Covid conditions give locals a chance at Fukuoka

In the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon back in March he ran a respectable 2:19:51. “Fukuoka is an elite race,” he said. “To be honest I didn’t think I had a chance.” But in a field of 94 limited by coronavirus conditions to only Japanese residents his Lake Biwa time earned him bib number 83 and he hopes to break 2:15. “Fast times will come later,” he said. “Before anything else I just want to enjoy this one.”

Still in his first year of full-time work, it’s a challenge for him to balance his job and training but: “I’ve been able to still train six days a week. I want to show younger athletes that you can still have a career in athletics even if you’re in the workplace.”