japan running news

On Apr. 10, 1999 Wrold Championships silver medalist and 2000 Sydney Olympian Ari Ichihashi announced on her Instagram account that a breast cancer exam had revealed the need for more detailed examination. She said that there was "no problem" with the results but that she "would like to make use of this opportunity to deal with breast cancer and health issues facing women." Ichihashi currently helps coach a running club, makes frequent guest appearances at races, and does television commentary. In the midst of such a busy lifestyle she had a routine examination and was surprised that, "when the results came back a lump was visible in the mammogram." Afterward she underwent further examination, illuminating her uneasy feelings as she wrote, "I was only there a few days, but the faces of my beloved family and friends kept coming to me one after another. I feel like I haven't really done much to leave behind so I want to use the time I left mea...

by Brett Larner With Naoko Takahashi's abrupt announcement of her retirement today less than three weeks before her planned entry in the Tokyo International Women's Marathon it's worth taking a minute to look back at some of the achievements which made her Japan's greatest marathon runner, male or female, and one of its most beloved public figures. Gold Medal - Sydney Olympics 9/24/00 By far the accomplishment for which Takahashi is most respected in Japan is winning the country's first-ever Olympic marathon gold medal. Japan had scored several men's and women's silver and bronze Olympic marathon medals over the years, but until Sept. 24, 2000 no Japanese runner had ever taken the top position. Takahashi, accompanied partway by teammates Ari Ichihashi and Eri Yamaguchi, dominated the race, setting an Olympic record of 2:23:14 which still stands. She became an instant icon in Japan, achieving unprecedented respect for a woman in the public eye and winning the...