JANUARY

• The Tanigawa Mari Half Marathon (Mari is a still-popular former top marathoner) was held along the Arakawa River on the 8th. 7 Nambanners battled the wind for half the race, although otherwise the weather was good. Tsutomu Ishida ran a 1:21:07 PB, followed closely by Dan Newman in 1:21:26, Don Roxbough in a PB 1:27:43, Paul Mundt in 1:28:36, Pat Higase in 1:46:05, Thomas Sawada in 1:47:40 and Adrian Ringin in 1:51:57.
• Bob Poulson ran the Ushiku City Marathon 10K on the 9th, finishing 5th in his age group out of 204 with a 38:08.
• On the 15th, Yoshiko Katakura, who gets stronger as she gets older, ran the Frostbite Half Marathon (Yokota) in 1:30:07, placing 2nd out of 364 in her age group.
• The Chiba Marine Half/10K on the 22nd was not blessed with good weather, as 12 Nambanners suffered persevered through cold, rainy conditions. Nevertheless, PBs were run by Harrisson Uk in 1:18:40, Stan Chow in 1:25:00, Kylie Breeze in 1:31:30, Padraig MacColgain in 1:32:41, Arnout Baneke in 1:38:48, as well as by Mike Rayner (39:45) and Thomas Sawada (46:42) in the 10K. Also freezing their tails off were Paddy O’Connor, Chika Kanai, Keren Miers, Geraldine Nogami, Mary Eckstein and James Midgely, whose pre-race strategy of drinking champagne until 3am proved that sleep is over-rated as he ran a 1:24.
• On the 29th, many of us watched the Osaka Women’s Marathon on TV, as Shigetomo ran an excellent 2:23 and Fukushi blew up once again. Two Namban ladies also enjoyed the good weather and good Osaka course: Yoshiko Katakura ran a great 3:12:26 (1st 50-year-old?) and Mika Tokairin a very good 3:19:41 off not much training. There was also a half marathon that Tom Boatman enjoyed.

FEBRUARY

All Namban workouts at Oda Field from 7:25pm.
• 1 Namban 5000m time trial
• 5 Kanagawa Half/10k
• 8 600/800/1000/1200/1000/800/600
• 15 1200/1200/1000/1000/800/800
• 19 Ome Marathon 30K/10K
• 22 1000 x 6 (pace runs for Tokyo runners)
• 26 Tokyo Marathon
• 29 Leap Year 5000m time trial

HAIKU OF THE MONTH

Tokyo Marathon
Looking forward to fast times
And the post-race bash!

