Asia-Pacific
GALLERYKadena welcomes 13,000 runners for Okinawa Marathon
By
Stars and Stripes February 20, 2014
Lisa Tourtelot tourtelot.lisa@stripes.com
Stars and Stripes February 20, 2014
Runners enter the base during on of the final stretches of the Okinawa Marathon at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Feb. 16, 2014. (Lisa Tourtelot/Stars and Stripes)
Runners enter the base during on of the final stretches of the Okinawa Marathon at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Feb. 16, 2014. (Lisa Tourtelot/Stars and Stripes)
Spectators greet runners during the 22nd Annual Okinawa Marathon at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Feb. 16, 2014. (Lisa Tourtelot/Stars and Stripes)
Spectators cheer on some of the fastest runners during the 22nd Annual Okinawa Marathon at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Feb. 16, 2014. ( Lisa Tourtelot/Stars and Stripes)
Some participants run in wild costumes during the Okinawa Marathon at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Feb. 16, 2014. (Lisa Tourtelot/Stars and Stripes)
Volunteers stand ready with cups of water for runners during the Okinawa Marathon at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Feb. 16, 2014. (Lisa Tourtelot/Stars and Stripes)
Volunteers offer water and snacks for runners during the 22nd Annual Okinawa Marathon at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Feb. 16, 2014. (Lisa Tourtelot/Stars and Stripes)
Spectators cheer on runners during the Okinawa Marathon at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Feb. 16, 2014. (Lisa Tourtelot/Stars and Stripes)
Spirits remain high as runners reach the 31.6-kilometer marker of the Okinawa Marathon at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Feb. 16, 2014. (Lisa Tourtelot/Stars and Stripes)
The race route stretches into the distance during the Okinawa Marathon at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Feb. 16, 2014. (Lisa Tourtelot/Stars and Stripes)
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa β Kadena Air Base opened its gates recently for 13,000 runners participating in the 22nd Annual Okinawa Marathon.
The course snaked around the island, including a stretch through the base. Almost 450 volunteers turned out Sunday on Kadena to man water and snack stations for the weary runners, who included Okinawans, Japanese mainlanders and American servicemembers, family members and other SOFA personnel.
βIt's a good opportunity to get involved with the local community,β said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jonathan Doerr, a fuels specialist with the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron, who spent the day ensuring water cups stayed full and ready for every runner coming by his station on Kadena.
The marathon is meant to encourage fitness throughout Okinawa, as well as promote international cultural exchange.
The race began and ended at the Okinawa Prefectural Comprehensive Park. Takoro Nakanishi, of Fukuoka prefecture, crossed the finish line first with a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 12 seconds.