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Takahashi Plans to Run Nagoya as Amateur

http://sports.nikkei.co.jp/index.aspx?n=SSXKB0323%2008122008

translated by Brett Larner

Management for former women's marathon legend Naoko Takahashi, who announced her retirement in October, revealed on Dec. 8 that Takahashi will run March's Nagoya International Women's Marathon in the individual entrant division, following through on a long-standing plan to run a 'Thank You' race for her fans. "I want to show my deepest gratitude to all those who cheered and supported me. I'll keep going on step by step as I look back at my running life," commented Takahashi.

Although she will run the race among the amateurs, Takahashi will head to Kagoshima Prefecture's Tokunoshima in February for a training camp as part of her preparation for Nagoya. Takahashi set her first Japanese national record at Nagoya in 1998, marking it as a special race in her heart. She won the 2000 Nagoya to qualify for the Sydney Olympics, where she went on to win Japan's first Olympic marathon gold medal. Takahashi finished 27th at the 2008 Nagoya while trying to qualify for the Beijing Olympic team.
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