FEBRUARY

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

FEBRUARY

• It is not often that Namban Rengo members run the Beppu-Oita Marathon, held this year on the 2nd, because a qualifying time is necessary…and it is in Beppu (Kyushu). This year’s time was 3:30 (it used to be faster) and Gildas Tuffin qualified with his run at Fuji two months previous, so he entered and ran. He had a good race, despite a hard last 7k, and finished in 2:57. Well done!
• The Kyoto Marathon, held on the 16th, is a scenic, but very tough race — many hills, many U-turns and even a few km of unpaved road. And of course, it’s cold. Nambanners Derek Leong and Barrie Feldman were up to the challenge, Derek finishing in 3:31 and Barrie in 3:58.
• And the big one of the month, in fact, of the year, the Tokyo Marathon on the 23rd. Namban Rengo was represented by about 25 runners, with that many or more cheering along the course. Our fastest runner was also 2013’s Runner of the Year, Tomoaki Uchiki, who came across the line in 2:38:54. Sub-3s were achieved by Ed Clease, Jay Johanessen and Brett Whiteoak. Photo of most but not all of the runners and a report is to the right.

MARCH

Wednesday night workouts are at Oda Field track from 7:30pm.
5 – 1000 x 6
12 – 1200 1200 1000 1000 800 800
19 – 1200 1000 1000 800 800 800 400
26 – 5000m time trial

HAIKU OF THE MONTH

What do we wish for?
No bad pains, no injuries
And please, no more snow!