The Japanese marathon runner, Yuki Kawauchi, who has become famous for his victory at the Boston Marathon in severe weather conditions and who will enter the Guinness World records, will take part on 28th October in the 33rd Huawei Venicemarathon.
Yuki Kawauchi targets Venicemarathon 2018
The great piece of news was already leaked out soon after the epic victory at the Boston Marathon, but the real confirmation has just arrived: Yuki Kawauchi will run the 33rd Huawei Venicemarathon on 28th October. The Japanese marathon runner whose goal is to run 100 marathons under 2h20’, will run his 87th marathon in Venice.
Kawauchi has many followers and he is beloved in the sports world, not only because he is the hero who won the Boston marathon under severe weather conditions, but because he embodies the ideal athlete who runs for pleasure; the marathon runner “next door” or better he is known as the “citizen runner” given that he runs on Sundays to have fun with his friends as races are more challenging than a normal training.
Kawauchi is not a professional athlete but an amateur, who works full time for the government of Saitama Prefecture (40 hours per week) and he runs innumerable races, in some of them he was performing: in fact once he ran a half marathon wearing a Panda costume, or in another race he was wearing moccasins, a jacket and a tie. Due to his work he trains in his time off with his own expenses as he is not allowed to have nor manager, sponsorship neither appearance fees, but he loves his position, he is free to decide whatever he prefers.
Yuki Kawauchi is also the man of records. He is the only runner in the world who could run two marathons under 2h09’ only 14 days apart, the shortest time in which anyone has ever done this, in addition he ran 2h08’ marathons twice just 42 days apart.
Besides he ran faster than 2h12’ in marathon 26 times so far in his career and 79 times under 2h20’. Last March the Guinness Book of World Records certified him as the world record holder for most sub-2:20-marathons, and for sure he is going to improve both records before next Venicemarathon.
Since last January he has already run 5 marathons (winning four of them), 11 half marathons, 2 ultramarathons and through 2018 he is going to run another 5 marathons, one out of which is the Venicemarathon.
Sunday 28th October, he will run for the first time in Italy and he will participate in the 33rd Huawei Venicemarathon. “The Huawei Venicemarathon will be not only my first race in Italy but my first time ever in Italy. I’m really looking forward to it and will race to win. I can’t wait to eat authentic Italian cuisine either! Tiramisu is my favorite dessert. Between the race and the food I know it’s going to be a great weekend!” These are the first words of Yuki about Venicemarathon.
He then said: “As an athlete, my dream is to run 100 marathons under 2 hours and 20 minutes. My larger dream, however, is to combine my two passions, marathons and travel, by running marathons in every country all around the world”
In his Palmarès we can also read that he has a personal best time on the distance of 2h08’13” and that out of his 83 marathons he won 34 of them.
Yuki Kawauchi will be for sure one of the aspirant winners of the Huawei Venicemarathon and a further reason to choose Venicemarathon for your next challenge.