Namban Challenges the 4-minute Mile
Left: 4:12 team of Keren, Harrisson, Greg and Michael. Right: 3:56 team of Joe, Jay, Stan and Petr.
For our pre-bonenkai (year-end party) fun run this year, we decided to do something a bit different: on the track, have two teams of four runners each try to run a four-minute mile. Roger Bannister first did it in 1954. Could Namban Rengo do it today? The format was for each runner to run 100m four times, jogging back after each to where he started (a somewhat quick jog—you only have 45 seconds). The fourth runner has to run 109 on his final leg (1 mile = 1609m). After taking a while to figure out where each person should start, positioning people at those places and designating an official timer, the runners were off! Sprinting all out four times with little rest is no easy task, but the eight guys gave it all they had. And the result was? One team 4:12. The other team…3:56! They made it! So we now know…a 4-minute mile is damn fast! It was fast when Roger Bannister did it on a dirt track 50 years ago and it’s still fast. It took 4 guys, all in good shape, one of them a fast 800m runner, to do it. Go ahead, try it. Get four people and give it a go (or even 8 people). You’ll gain new respect for that legendary barrier, and for Roger Bannister.
Support: Barry, Shamir, Jon, Yuka, Taeko, Yoshiko, Kanna (not Kiki), Bob
Yokohama Half and 10K
It was a beautful day on December 4th when ten Nambanners made the trip to Yokohama for a popular Half and 10k. Not popular with the police, however, as the streets had to be clear after a 1:57 time limit (and who chose that time?). Unfortunately, there was also a fairly brisk wind, which got even stronger near the end of the race. Nevertheless, it didn’t bother Pat, Satoe and Padraig, all of whom recorded PBs in the Half. Jaynie, Mary, Gemma, Michael and Khalfan also ran 21.1k, while Harrisson (PB) and Ma ran the 10K. Shinobu and Satohi went along to lend support. Naturally, the post-race lunch carbo re-loading was in Chinatown.
6 Namban Teams Run in Okutama Ekiden
Okutama, one of the oldest ekidens in Japan, saw its 73rd running on December 4th. Held in the countryside far west of Tokyo proper (but still Tokyo), it has a hilly course that meanders along a river before returning to the town of Ome. Namban Rengo has participated every year since 1988 (it was the first race we ever entered) and this year we upped our presence with three men’s teams (6 members each) and three women’s teams (3 members each). Men’s course is 44.4km, but women’s is only 11.1 (old school - the race is also hand-timed). Afterwards we repaired to our traditional sushi restaurant for food and drink (lots) and watching the last part of the Fukuoka marathon on TV. A good day!
