MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Local competitors and service members gathered Sunday at the IronWorks Gym here to compete in the first ever Heat the Streets duathlon.
“This was the first time we did this event. Last year, we did just a run. This year, it was more of a duathlon with the run, bike run, and I think we got more participants this year than last year,” said Brian Wilson, assistant athletics director.
With a team time of 1 hour, 5 minutes and 57 seconds, team Vikings took home the firstplace team trophy.
“A lot of the local racers are very, very strong,” said Todd Peterson, The Vikings team runner. “Having two strong runners and a really strong biker is what gave us an advantage.”
Sugino Shin took first place for the individual racers with a completion time of 1 hour, 8 minutes and 49 seconds.
The competition was a 19-mile race consisting of two 2.5-mile runs and a 14-mile bike ride around the station.
Competitors were given the opportunity to run the race as a team or individually.
“Actually, I run about seven miles every morning, and this race was 2.5 miles in the beginning and 2.5 miles in the end. So that’s what helped prepare me for that aspect of the race,” said Dominic Kimzey, Heat the Streets individual runner.
After stretching and being briefed on the race, competitors lined at the start to begin the first 2.5-mile run.
“We were in about fourth after the first run, but we kept confidence in our team,” said Peterson.
After completing the first run, competitors transitioned to the three-lap, 14-mile biking portion of the race.
“Lap one on the bike, I was all by myself. There was nobody in front or behind of me,” said Kimzey. “Finally, on lap two there was somebody in front of me, and I just picked up on them and rode them the last two laps.”
After the biking portion was done, one more 2.5-mile run was all that stood between competitors and the finish line.
There was no obvious distinction between team and individual runners, but Kimzey had his own method in determining who was who.
“You can see how their stride was and how fast they were going,” said Kimzey. “They had fresh legs, so it was very easy to identify them.”
There were also prizes given to first place individual and team runners for several age groups.
“Even though they do have these same similar competitions off base out in town, most Americans really don’t get the opportunity to go out there and compete, said Wilson. “When the Japanese come here, I think it’s like a challenge to compete against the U.S. and I think they enjoy it.”
The upcoming Hagi Half Marathon in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, is the next event in the duathlon series to take place Sunday.