Who Wore Bib 148 in Tokyo?--What a Display of Toughness and Courage

Cool story

Hayasaka Koji

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?number=148&search=%E6%A4%9C%E7%B4%A2%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B&from=&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fp.marathon.tokyo%2Fphp%2Fnumber.php&f=1

Ackley wrote:

Hayasaka Koji

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?number=148&search=%E6%A4%9C%E7%B4%A2%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B&from=&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fp.marathon.tokyo%2Fphp%2Fnumber.php&f=1

Thanks, Ackley! Looks like Koji ran a smart race, too. I did not see an age or finish time, though.

I difn't think that he had a chance. Boy was I wrong.

I was also going to post the same about this guy - but I couldn't remember his bib number. Very tough and inspiring! I couldn't figure if he was trying so hard to beat the first woman, or killing himself to break 2:20. Either way, I was inspired by his grit and determination. Half a world away, he made a stranger's Sunday long run easier!

Barabbas wrote:

I was also going to post the same about this guy - but I couldn't remember his bib number. Very tough and inspiring! I couldn't figure if he was trying so hard to beat the first woman, or killing himself to break 2:20. Either way, I was inspired by his grit and determination. Half a world away, he made a stranger's Sunday long run easier!

Yes, a half a world away, he will inspire me in my run tomorrow. This is the beauty of running (and television, I suppose).

You are Toast wrote:

I difn't think that he had a chance. Boy was I wrong.

My thoughts exactly. I was laughing at this guy trying so very hard not to get chicked...figured he'd blow up at any moment. I was astonished to see him still hanging in there, just ahead of her, at the finish. As someone who has a very awkward looking running stride even at a "comfortable" pace, this guy is a great inspiration.

amkelley wrote:

You are Toast wrote:

I difn't think that he had a chance. Boy was I wrong.

My thoughts exactly. I was laughing at this guy trying so very hard not to get chicked...figured he'd blow up at any moment. I was astonished to see him still hanging in there, just ahead of her, at the finish. As someone who has a very awkward looking running stride even at a "comfortable" pace, this guy is a great inspiration.

I, too, did not think he had a chance. When she first came up on him and passed him, I thought it was over for him. Shortly thereafter, he answered, and managed to stay ahead, even as she kept on his heels. It then went to a commercial, and to some other aspects of the race. When it came back to show the women's winner getting near the line, I was astonished to see Koji there with her, just ahead of her...with the same expression on his face.

What a great run. One of the best I have seen. Period.

this is how i feel at practice everyday :((

The guy LOOKED like an athlete, not like the stick figure women's winner Chepchirchirchirchir.

She is a human pipe cleaner.

Practice makes perfect.

Winners never quit; quitters never win.

:-)

Clean Harry wrote:

The guy LOOKED like an athlete, not like the stick figure women's winner Chepchirchirchirchir.

She is a human pipe cleaner.

Yes, he looked very athletic. In fact, I thought his thighs seemed unusually meaty for a distance runner. Koji looked tough, indeed, in more than one way.

You judge how good a run is based on how well they do compared to how miserable they made it look?

Video please?

None up yet. Maybe in the next few days....

seoexpert wrote:

Video please?

Clean Harry wrote:

The guy LOOKED like an athlete, not like the stick figure women's winner Chepchirchirchirchir.

She is a human pipe cleaner.

Obviously your definition of "looks like an athlete" is flawed.

outsiderunner wrote:

Watching that guy battle the women's winner, who ran race a great race, was truly inspiring. His torso pitched forward, and his arms hanging low, he hung on in the last few miles and beat one of the best women runners in the world, and some other good runners, too...going 2:19:xx. I could see the pain in that guy's face. That race really meant something to him. He drew from the depths of his being, and would not be denied. Truly inspiring...

He was just out of the top 50, and I could not find his name or results. No seachable results up when I checked. Anyone know who he is?

Wow, so many Japanese under 2:20. Great job, guys. I hate to say it, but Americans are looking wimpier and wimpier.

Hopefully the organizers gave him (and all the others finishing ahead) more prize money than the women's winner as he beat her and put in a superior athletic performance. Prizes in races should based on performance and not on societal prejudices such as ageism or sexism.

punnerate wrote:

Clean Harry wrote:

The guy LOOKED like an athlete, not like the stick figure women's winner Chepchirchirchirchir.

She is a human pipe cleaner.

Obviously your definition of "looks like an athlete" is flawed.

You put number 148 next to Chepchirchirchir and ask 10 people who they would consider a pro athlete and 11 would point to the gentleman.

Probably half of the surveyed would take up a collection for a sandwich for the human matchstick to eat.

It looks like this was only the third time he's broken 2:20. 2:18:24 PB:

http://more.arrs.net/runner/41146

Halfway in 1:08:59, so he was going for it:

http://www.marathon.tokyo/media/press-release/pdf/1672b5976c5401c4de8204982a7faac6.pdf

He's from Ishinomaki, one of the towns that was hit the worst by the tsunami in 2011. Awesome run.