Pretty amazing. Japanese amateur Yuki Kawauchi with a 5k pr of 13:59 and a 10k pr of 29:02, who has a full-time office job, ran 2:08:37 in Japan today and then fainted at the finish.
More from the Japan running blog:
http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com/2011/02/mekonnen-wins-tokyo-marathon-amateur.html
Talk about dreams becoming reality.
If anyone needed proof that the marathon and 10k are completely different events this is it.
The recap above is the best and has Kawauchi's background but no quotes from him. Kawauchi says in the IAAF recap, "I was shooting for a top eight position and sub-2:10 time. I never even imagined myself running 2:08"
http://www.iaaf.org/LRR11/news/newsid=59407.html
13:59 5k, 29:02 10k Japanese AMATEUR Runs 2:08:37 at Tokyo Marathon and Passes Out
Report Thread
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Absolutely amazing. Any videos available yet?
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Incredible run. Apparently all our boys need to do to run under 2:10 is drop their chin to their chest and hammer at 40km. Only kidding. Great report by Brett.
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Yamato damashii kara
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.... god damn...
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Yuki MF Kawauchi. Sweet jesus
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That is ridiculous. 2:08:37 is equivalent to a sub 28 10k. That must have been the most painful run of that guy's life.
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I'm interested in seeing this on video as well. I like visuals. Makes it more realistic for me.
Thanks for sharing, Wejo. -
The problem with your premise is that you don't know what sort of 10k shape Kauwachi had going into this race.
His 2:12 was in poor racing conditions; he was probably overtrained or still not quite recovered when he ran that 29 10k; and as you know, his half marathon best is 1:02:40 -- suggesting 2:10 shape at least. If he trained through for the half marathon best, a < 2:09 would not be too much of a surprise. Still, a good story. -
Nothing short of incredible. The guy is everything what an American marathoner should be. Amazing performance and I wish Kawauchi the best at WCS and future Marathons.
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wejo wrote:
who has a full-time office job
...for the government. :-)
Anyway, this is awesome. Article says he is going to the Worlds this year. Pretty sure his employer is going to release him from work for the next couple of years or so. Or no? How is that working over there? Aren't those corporate teams trying to hire him now? -
Damn. I wish I had that will power
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includes the japanese guy passing out
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pure balls
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I PUT DA TEAM ON MY BACK
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Awesome. 101%.
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help me out wrote:
I PUT DA TEAM ON MY BACK
dar-REN, Shar-PAWH -
Outstanding run by Yuki. Proof if your willing to make some serious sacrifices no time is out of reach. It is not a shock, most stories likes these come from people who were incredibly devoted and steadfast in not giving up on their goal, working full time or not. Great example for others to keep training hard.
Nate -
Damn. Dude is a beast!