http://www.topics.or.jp/special/12254542636/2011/11/2011_132062725767.html http://sankei.jp.msn.com/region/news/111107/tks11110702200000-n1.htm translated and edited by Brett Larner Running along the banks of the late-fall Yoshino River and carried on by a wind of applause, 32-year-old Masahi Shirotake was the first of the 5799 finishers to break the goal tape at the Nov. 6 Tokushima Marathon, winning for the second-straight year and achieving a new course record of 2:24:49. Headed back toward the finish in the later stages of the race he looked forward to being greeted by the traditional awaodori dancers at the finish line. "The cheers from all the spectators were neverending and with a warmth that you can only find here," said Shirotake after the race. "It really feels great to run the Tokushima Marathon." Shirotake was born in Konan, Kochi prefecture. In junior high school and high school he was a 1500 m runner, but he could never advance be...
the world's window into elite japanese distance running, since 2007