http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/flash/KFullFlash20100927097.html http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/other/100927/oth1009272040025-n1.htm http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/other/100927/oth1009272039024-n1.htm translated and edited by Brett Larner The organizers of the Osaka International Women's Marathon have announced that in its 30th edition, scheduled for Jan. 30, 2011, the race will for the first time in 20 years feature a new course designed to facilitate faster times. Gone is the race's most distinctive feature, the hilly, twisting middle section through Osaka Castle. In its place the marathon will now cover a longer distance on Osaka's flat major roads, allowing for more crowd support throughout the race. 1984 Los Angeles Olympic marathoner Akemi Masuda commented, "With the elimination of the hilliest sections the Osaka course is now one where we can expect to see extremely fast times." Considering that the old course was already the site of the fastest women...
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