Father-son tandem running team return back from Tokyo Marathon

A man got a hero’s welcome when he returned to the University at Albany on Thursday.

Seamus Evans and his father Sean spent the past week in Tokyo. They became the first tandem team to ever race in the Tokyo Marathon. They finished 26.2 miles in just three hours and 15 minutes. That’s a time under an eight-minute mile.

The Evans family has been all over the world – from their inspiring race across America to a personal best at the Boston Marathon last year.

Sean brings the legs of an ultra-marathon runner and Seamus brings the heart of a champion.

“Really, our reason for being there was so that more individuals like Seamus can have an opportunity to participate and be part of that running community. I knew we would continue to do stuff locally, but to be able to do it globally is something else,” Sean said. “He is inspiring so many other people out there. He should be so proud of himself.”

Seamus made sure not to forget about his friends back home while in Japan. The Albany freshman bought back a pair of purple-and-gold chopsticks, which he gifted to the school’s president.

They have their sights set on the Boston Marathon in about five weeks.