DECEMBER

• The first Sunday in December is always the Okutama Ekiden, a 6-men/3-women road relay that takes place in the Okutama hills 90 minutes west of Tokyo proper. Namban has entered every year since 1988, and this year we had a large presence with 3 men’s and 3 women’s teams. We tried to have teams of equal strength (i.e., not put all the fastest people on one team) to enjoy some inter-club competition, but even so, our top men’s team placed 44th out of 111 teams and the top women’s team, 17th out of 50 teams (inc. fast college and HS teams). With sushi and beer afterwards, a great time was had by all! (Report and photos to the right.)
• December 4th was also the day of the Yokohama Half Marathon and 10K, attended by 10 club members. PBs were run by Pat Higase (1:45:32), Padraig McColgain (1:34:43—PB by 2 minutes!), Harrisson (36:20), Satoe Aoki and Khalfan (report to the right).
• Jay Johannesen was in Thailand on Dec. 4th, for the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, which he completed in 3:21:24, placing 8th out of 100 in his age group and 92nd overall. And David Rubenstein was in Honolulu, where he ran the marathon for fun in 4:44.
• On the 10th, two Namban teams of four runners challenged the four-minute mile, finishing in 3:56 and 4:12 (report to the right).
• Amazingly, on the morning after the bonenkai (year-end party), the 11th, Stan Chow and Chika Kanai were way out in the mountains of Okutama for the Mitake Trail Run. The weather was pleasant but the course had ice and snow on some sections. Stan finished in 1:37:30, good for 131st our of 747 finishers.
• Ultramarathon man Paul Mundt outdid himself on the 17th, participating in Japan’s first 24-hour indoor ultra, which was run on a 260m concrete “track”!! Why he did this is known only to Paul himself, but he seems to enjoy this type of thing. And he’s good at it. He ran 110K in about 13 hours (including “an hour or two” at 4:30/k pace), when disaster struck in the form of a very painful metatarsal (foot bone), which caused him to stop despite otherwise feeling fine. He still placed 26th out of 48.
• A 3-Hour Relay Marathon was held in the National Stadium in Gaienmae on Dec. 18th. Nambanners Adrian Ringin, Cory McGowan, Thomas Sawada, Chika Kanai and Satohi Numasawa formed a team and enjoyed running 1.4km laps around the track and grandstand, finishing a very impressive 31st out of 383 teams.
• Yoshiko Katakura joined a number of Japanese elites running the Hofu Marathon on Dec. 18th. She finished in an excellent 3:19:24, and looks forward to the Osaka International Women’s Marathon on Jan. 29th.
• On Dec. 18th Yoshitaka Ishikawa, Masako Onishi and Christophe Dewulf ran the Takao Tengu Trail Run. Yoshitaka, running the 10K in an afro wig, won his age group in 1:03:06 and was 5th overall. Masako was the 4th woman and Christophe finished in 2:01:00 on the 18K course.
• The Dec. 28th Namban 5,000m time trial brought out the best in a number of club members. PBs were set by Harrisson Uk (17:04), Stan Chow (18:29), Padraig McColgain (19:56, breaking the 20:00 barrier!), Arnold Baneke (20:09), and Hemant (27:35). Also Taro Oguchi ran a yearly best in 19:44 and Jon Morrell showed he is recovering from a long injury with a 19:49.

JANUARY

All Namban workouts at Oda Field from 7:25pm.
• 4 Namban workout 1000 x 6
• 8 Tanigawa Mari Half Marathon
• 9 Ushiku City Marathon
• 11 Namban workout 1000 x 6
• 15 Yokota Frostbite Half Marathon
• 18 Namban workout 600/800/1000/1200/1000/800/600
• 22 Chiba Marine Half Marathon
• 21 Namban club half marathon on the Arakawa
• 25 Namban workout 5000m time trial
• 29 Osaka International Women’s Marathon

HAIKU OF THE MONTH

As the sun rises
On a new year of running
Our hopes rise with it

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

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.

NOVEMBER

• Harrisson Uk and Satohi Numaswa ran in the Shonan Half Marathon on November 3rd. Held on a course that hugs the coast south of Yokohama, this year’s edition had little wind but considerable warmth — about 18C and the start and 20C at the finish. Harrisson ran a 90% effort but still recorded a PB of 1:20:45. Satohi ran about 1:43. not recording an official time because the Half is a special race with a time limit of 90 minutes! The full marathon has about 18,000 runners.
• The 13th saw the 3rd annual running of the Namban Half and 10K, plus barbecue as an added attraction. 44 people participated, 22 in each race, aided by a large group of great volunteers organized by Phil Ryan. Half honors went to Richard Dawson in 1:25:22, with Greg Stevens 2nd in 1:25:34 and James Midgely 3rd in 1:26:33. Half women’s winner was guest Rowena Crouch from Sydney in 1:32:03. Kylie Breeze was 2nd and Rie Onodera 3rd. The 10K men’s winner was Brett Larner in 37:28, women’s victor was Rieko Trees in 47:22. There was also a terrific kid’s race for future Nambanners.
• Bob Poulson ran the Toda Half Marathon in Saitama on the 20th, finishing in 1:25:26, good enough for 2nd in his age group out of 207 men.
• The Ohtawara Marathon and 10K in Tochigi pref. was held on the 23rd with about eight club members joining. Taro Oguchi ran to a PB of 3:28:18. Placing in 10K age group categories were Rieko Trees in 7th, Chika Kanai in 8th and Mike Trees in 7th.
• 11 Nambanners ran for charity (breast cancer) in the Run for the Cure on the 26th. Natalie Darbon won the women’s 10K in a quick 40:25, while Ed Clease, Richard Dawson and Michael Tandler were 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the men’s 10K. Pat Higase ran a PB 47:17.
• The day after her 10K victory, Nathalie ran 1:59:10 for 27K at the Kawaguchiko Marathon (which also has a 27k race, for some reason).
• The Tsukuba Marathon, a very popular race (8,000? spots filled up in 6 hours) was run on the 27th with Cory McGowan and Don Roxburgh enjoying the course, but not having great days. Let’s just say they’ll do better next time!

