DECEMBER 2012

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

DECEMBER

• December 2nd saw the 74th running of the Okutama Ekiden, and Namban Rengo’s 24th year of participation. This year we had 3 men’s teams and 3 women’s team for a total of 27 runners, plus a few supporters. The weather was good and everyone had a great time. Outstanding performance went to Aki Hoshino, who placed 6th in her leg, against fast high school and university runners.
•  Also on the 2nd, Chika Kanai, Mika Tokairin and Brett Larner were down in Okinawa for the Naha Marathon. Despite the rain showers, strong wind and warm temperatures, they enjoyed the race, with Chika running 3:29:38 for about 20th place among women. Brett and Mika, nursing colds and injuries, ran for “fun.”
• And finally, on the 2nd, Mike Trees ran a 32:54 10K at the Nihon University time trial, the fastest time in the world this year for a 50-year-old!
• On the 9th, Raymond Wong was in H ong Kong, where he joined a 10K race near his house, which he finished in 39:48, good enough for 56th out of 1,310.
• Stan Chow was in Oz on the 16th for Ironman Western Australia, where he recorded an 11:49:36 PB, despite a very slow run due to stomach issues.
• And in the States on the 16th, Brent Millican ran the San Antonio 10 Mile is 67:30, good for 3rd in his age group.
• The 5,000m time trial on the 26th was extremely cold (3C) and windy, but about 40 hardy souls did their best, led by Dan Newman in 17:35 and Brittany Shappell (Seisen HS) in 21:07.

JANUARY

Namban workouts on Wednesday nights at Oda track from 7:25pm.
• 2 – Track closed
• 6 – Onsen Run in Hanakoganei
• 9 – 1000 x 6
• 16 – 1200 1200 1000 1000 800 800
• 23 – 1000 x 3, 800 x 2, 600 400
• 30 – 5000m time trial

HAIKU OF THE MONTH

It’s too cold to run
He said, but once he began
He felt warm as toast