From Wrestler to Ultra Marathon Runner – Hilo’s Rick Otani

Over the years, covering prep sports for the Trib, I’ve come to realize that wrestlers are one of the best conditioned athletes around.

In my writing for this column I’ve never highlighted a former prep wrestler, at least, until now.

I actually met Richard Otani a few years ago, but never realized he was a four year high school wrestler at 112 pounds and he wrestled in college at 118.

“My normal weight was 145 and I had to jog extra miles and diet completely to make weight,” he said.  “It took a lot of self discipline so I ran during dinner hours after school.”

From wrestling Otani learned to control his primal urge of hunger and thirst and the like.

“It helps deal with pain and discomfort, knowing that it is all temporary,” he said.  “There is a finite amount of hurt during any event and we just need to condition our minds to accept it.”

The sport of wrestling had taken a toll on his upper body as Otani had a torn rotator cuff and in January of2003 had surgery to repair it.

“I needed a goal to keep from gaining weight after the injury,” Otani said.  “My buddy told me to start some cardio and I decided to run a marathon.”

Otani had never run any race prior to his injury, let alone a marathon distance of 26.2 miles, but here he was at the inaugural Akron Marathon in October 2003.

“I trained for a marathon with the idea of only doing it one time,” Otani said.  “But since I already had a new pair of shoes I decided to just keep running marathons until it got boring.”

For Otani that first marathon became a life changing experience. 

“I hadn’t run a step in over 20 years and when I first started training I couldn’t run around my block which was only 7 tenths of a mile,” Otani said.

To train for his first marathon Otani downloaded the “Fall Beginners Training Plan” from Runners World and followed it exactly.

Otani started training in February and had lots of time to prepare as the race was 8 months away.

“I finished in a time of 4 hours and 44 minutes and I felt great afterwards,” he said.  “When I saw that finish line an overwhelming sense of joy and pride welled inside and I shed a tear knowing I’d accomplished my goal.”

In 2007 Otani ran the Cleveland Marathon and he inadvertently made a wrong turn which became a marathon changing experience.

The marathon course co mingled with the half marathon course and Otani ended up running the full 26.2 miles with a few extra miles for good measure.

“There was no one directing runners and only 8 inch cones marking the course,” he said.  “I then realized that I’d gone off course and ended up running around 30 miles in a time of 4:52.”

A friend later told Otani that he had run close to 50K, which is considered an Ultra Marathon distance and the rest is history.

“I had no idea there were longer distance races than a marathon and that inadvertent mistake eventually got me into ultra running,” Otani said.

While living in Ohio, Otani also met his running wife, Lee Collins, who was visiting and participating in a running forum.

Otani came to visit the Big Island in 2009 and moved permanently in September of the same year.

 “I typically run six days a week,” Otani said.  “My low weekly mileage would be 30 miles and my high mileage would be 100 miles during the week.”

As for diet Otani has gotten hooked on salads for dinner.

“My wife Lee always makes sure there are lots of green veggies on my plate,” he said.  “We also get banana, papaya, lettuce, peppers, and tomatoes from the Hilo Farmers Market.”

Otani has also switched from pastries in the morning for breakfast to the more healthful and satisfying oatmeal.

Otani has since graduated from the marathon to doing ultra marathons and considers his favorite race the Burning River 100 mile run.  He finished the race in 28 hours, 48 minutes and 39 seconds.

“I completed Burning River in August 2009 and it changed me forever, just like my first marathon did,” he said.

 “My running week is Tuesday to Sunday with Monday being my day of rest,” he said.  “I like to get in a long run of at least 15 miles and one hill workout.”

Otani now has his sights set on doing the Tahoe 100 mile ultra.

“The average elevation is 8,200 feet and has some of the most beautiful trails and views in the world,” Otani said.  “I couldn’t finish last year as my lungs became too congested from all the dust and I couldn’t breathe at night during my second loop.”

“I firmly believe that if world leaders had to train together to run a marathon there would be no wars,” Otani said.  “You never feel worse after a run than before.”

