Culver City Observer -

Are you a serious marathon runner? Can you run a full marathon under four hours and 10 minutes? Yes, we took five minutes off the time because we are looking for really serious runners.

The Culver City Sister City Committee, a non-profit international and intercultural community organization, is looking for one male and one female to run in the 23rd Annual Osaka Senshu International City Marathon scheduled for Feb. 21, 2016 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 you 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, be able to run a mostly flat course in winter conditions, be keen on representing Culver City and be interested in, embracing, contributing and participating in the sister city relationship while in Kaizuka and upon your return home.

Currently, expenses covered include airfare, lodgings, meals and sightseeing. You must have your own international insurance.

Priority for qualified runners given to Culver City residents, working or living within a two mile radius not excluded; must have participated in full marathon runs during the last two years (times must be verified) and completed the run within four hours and 15 minutes. You will be required to become a member of the Culver City Sister City Committee.

Additionally, you will agree to reciprocate and host, at your home, a Kaizuka runner arriving in February 2016 to participate in the Los Angeles Marathon on behalf of Kaizuka City and Culver City.

If you are interested in applying for this once in a lifetime opportunity please contact Tim Petersen, Kaizuka Marathon Chair directly at tim@tpaarchitecture.com or at the Culver City Sister City Committee’s email box ccscc.inc@gmail.com. Applications may be downloaded currently from http://www.culvercitysistercitycommittee.org

All completed applications must be returned via email to ccscc.inc@gmail.com or mailed and received no later than November 20, 2015 to Culver City Sister City Committee P.O. Box 1072, Culver City, CA 90232.