Junko Kazukawa is widely known both for her ultrarunning athleticism and for encouraging others’ fitness goals. In 2016, I was new to trail running—and really, running as a sport—when we first crossed paths. I was eager to spend more time on trails in the mountains, so I signed up for a race that inspired me, the Leadville Trail Marathon. An email from the race organizer included an announcement for Junko Mountain Training, a training plan and group provided by coach and personal trainer Kazukawa…

Read the entire article on IRunFar… WeRunFar Profile: Junko Kazukawa

The Leadville Race Series has witnessed many become legends on its epic courses. Junko Kazukawa didn’t grow up running, she even says her childhood “wasn’t athletic at all”. She started running for fitness when she was 20 years old and did a few shorter distance races for fun, then quickly became an incredible ultra-endurance athlete. We’re pretty sure she’s also a superhuman!

Entire article on LeadvilleRaceSeries.com…  Leadville Race Series + Junko Kazukawa

@runjunkorun was born in Sapporo, Japan and now lives, coaches and runs in Denver, CO. A two-time breast cancer survivor, Junko was the first runner to complete the Leadville series @ltraceseries and the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning in a single year. ​

Patagonia + Junko on Instagram

At 53, Junko Kazukawa is quite simply one of the fiercest competitors in ultrarunning. The Japanese native, knocked off her first Leadwoman in 2014 and completed the Ultrarunning Grand Slam—which includes the Western States 100, Vermont 100, Leadville Trail 100 and Wasatch Front 100—and the Leadwoman series in 2015, the first person to pull off both of those in one summer…

Read the full article at Elevation Outdoors

By Tonia Smith

Junko Kazukawa has always been a woman who is unafraid to make bold moves in life. Growing up in Japan, she knew that young women were expected to follow a traditional path: Go to college, take a job in an office for a few years and then get married and start a family. While that path was fine for most, it was unacceptable to Junko…

Read the full article on Ultra Running

There’s a fire that burns deep inside Junko Kazukawa, but you probably wouldn’t realize it upon first glance. Her small frame, spunky personality and humble nature are the perfect compliment to her fierce tenacity, incredible drive and appetite for challenges on and off the trail…

Read the full article on Colorado Runner Magazine

Junko Kazukawa has always been a woman who is unafraid to make bold moves in life. Growing up in Japan, she knew that young women were expected to follow a traditional path: Go to college, take a job in an office for a few years and then get married and start a family. While that path was fine for most, it was unacceptable to Junko…

Read the full article on Ultrarunning.com