And someday should you happen to see a happy father having his daughter home for the summer remember to smile, say “woof” and never shy away from “Running with the Big Dog.”

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Hilo to Volcano 50K Individual Results

Big Island Road Runners Hilo to Volcano 50k Ultramarathon / Relay January 22, 2011 Volcano, Hawaii 6:00 am / 6:30 am
Individuals						Pace
Plc	Name	Division		City, State	Time	(min/mi)
1	Daniel Hodel	<<< Overall >>>		Kailua-Kona, HI	4:22:36	8:27
2	Ryun Carver	<<< Overall >>>		Kailua-Kona, HI	4:47:00	9:14
3	Staci Studer	<<< Overall >>>	F	Kailua-Kona, HI	4:59:47	9:39
4	Nick Muragin	<<< Overall >>>		Ninole, HI	5:05:41	9:50
5	John Lyle	++ Master ++		Volcano, HI	5:06:52	9:53
6	Doug Andrews	Open		Kailua-Kona, HI	5:07:34	9:54
7	Timm Vedder	** Military **		Waipahu, HI	5:10:05	9:59
8	Amy Ray-McWhinney	<<< Overall >>>	F	Keaau, HI	5:20:35	10:19
9	Fumitaka Hatanaka	Master		New York, NY	5:26:27	10:30
10	Tanya Gusarchuk	<<< Overall >>>	F	Kailua-Kona, HI	5:28:45	10:35
11	Susan Larsen	++ Master ++	F	Ogden, UT	5:29:40	10:37
12	Mason Akers	Open		Hilo, HI	5:43:51	11:04
13	Sally Marrack	Master	F	Hilo, HI	5:44:34	11:05
14	Brian Yannutz	Open		Hilo, HI	5:57:21	11:30
15	Heather Howells	Master	F	Laie, HI	5:58:06	11:32
16	Victor Eisen	Master		Pahoa, HI	6:14:09	12:03
17	Bryan Green	Open		Hilo, HI	6:31:16	12:36
18	Anna Abdul	Open	F	Kurtistown, HI	6:34:42	12:42
19	Stan Fortuna	Master		Hilo, HI	6:46:19	13:05
20	Filiesha LeRand	Master	F	Volcano, HI	7:27:06	14:23
21	Les Martisko	Master		Pepeekeo, HI	7:34:03	14:37
22	Morgen Bahurinsky	Master	F	Hilo, HI	7:39:36	14:48
23	Rick Otani	Master		Hilo, HI	7:45:32	14:59
24	Laurence Macon	Master		San Antonio, TX	7:53:33	15:15
25	Mike Brooks	Master		Danville, ME	8:41:14	16:47
26	Jeffrey Vieyra	Master		Lafayette, CA	8:43:05	16:50
27	Walt Prescott	Master		Decatur, GA	8:45:01	16:54
28	Frank Bartocci	Master		Rochester, MN	8:49:29	17:03
29	Jim Simpson	Master		Huntington Beach, CA	8:55:09	17:13
30	Lee Collins	Master	F	Hilo, HI	DNF
31	Allan Couch	Master		Kingsport, TN	DNS
32	Edmund Loy	Open		Honolulu, HI	DNS

Scholarship 5K Race Results

BIRR president, Steve Pavao, presented $1000 checks to Waiakea's Kaitlyn Chock and Hilo's Sai Weiss following the 5K event

Big Island Road Runners Scholarship 5k Run     May 23, 2010       Coconut Island, 7:30am

