Tohoku Update: Run a good race

June 14-17

More than 40 cyclists will pedal over 500 kilometres through picturesque mountain roads before ending at an Ichinoseki children’s home that benefits from proceeds of the event. ‘Receiving certificates of achievement from the kids themselves makes it a very emotional and tangible experience,’ says Rob Williams, founder of Knights in White Lycra, which has raised ¥15.6 million for Tohoku charities between 2012 and 2015.

In addition to this year’s annual ride, the organization is hosting a 24-hour jog around Tokyo’s Imperial Palace on April 6-7, a charity futsal tournament on April 21 at Tama Center, and a 55km ultra-marathon in December that takes runners from Tokyo to a children’s home in Saitama.

kiwl.net

September 15-16

This annual celebration of bicycles originated in 1952 to help the Ishinomaki region recover following World War II. Since relaunching in 2013 to foster tourism, Tour de Tohoku has attracted thousands of bike enthusiasts, from celebrities to fashion designers and Olympic athletes.

In last year’s event, participants chose from multiple routes ranging in distance from approximately 60km to 200km. This year’s courses (not yet finalised) will follow the Ishinomaki coastline, allowing riders to experience the sea, mountains and communities as well as local delicacies including freshly grilled scallops, Onagawa soup and sea pineapple.

tourdetohoku.yahoo.co.jp

October 13-14

After the March 11 tsunami ravaged Iwanuma, the city’s park was a flooded wasteland littered with debris and displaced cars. The seawalls and roads have now been rebuilt and the aim of the Tohoku-Miyagi Revive Marathon (pictured top) is to bring buzz and excitement back to the parks and recreation facilities.

The annual marathon that starts from Iwanuma Kaihin Ryokuchi Park enlists the services of nearly 4,000 local volunteers and features local gourmet goodies and medals crafted by renowned Ishinomaki stonemasons.

fukko-marathon.jp

March/April (2019)

This past March, more than 50,000 spectators cheered on 7,000-plus runners while enjoying cherry blossoms, local Tome beef sticks, fresh oysters from Sanriku and 138 types of sake from all six Tohoku prefectures. The festival also hosted samplings at local sake breweries and tours to the small coastal village of Minamisanriku, where participants can see reconstruction in action.

‘I got to know what happened during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and how resilient the people are,’ says Charles Chen, who has completed the marathon multiple times. ‘The marathon and festival connected me with local people and made me fall in love with this place.’

tohokumarathon.com