The Osaka International Women's Marathon happens Sunday in the middle of an officially declared state of emergency. Round and round and round they're going to go around the 2.8 km road loop inside Osaka's Nagai Park before finishing on the track in Yanmar Stadium Nagai, the first time we know of that an elite-level Japanese marathon has been done on a short circuit course. There are a bit fewer than 100 people entered, not a single international athlete among them, but really it all comes down to the two up front going for Mizuki Noguchi 's 2:19:12 national record, women-only marathon and 25 km national record holder Mao Ichiyama (Wacoal) and 30 km national record holder Honami Maeda (Tenmaya). They may or may not have an Olympics this summer, but they've got this chance here. Why not take it? They've got the goal, they're in their prime, they say they're in shape to go for it, they've got a super-fast course, male pacers, good weather in the f...
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