MAY 2016

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

MAY

• Chika Kanai entered her first Ultramarathon, the 70km Hagi Oukan Maranic (marathon/picnic, although 70k does not sound like a picnic to me!) on the 4th. And she did very well, finishing in 8hrs 23mins, with the 2nd half only 23 mins slower than the first.
• Also on the 4th, Colin Hickey ran the Kasukabe Half in Saitama, finishing 82nd out of 6,500 in 1:25:20.
• Two popular races on the 8th — the Sendai Half Marathon and the Fuji Susono 10K and Half. Nine Nambanners made the trip (well organized by Satohi Numasawa) up to Sendai, where they enjoyed 21-degree weather for a nice run through the lovely city. They were led, I think, by Derek Leong in 1:27:17. There was also a good-sized group for the race up near Mt. Fuji. In fact, the course profile looks like a mountain, up then down. Jay Johannesen took the honors, finishing the 10K in under 39 mins. and placing first in his age group!
• The Wings for Life World Run was held in 35 locations around the world on the 8th. This is a unique event where you run as far and as fast as you can until a “catcher car”
  passes you. Lawrence Schneck did it in India, in 40+ degree heat, not such a wise choice. Nevertheless, he ran an amazing 45km in an even more amazing 3:18.
• Amazingly, Yukari Murahara does an ultramarathon every month. This month (22nd) it was the Yatsugatake Nobeyama 100km, which includes serious mountains, and which she completed in 13:09:00, good for 81st place among women. Derek Leong was also up to the challenge, finishing in 11:26:43, 228th male out of 2,364. Eric Lebrasseur finished, despite getting heat stroke—tough guy! Taro Oguchi (13:42:32) and Rie Onodera also ran this one.
• This year’s TELL Runathon 5K and 10K was held on the 28th, and as usual, the club had a good turnout to support this worthy cause, with 14 members participating. Taking home prizes for top five finishes were Yuki Fukushima, Nizar Grira, Naoko Hanakawa and Laura Mallory (10K), and Dante Michael, Jay Johannesen, Andy Drought and Taeko Katano (5K).
• Also on the 28th, Rui Natsuka ran the Kashiwanoha 30K, finishing 3rd!
• Bob Johnston took on the Inage Beach Half on the 29th in hot weather, recording a 1:35:38.
• The 57km Okukuji Trail Race was held on the 29th (I think) featuring hot weather, difficult trails, and “endless succession” of up/downs over mountains—lots of fun! At least a few of the strongest Namban runners thought so: Eric Lebrasseur 10:10:08 (62nd out of 588), Chih Liew 11:28:25 (127th), Rie Onodera 11:52:42 (161st, 4th AG) and Yuichi Kanamori 12:51:20 (230th) and Satohi Numasawa. Yoshie Niitsuma enjoyed running the 30K section, in 6:45.
• Over in England on the 29th, Adam Osbourne won the Hutton Roof fell race, one of the country’s classic fell races.
• And finally, the granddaddy of all ultras, Comrades in Durban, South Africa, was held on the 29th. Four Nambanners, who went last year, took up the 88km challenge again this year—some people never learn! No, seriously, we’re proud of them for completing the Double-up course last year and down course this year. And they all made the 12-hour time limit with plenty to spare. Brett Larner: 9:39:05; Mika Kume 10:25:06; Mika Tokairin 10:48:54 and Keiko Ando 11:14:09.

JUNE

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

• 1 – 1000 x 6
• 8 – 2000, 1000 x 3, 500 x 2
• 15 – 1000 x 2, 500 x 2, 1000 x 2, 500 x 2
• 22 – 1000 x 5, 500 x 2
• 29 – 5,000m time trial

HAIKU OF THE MONTH

Warm in the daytime
Cool breezes in the evening…
All year would be nice!