Yuki Kawauchi has no coach, no sponsor and works five days a week as a school clerk, but that did not stop the Japanese marathon runner from racing with the best at the World Athletics Championships.
Popularity
Dubbed the “strongest citizen runner in history”, the 26-year-old Kawauchi squeezes races into his weekends, travelling at home and overseas before returning to work every Monday. In doing so he has become a cult hero in Japan. “I want to show that you can compete at the world level even if you have a job like I do,” he said recently.
Going strong
Kawauchi’s success story has helped fuel the nation’s ever-intensifying enthusiasm for running, which saw a spike in 2011 after the earthquake and tsunami disaster prompted many to improve their fitness in preparation for emergencies. Kawauchi competed in the men’s marathon in Moscow yesterday, where he finished 18th, equalling his performance on his debut in 2011.
Dedication
Despite having little time to spare between his administrative job at a school north of Tokyo, Kawauchi has run in 22 long-distance events this year, including a 50-kilometre "ultramarathon", in which he collapsed with heat stroke.
Independence
Five men and three women, including the 2004 Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi, make up Japan's squad for Moscow. All but Kawauchi belong to corporate teams – semi-professionals hired by companies as ordinary workers but allowed to focus on training and competing to promote brand awareness."In domestic races, I feel that I must not be beaten by corporate teams," Kawauchi said, adding that rivalries are put aside when representing Japan.
– Agence France-Presse
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
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The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape
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How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
HOW TO WATCH
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
