Mt. Diablo Branch, U.S.A. / May 2010 - Contributor: Branch Master Makoto Hagata

Kaiso Day at Mt. Diablo Branch

Relaxed looks after run.

Gassho

In the typical sunny California morning on May 15th, Mt. Diablo Branch kenshi, family, friends and dogs (?) started 3rd Kaiso Day Relay Marathon.

Tracing like Soen (overlapped double circles), two people run 1/10th of mile opposite directions at the same time and relayed to next runners totaling 262 legs to complete 26.2 miles (42.195 km). Both familiar faces and new faces, it took 1 hour and 44 minutes at this time. The older and very younger runners demonstrated their sprits to continue running to relay one after another. We touched each hands to relay and exchanged high-five when runners meet somewhere on the circle.

Forming a long line.

"I am faster than my dog."

There were accidental and non intentional "Short cuts" and "Detours", we did came up to finish the complete distance with a lot of laughs and cheering. In this year, both starting and finishing run were with everyone.

A runner from SF Giants?

Father run with daughter

There was another group of young kids enjoying field soccer next to us. They came after we started running and left before we finished. They might wonder what and why we kept nothing but running. Some contributed one run while some run more than a dozen times. Some family member competed each other. Without the spirits of working and helping together, it is not easy to run such a long distance. We don't have any strong runner like our friend branch of Westminster California has. If we run one person at a time, it would take us about 3 and half hours to reach the finish line. The world fastest marathon runner can finish the same distance in a little shy over 2 hours. Can you believe it? Well, we stick on the ground and keep spreading the spirit of building an ideal world through Shorinji Kempo.

We did it again! Kesshu

After we finished running, we celebrated the long continuing Mt. Diablo Branch with demonstrations. Some of participants never seen the Shorinji Kempo Embu and expressed their excitements, particularly a bark from the participating dog. And it was closed by a Embu with branch master and a senior kenshi, Mr. Kenichi Takahashi.

It was indeed difficult to do demonstration while good smell from a lot of potluck food filled the Ambrose Recreation Center's auditorium. Everyone seemed to be happy with spending a half day filled with activities and variety of international foods.

We completely cleaned the auditorium better than before we came in. Our self oriented voluntary attitudes have been the most favored member, the best and longest lasting activity at the center. And the record continues to grow. The branch master took the all activities in both video and photos with some help. He made them in a DVD and all participants received it to review with joy.

We will continue this Relay Marathon to realize the power of "Helping each other".

Kesshu

 

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