3:44/km–3:47/km pace, with just 90 seconds of jog recovery between each.
There was a time not long ago when running in the “3s” was uncharted territory for me. If I ever found myself accidentally dipping into that pace, alarm bells would go off, and I’d slow to the safety of the “4s.” But this time, I committed to the discomfort to see what I was capable of.
There’s something transformative about these kinds of sessions, they take you to places within yourself that you didn’t know existed. You aren’t the same person when you finish as when you started.
The session was grueling. Five laps around the mossy-green track, lungs burning, legs screaming, and barely enough time to recover before it was time to go again. By the final interval, I was hanging on by sheer willpower, but I finished. The sense of elation afterward was incredible.

There’s something transformative about these kinds of sessions, they take you to places within yourself that you didn’t know existed. You aren’t the same person when you finish as when you started.
Camaraderie through Shared Struggles
One of the highlights of these camps is the connection that comes from shared struggle. It’s a bonding experience unlike any other. There’s also something uniquely Japanese about the way this bond is reinforced: the post-run bath.
After the intervals, we sank into piping-hot water, muscles tingling with relief. And just when you thought you’d reached peak comfort, there was the cold plunge pool — a shock to the system but a highly effective recovery tool. These moments, shared with teammates, were both humbling and oddly meditative.

Testing Limits on the Long Run
The second day began early, with bleary faces emerging from log cabins into the crisp morning air, the sun still yet to rise. The previous night’s revelry had left its mark on some more than others. After a quick shakeout jog and breakfast, we geared up for the main event: a 25-30 km marathon-pace long run on a 1.6 km loop around Japanese farmland.
On such a short loop, you were always in sight of others, like watching dots moving on Harry Potter’s Marauder’s Map.
I joined my group, aiming for 4:20-4:15/km, sub-3-hour marathon pace, well beyond my current endurance level, but I wanted to push my limits. The loops blurred together in steady determination, occasionally interrupted by lungfuls of smoky air from farmers burning fields, a traditional Japanese practice called yakihata, which enriches the soil after harvest.
A few hiccups early on, including a loose shoelace, and a conscious decision to skip the refueling station, left me running solo for most of the run. But on such a short loop, you were always in sight of others, like watching dots moving on Harry Potter’s Marauder’s Map: some tightly packed, others charting their own course.
I managed 21.1 km (a half marathon) in just under 90 minutes before deciding to stop. My Achilles was starting to complain, and I knew I’d pushed as far as I could.

Growth through Discomfort
This camp was a test in every sense, physical, mental, and social. Staying outside my comfort zone for two full days was intimidating, but it was also incredibly rewarding.
If there’s one takeaway from this experience, it’s this: challenge yourself. Whether in running, work, or life, embracing discomfort can lead to significant growth.
And, sometimes, a good soak in a hot bath doesn’t hurt either.
Fun fact: Linford Christie and Colin Jackson trained here in 1993 :)

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