[RUNNER FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY wrote:
All that he has really done is waste his abilities on a compulsion to stick it to the man. If he had proper training, a real coach, proper tapering, and quit his job and gave into the sponsors then he would be a 2:05 guy easily. But he seems to care more about seeking attention [/quote]
I am not sure if things are that simple. Only a tiny fraction of a percent of people who take up running seriously end up running as fast as a 2 08 marathon. Although Kawauchi did show some ability as a junior I do not think that many "experts" would have predicted that he would have run as fast as he has done and that is one of the reasons that he was not drafted into the Japanese corporate system at an early age. So far, it does not look as though he has wasted his abilities. He may be quite happy working and running and his work may be giving him the balance that he personally needs in his life. Being a full time runner may paradoxically stress him out too much and he would cease to enjoy his running - not a recipe for success.
I would not be so certain either that he needs an expert coach to help him run faster. For the coaching to work, a complex mix of personal, psychological as well as physical factors all need to match up for athlete and coach. As an example, Canova is widely regarded as one of the best marathon coaches in the world today and many (including myself) felt that when he was to start working with Ryan Hall that Ryan's career would get back on track. However things did not work out and it is difficult to blame either athlete or coach because the reasons behind what happened are likely to be very complex. Kawauchi could try to approach a top Japanese coach to direct his training and he may run 2-05 but he could just as easily end up running 2-20 - there is no way to know.
I agree that Kawauchi is an unusual case among top marathoners of today but for the time being, he seems to be doing what works for him.