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'Takaoka and Tola Lead 2008 Paris Marathon Fields'

http://www.letsrun.com/2008/paris0403.php

Marathon national record holder Toshinari Takaoka will run Paris this weekend. Takaoka was injured for most of 2006 and spent 2007 in recovery, capping the year with a disappointing run at December's Fukuoka International Marathon. He said later that failing to qualify for the Beijing Olympics has freed him from any pressure and that he feels he can now try some different approaches to the marathon. He was scheduled to run the Ome 30k in February but was thwarted when the race was cancelled due to heavy snow. Takaoka instead ran the Himejijo 10 Miler, winning against many top younger runners. He was scheduled to run the Jitsugyodan Half Marathon in March but had a DNS without comment. Paris will be his first overseas marathon since the 2005 Helsinki World Championships marathon, where he finished 4th.

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