The Kobe Marathon took place Nov. 19 in central Kobe, memorializing the Great Hanshin Earthquake with the theme "Gratitude and Friendship" and the slogan "'Thanks' to This City." Almost 20,000 runners passed through the city streets. At their front, Kenyan Barnaba Kipkoech won in 2:11:19, with Misato Horie (Sysmex) taking the women's race in 2:33:04.
During the opening ceremony in front of Kobe City Hall there was a moment of silence for the victims of the earthquake and for those in areas affected nationwide. As the song "To Bring You Joy" played, runners wearing gloves designed to look like sunflowers, a symbol of the reconstruction, raised their arms above their heads to transform the Flower Road into a sea of yellow.
After the starting gun fired runners headed west, passing by the Tetsujin #28 monument near Shin-Nagata Station and Akashi Kaikyo Bridge before turning around near Nishimaiko Station. En route to the finish they climbed the steep hill of the Kobe Ohashi Bridge to Port Island.
The Kobe Marathon was suspended for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, and when it was relaunched last year spectators were asked to refrain from cheering along the course. Runners living overseas were banned throughout that period, but with the ban lifted this time many foreigners were seen running. A total of 19,579 people finished the race, a 96.1% finisher rate, and according to race organizers approximately 610,000 people turned out to cheer.
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translated by Brett Larner
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