http://www.shinshu-liveon.jp/www/topics/node_226793
translated by Brett Larner
Two Ethiopian marathoners are training in the Iizuna highlands of Nagano for the Nov. 18 Yokohama International Women's Marathon at the invitation of former marathoner Hiroki Okuma, 53, who runs a Tokyo-based non-profit organization that supports an Ethiopian orphanage. Okuma hopes that by giving young runners from a country with so many competitive athletes the opportunity to race overseas he will help call attention to the level of poverty within Ethiopia and garner support for charitable works.
The two athletes are Salam Mawit Almaiyo, 20, and Almarz Tilahun, 22.* Going by Japanese nicknames Sakura and Tsubaki, the two Ethiopians are interacting with the local residents of Iizuna in their day-to-day lives. Aiming for good results in Yokohama they are training hard everyday on the area's hills and trails.
Okuma, who ran the Hakone Ekiden and Beijing International Marathon in his time as a compe…
translated by Brett Larner
Two Ethiopian marathoners are training in the Iizuna highlands of Nagano for the Nov. 18 Yokohama International Women's Marathon at the invitation of former marathoner Hiroki Okuma, 53, who runs a Tokyo-based non-profit organization that supports an Ethiopian orphanage. Okuma hopes that by giving young runners from a country with so many competitive athletes the opportunity to race overseas he will help call attention to the level of poverty within Ethiopia and garner support for charitable works.
The two athletes are Salam Mawit Almaiyo, 20, and Almarz Tilahun, 22.* Going by Japanese nicknames Sakura and Tsubaki, the two Ethiopians are interacting with the local residents of Iizuna in their day-to-day lives. Aiming for good results in Yokohama they are training hard everyday on the area's hills and trails.
Okuma, who ran the Hakone Ekiden and Beijing International Marathon in his time as a compe…