I am one of those runners whom Walt puts through their paces every Saturday. Walt is a loving, sharing, compassionate leader..
He guides those who most need guidance, the “slowbies” who need encouragement and the “oldies” ( like me) who have to be reassured that they are good enough to do a marathon.. We are the most difficult group to lead and teach.

Without necesarily intending to do so, he also builds brofges of understanding between the Asian world and the rest of the tworld . At least once on every run, he tells us stories of his growing up in a world of Asian family. He saves the story ubtil the end of the run as a reward.. Our group consiss of Asians, Latinos, African-Americans, Anglos,young and old and all religions. We are as mixed as anygroup could be, et we pull together with a common goal under Walt’s leadershp. He shares with us the warmth and the hardships of being in an Asian family in a non Asian world.

My knowledge of Japanese is extremely linited, almost non-existent, but I think I do know the right words to describe Walt -San. He is Ichi Ban.

Jay Foonberg