DECEMBER

All Namban workouts at Oda Field from 7:25pm.
• 4 Okutama Ekiden
• 4 Yokohama Half Marathon
• 7 Namban workout 1000 x 6
• 11 Mitake Trail Race
• 14 Namban workout 600/800/1000/1200/1000/800/600
• 21 Namban workout 1200, 1200, 1000, 1000, 800, 800
• 28 Namban workout 5000m TT (the track will be open!)

HAIKU OF THE MONTH

Last month of the year
Last chance for running glory
This year, anyway

The Run for the Cure, a charity race benefitting efforts to eradicate breast cancer, was held at the Imperial Palace loop on November 26th. There were 5K and 10K races and a 5K walk, with prizes for the top three men and women in both races. Participants were cheered on by Hooters girls at each kilometer mark, and were entertained post-race by a great taiko drumming group featuring about 20 good-looking women, including a number of breast cancer survivors. Refreshing post-race ale was courtesy of Baird’s Brewery. Special guest was Ai Ueda, former Japan and Asian triathlon champion and 2012 Olympic team member, who cruised along with Bob and Sara Wilhelm (photo) and never stopped smiling.
  Namban highlights were Natalie Darbon winning the 10K (photo, finishing ahead of Stan!), and Ed Clease 2nd and Richard Dawson 3rd in the 10K. Also running were Michael (4th in 10K), Stan, Satoe, Mary, Pat (PB 47:17!), Barry, Paddy and Bob.

Warm and sunny weather, 10K and half marathon races, hamburgers and hot dogs, beer and wine, and 90 of the nicest people in the world — Namban Rengo members, families and friends — made for a perfect day on Sunday, Nov. 13th. Thanks to the efforts of Phil Ryan and his team of volunteers, the races went off smoothly, times were taken accurately and prizes were generously awarded. And like last year, one of the highlights of the day was the kids’ race, where the adults have a chance to see and remember what the pure joy of running should be.

