FEBRUARY 2016

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

FEBRUARY

• The racing month began with the Kanagawa Half, where Chris Winter ran 1:19:20 for 48th place, Eric Lebrasseur followed in 1:22:05, and Rie Onodera in 1:35. Alan Cannon also ran.
• In the Marugame Half on the 7th, full of elites, Namban elites Satohi Numasawa ran 1:33:53 and Shinobu Shikauchi made her debut.
• Another elite race on the same day was the Beppu-Oita Marathon, where Satoshi Hashimoto went sub-3 with a 2:59:01 and regular Wednesday runner Taizo Yamada ran an excellent 2:49:03.
• Bob Johnston was out in Kochi on the 14th for the hot (yes, hot) and windy Ryoma Marathon, recording a 3:42:08.
• The 21st was the annual running of one of Japan’s oldest and most popular races, the Ome Marathon (30K). Chika Kanai mastered the hills to finish in 2:13:47, good for 35th place among the women! Yukari Murahara ran 2:29:38, Sumie Kawakami 2:41 and Tom Boatman 2:55. Tom got a shout-out from marathon legend Seko-san as he passed the start – “Namban Rengo!!”.
• An even bigger race the same day was the Kyoto Marathon, where Rieko Trees happily finished in 3:37:07 and David Sweet in 3:38. Narrow streets were not helpful for fast times.
• And then on the 28th, the biggest of them all, the Tokyo Marathon. Namban Rengo had 20 runners enjoying the 42.195km run through the capital, led by Jackson Thodey in 2:57. Club members out in support were uncounted, but probably about 40, all of whom, and more, enjoyed our great post-race party.

MARCH

Wednesday nights in Yoyogi Park. Meet at the kiosk 100m inside park entrance near Harajuku station at 7:15pm.

• 2- 1000 x 6
• 9 – 2000, 1000 x 3, 500 x 2
• 16 – 1000 x 5, 500 x 2
• 23 – 2000, 1000 x 3, 500 x 2
• 30 – 5,000m time trial

HAIKU OF THE MONTH

A good marathon:
Cool, sunny, flat, strong legs and
Friends cheering you on.