By Nancy Joujon-Roche
Are you a serious marathon runner? Can you run a full marathon under 4 hours and 10 minutes? The Culver City Sister City Committee, a non-profit international and intercultural community organization, is looking for one male and one female runner to run the 26th Annual Osaka Senshu International City Marathon scheduled for Feb. 17, 2019, and be a guest and hosted by our sister city Kaizuka, Japan.
As good citizen diplomats, the two selected runners will reside with Kaizuka host families during the five-day stay. As participants, they will meet other sister city runners as well as international runners representing many cities in Osaka.
Applicants must be over 18 years of age, be regular runners, fit and in training and be able to run a mostly flat course in winter conditions. They must also be keen on representing Culver City and be interested in embracing, contributing and participating in the sister city relationship while in Kaizuka and upon their return home. Currently, expenses covered include airfare, lodgings, meals, and sightseeing. Participants must have their own international insurance.
Priority will be given to Culver City residents, working or living within a 2-mile radius not excluded. Applicants must have participated in a full marathon within the last two years (times must be verified) and completed the run within 4 hours and 15 minutes. Selected participants will be required to become a member of the Culver City Sister City Committee. Additionally, participants will reciprocate and host at their homes a Kaizuka runner arriving in March 2019 to participate in the Los Angeles.
If you are interested in applying for this exciting, once in a lifetime opportunity, please contact David Winslow, Kaizuka Marathon Chair directly at winslettes@aol.com or at the Culver City Sister City Committee’s email box ccscc.inc@gmail.com. Please go the Culver City Sister City Committee website to submit the application, http://www.culvercitysistercitycommittee.org/marathon.php. Applications may also be sent via USPS to Culver City Sister City Committee P.O. Box 1072, Culver City, CA 90232. All completed applications must be received no later than Sept. 14, 2018.