OCTOBER

Racing season in full swing — lots of results!
• Alex Fluery, now back in Denmark, ran the Budapest Marathon on the 2nd. His time of 3:27 was slower than hoped for due to temperatures as high as 30C, but he enjoyed the course through the lovely city.
• Cory McGowan took part in the Arakawa 30K/50K on the 8th, finishing the 30K in 2:04:25 and placing 39th overall out of 1,500 men. Other than warm weather and a rather dull course (except for Arakawa river fans) he enjoyed all aspects of the race, including the free food and beer at the end.
• Tsutomu Ishida was in Hawaii on the 8th, representing Namban Rengo at the Ironman World Championships. Despite hot, humid, windy conditions, he improved his time by 30 minutes from 2010, completing the swim/bike/run in 10:33:19, good for 768th place. His marathon time was 3:26! Most of us can’t run that in the heat, much less after a 3.8k swim and a 180k/5.5 hour bike ride.
• Over in the US, Brent Millicam traveled from Texas up to Chicago for the marathon on the 9th, finishing in 3:15:29 - a PB by 7 minutes and a Boston Qualifier!
• The 16th saw Nambanners striding along next to the Arakawa, at the Turtle Half/10K/5K (12,000 in the Half, 4,000 in the 10K). Conditions were not ideal, as it was a very hot day. Bernd Plagge ran an excellent 1:33, but Padraig MacColgain, Paddy O’Connor, Paul Mundt, Anthony Kraft and Jon Holmes were disappointed with their times. Christophe Dewulfe paced his wife to a sub-2:00 finish. Juergen Wittstock, who had arranged for free entry for the group, ran 41:38 in the 10K, finishing in the top 40! And Frank Arnaud Mehl placed 3rd in the 5k in 18:50.
• Also on the 16th, Saara Pekkarinen, our flying Finn, traveled out to Chichibu and came back with a first place trophy for her 1:26:07 half marathon win.
• Down in Singapore on the 16th, Leng Leng and Mika Kume ran the North Face 50K as Team Compact Dynamite, the perfect name for them!
• The Suwako Half, a popular race around Lake Suwa in Nagano pref., was held on the 23rd. Nambanners did well, with three under 1:24—Richard in 1:23:06, Cory in 1:23:26 and Paddy in 1:23:57. Phil Ryan ran a 1:46, and Taeko Hara, Geraldine Nogami and Maya. Photos in the Reports section.
• Over 50 runners showed up for the Namban 5,000m time trial on Wednesday the 26th, which many treated as an all-out race effort. We were led by Joe Stowe’s 16:04 and there was at least one PB that we know of, Padraig’s 20:34 - well done!
• Pat Higase didn’t run the 5,000, as she was in California running the Healdsburg Marathon, up in the wine country above San Francisco. The very hilly course proved to be a tough one, as she finished in 4:18, well outside her goal of 3:51. But she vows that the next one will be better!
• The 30th saw the first running of the Osaka Marathon, with seven club members taking part. By far the smallest and fastest was Chika Kanai, racing to an impressive 3:24:58. She was closely followed by Carol Cunningham, up from Melbourne, who ran a slower-than-hoped-for 3:26, but vows to be ready for Tokyo in Feb. Anthony Kraft finished in 3:51:10 with leg cramps and Laci Demko also broke the 4:00 barrier in 3:56:42, a 32 min. PB! Congrats to Thomas Sawada who ran his first marathon in 4:42:47. Adrian Ringin ran 5:10:56, a good effort since he was slowed by foot and ankle pain. All praised the race organization, especially the many water and food stations, where they enjoyed (?) cakes, candy, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and pickles. There was also an 8.8k “Challenge Run”, which saw Namban’s Simon Fisher crossing the line first! (two others had faster net times, but still…)
• Jay Johannesen was in Seattle on the 30th for the hillyPumpkin Push 5K, which he ran in 17:36, finishing 6th out of 636.
• Also on the 30th was Namban Rengo’s famous “marathon” (39k) around the Yamanote train loop in Tokyo. Always a fun event, this year saw 29 loopers taking part, with 8 going the entire distance. See photos on right for half of the group and the official t-shirt.

NOVEMBER

All Namban workouts at Oda Field from 7:25pm.
• 2 Namban workout 1000 x 6
• 3 Shonan Marathon
• 9 Namban workout 600/800/1000/1200/1000/800/600
• 13 Namban Half and 10K
• 16 Namban workout 400/1000/1200/1200/1000/800/400
• 20 Toda Half Marathon
• 23 Ohtawara Marathon and 10K
• 23 Namban workout 1200, 1200, 1000, 1000, 800, 800
• 26 Run for the Cure (Imperial Palace, can sign up on the day)

HAIKU OF THE MONTH

The marathon is long
You think they’ll get easier
But they never do

Namban looped Tokyo’s famous Yamanote train line on foot for the 6th time this year. 29 set off from Harajuku station on a perfect autumn morning, and 8 made it past the 29 stations to complete the full 39km circuit.