Place	Name	Division	Female	Time
1	Alan Ryan	30-39			:	18	:	07
2	Jackson Halford	1-19			:	18	:	08
3	Justin Pang	1-19			:	18	:	15
4	Rick Michels	1-19			:	18	:	57
5	Steve Pavao	50-59			:	20	:	07
6	Tchad Henderson	30-39			:	20	:	24
7	Stuart Miyashiro	50-59			:	20	:	30
8	Sai Weiss	1-19			:	20	:	35
9	Linden Villena	30-39			:	21	:	29
10	Choy Bacor	30-39			:	21	:	30
11	Caleb J. Westfall	30-39			:	22	:	04
12	Lory Hunter	40-49	1		:	22	:	29
13	Zandrix Acob	1-19			:	22	:	41
14	DJ Blinn	60 & over			:	22	:	49
15	Daniel Okubo	1-19			:	23	:	27
16	Rob Van Geen	40-49			:	23	:	54
17	Thomas Fratinardo	40-49			:	23	:	54
18	James Tuscany	50-59			:	24	:	28
19	Eric Young	1-19			:	24	:	37
20	Kim Rojo	30-39	2		:	24	:	40
21	Daysen Masuda	1-19			:	24	:	50
22	Kelly Freitas	50-59			:	25	:	06
23	Robert Belcher	50-59			:	25		08
24	Shell Hamilton	20-24	3		:	25	:	23
25	Charles Keane	50-59			:	25	:	40
26	Big Dog	60 & over			:	25	:	40
27	Harvey Nakasone	50-59			:	26	:	13
28	Joanne Pocsidio	40-45	4		:	27	:	01
29	Firmin Tehero	50-59			:	27	:	38
30	Terran Kaleiwahea	1-19			:	28	:	30
31	Kevin Iwasaki	20-29			:	28	:	38
32	Kimo Like	1-19			:	29	:	02
33	Anthony Ganancial	30-39			:	29	:	09
34	Kekoa Kalahiki	1-19			:	29	:	13
35	Kristen Spees	20-29	5		:	29	:	51
36	Kim Furumo	50-51	6		:	29	:	54
37	Michelle Vieira	20-29	7		:	30	:	30
38	Dennis Shigioka	60 & over			:	30	:	52
39	Caleb R. Westfall	1-19			:	31	:	21
40	Pearl Acob	30-39	8		:	31	:	29
41	Bill Sakovich	60 & over			:	31	:	30
42	Cedrick Roberts-Perry	1-19			:	31	:	44
43	Adrel Vicente	30-39			:	32	:	10
44	Kyle Wana	1-19			:	32	:	42
45	Tyler Gerken	1-19			:	32	:	58
46	Kahea Kanuha	1-19	9		:	33	:	12
47	Sam Marrack	1-19	10		:	34	:	16
48	Christin DeCoito	1-19	11		:	34	:	34
49	Melia Taganas	1-19	12		:	34	:	46
50	Rick Otani	50-59			:	34	:	46
51	Lee Collins	50-59	13		:	34	:	47
52	Kainoa Crum	1-19			:	35	:	05
53	Nainoa Calip	1-19			:	35	:	35
54	Collen Fratinardo	50-54	14		:	37	:	19
55	Makoa Carreira	1-19			:	39		07
56	Boyd Ramos	1-19			:	39	:	07
57	Leah Pukahi	30-39	15		:	39	:	24
58	Micah Keawe	1-19			:	39	:	25
59	Michele Macanas	40-44	16		:	40	:	18
60	Piikea Miller	1-19	17		:	40	:	18
61	Kawehi Pua Kaikaina	1-19	18		:	40	:	59
62	Kiani Matsumoto	1-19	19		:	41	:	00
63	Kawika Kekaualua	1-19			:	41	:	50
64	Carle-Ann Mata	1-19	20		:	41	:	54
65	Ashley Deguzman-H.	1-19	21		:	41	:	58
66	NO NAME	NO AGE			:	44	:	19
67	Kiley Kelson	1-19	22		:	44	:	38
68	Iwalani Kaili	NO AGE			:	44	:	38
69	Gene Madriaga	1-19			:	46	:	33
70	Maka Branco	1-19			:	46	:	33
71	Casey Chai	1-19			:	47	:	02
72	John Fratinardo	1-19			:	47	:	02
73	Elijah Pung	1-19			:	47	:	02
74	John Marrack	1-19			:	47	:	18
75	Sally Marrack	30-39	23		:	47	:	19

For the story on the Scholarship Run event go to:  https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/chock-weiss-honored-at-road-runners-scholarship-5k/