Citizen Runner Yuki Kawauchi runs half-marathon in a suit in 66 mins

It's been a while since I had a post up about Yuki Kawauchi, probably one of the most famous Japanese runners in the world at this stage. Known as the 'Citizen Runner' because he is a part time athlete and noted for his extreme effort in races, he was in action recently in the Kuki Half-Marathon in Japan. This time, he took time out to run the race in a full suit as you can see from the photo.

He completed the half-marathon course in a time of 1:06:42 and finished in third place. This was despite the fact that he had run a full marathon in 2:11:53 just one week before.

While Kawauchi's time is about 18 minutes faster than the official Guinness World Record of 1:24:41 for a half-marathon in a suit, it won't count as an official record as the course wasn't certified. What a time though!

Japanese man sets new 100m record...

Kenichi Ito from Japan recently set a new record for the 100m by 'running' on all fours! Taking 17.47 seconds, it was a new Guinness World record. Apparently, his style is based on the African Patas monkey and it has taken him nine years to perfect his technique.


Why anyone would want to 'run' on all fours is another question? Only in Japan ;o)

Joanne Cuddihy runs 51.45 in Japan and qualifies for London

Last night in Japan, Joanne Cuddihy ran 51.45 in a 400 metre race which has qualified her for the 2012 Olympics in London. Her time in the 400m race at the Shizuoka International Track and Field Meet was 51.45, just ten one hundredths of a second inside the Olympic 'A' qualifying time of 51.55.

Joanne won the Australian National Championships back in April with a time of 51.69.

The Kilkenny City Harriers runner will next compete in the Golden Grand Prix in Kawasaki this week where she is hoping to further improve on this time, according to Athletics Ireland.

Updated 6th May 2012...Joanne Cuddihy (Kilkenny AC) finished second in the 400m in Golden Grand Prix in Kawasaki, Japan in 51.78, with the American Mary Wineberg third in 52.36. The World Champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana won the race in 50.52.

Yuki Kawauchi wins Saitama Half-Marathon...

Remember this guy? Yuki Kawauchi, otherwise known as the 'citizen runner' is a self coached runner in Japan who was trying to get on the national Olympic team. He had a 'poor' run in the Tokyo Marathon with a time of 2:12:51 and he shaved his head afterwards as a sign of his shame.

Now just two weeks later, he was back in action again last weekend when he won the Saitama Half-Marathon in a time of 64:26. After the race, he said..."It's a tough, undulating course, so I think a 64 is pretty good here. People were cheering and it got me going.  When they're calling out, 'Do your best!' that's all you can do.  In the sense of helping me focus toward doing my best in achieving my next goal it was a good race.  At Tokyo next year I want to make up for what happened this year."

Hair or no hair, I don't think we've heard the last of Yuki.

Alistair Cragg finishes 65th in Japanese Half-Marathon...

In the 2012 Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon in Japan on Sunday (5th Feb 2012), Alistair Cragg finished 65th in a time of 1:03:39.

Men
1. Matthew Kisorio (Kenya) - 1:00:02
2. Daniel Gitau (Kenya/Team Fujitsu) - 1:01:02 - PB
3. Jacob Wanjuki (Kenya/Team Aichi Seiko) - 1:01:03
4. Benjamin Gandu (Kenya/Nihon Univ.) - 1:01:06 - PB
5. Yusuke Takabayashi (Team Toyota) - 1:01:31 - PB

65. Alistair Cragg (Ireland) - 1:03:39

I have no further info as to why he ran what was a slow time for someone of his ability. In the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan last December , he went through the half-way mark in 1:03:29 although he later pulled out of the race. In the New York City Half-Marathon on the 19th of March 2011, he set a new Irish record by running 1:00:49.

Cragg posts a DNF at the Fukuoka Marathon

Irelands Alistair Cragg had to pull out of the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan on Sunday. While he was up with the leaders at the 25 km mark, he pulled out not long after.

This is obviously a very disappointing result for the Irish 5,000m and 10,000m record holder. In his previous Marathon in Boston last April, he had to pull out as well.

In a previous interview in October, Cragg had said that he was targetting a sub 2:10 Marathon over the winter. For the moment though, he still has to prove that he can make the transition to the longer distance.