Kashiwazaki Shiokaze Marathon Stopped Mid-Race After Bear Seen on Course

At around 10:00 a.m. on May 17, the city of Kashiwazaki received multiple reports of a bear on the roads used as the course for the Kashiwazaki Shiokaze Marathon being held at the time. Determining that it would be dangerous to continue the race, city officials stopped the event. There were no injuries, and the bear's size remains unknown. A local hunting association examined the city and said that based on footprints and other evidence it was possible that what was seen might have been a wild boar.

According to city officials, the reported bear was seen on Prefectural Road 73 in Okouchi Shinden in a mountainous area about 4 km southwest of Kashiwazaki Station, a road used as an out-and-back section of both the half marathon and marathon. Over 2200 people were participating in the race, but because runners were already on the return leg there were few people left. Organizers stopped those still running at a water station and used police cars and motorcycles to ensure their safety. A spokesperson for the organizers said, "A bear has never been sighted here during the 25 previous runnings of our marathon."

source articles:

https://www.niigata-nippo.co.jp/articles/-/832134

https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/2666238?display=1

translated and edited by Brett Larner