Yuki Kawauchi has won more than 30 career marathons and finished 12 in 2017 alone. Known as the "citizen runner," “rebel government clerk” and “emperor of pain,” he fits in his training along with a full-time job as a government employee, bucking the national trend where many elite runners compete full time on corporate teams.
Here are some of Kawauchi's accomplishments:
Name: Yuki Kawauchi
Country of Origin: Japan
Standout Race:
Before becoming the 2018 Boston Marathon champion amidst freezing temperatures and pouring rain (where he said, “for me, these are the best conditions possible”), Kawauchi thundered onto the global stage when he placed third at the 2011 Tokyo Marathon. He explained his marathon tactics in a post-race interview this way: “Every time I run, it’s with the mindset that if I die at this race, it’s ok.” Kawauchi seeks to become the first Chicago Marathon champion from Japan since Toshihiko Seko took the crown in 1986.
More About Yuki Kawauchi:
Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle
He has raced more than 20 times in 2018, including running the Kuki Half Marathon dressed in a panda suit and setting a course record at the Yatsugatake Nobeyama 71K ultramarathon in May (he won by 30 minutes).
