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“The Miracle in Fukuoka” - Real Talk From Yuki Kawauchi on “Taking on the World” (part 1)

http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/201701120002-spnavi

translated by Brett Larner

Ahead of his nomination to the London World Championships Marathon team, Sportsnavi published a three-part series of writings by Yuki Kawauchi on what it took for him to make the team, his hopes for London, and his views on the future of Japanese marathoning.  With his place on the London team announced on Mar. 17, JRN will publish an English translation of the complete series over the next three days. See Sportsnavi's original version linked above for more photos. Click here for part two, "Bringing All My Experience Into Play in London," or here for part three, "The Lessons of the Past Are Not 'Outdated.'"


The Fukuoka International Marathon was held on Dec. 4 last year. Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov’t) took part despite nursing injuries he had sustained in training. Falling rain contributed to less than ideal conditions during the race, but from the very early stages…

Yamamoto 4th at New York City Marathon, Kawauchi 2nd in Porto

by Brett Larner


Running just his second career marathon, Toyo University graduate Hiroyuki Yamamoto followed up on his 2:11:48 debut at Beppu-Oita last year with a 2:11:49 for 4th at the New York City Marathon.  Always in the lead pack until he wasn't, always looking smooth, confident and relaxed, Yamamoto's placing was the best-ever by a Japanese man in New York, his time also up near the top of the Japanese lists in New York.

2015 World Champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie (Eritrea) smoked a 2:07:51 for the win, the third-fastsest winning time in NYC history, while this year's Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon winner Lucas Rotich (Kenya) was 2nd.  The perpetual Abdi Abdirahman (U.S.A.) held Yamamoto off for 3rd in 2:11:23.  In an admittedly weaker than usual field, Yamamoto's best-ever Japanese placing was also arguably the best performance by a Japanese man in any of the World Marathon Majors events since Kurao Umeki's 3rd-place finish at the 2006 Berlin Marathon.  In the …

Kawauchi Going for Second European Win of 2016 at Sunday's Porto Marathon

by Brett Larner


Running his third European marathon of the year with support from JRN, Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't) follows up his April win at the Zurich Marathon and his 2:11:03 at September's Berlin Marathon with his Portuguese debut at Sunday's Porto Marathon.  With a slightly easier course this year Kawauchi joins top-ranked Kenyans Samuel Theuri MwanikiPius Kirop and Gilbert Kipkemboi Maina in gunning for the 2:09:51 Porto Marathon record set in 2011 by Philemon Bairu (Kenya).


Three weeks ago at the Takashimadaira Road Race Kawauchi ran 59:43 for 20 km, equivalent to 1:02:59 for the half marathon.  "That was great training," he told JRN.  "I didn't do that kind of speed work before Berlin, so I definitely think I can run faster here than I did there."  At the pre-race press conference Kawauchi was even clearer: when asked what kind of race he hoped to run he replied, "One where I break the course record."  Two European wins…