“Up till just a few weeks in the past I actually thought I used to be going to get to run this time,” mentioned a 54-year-old native resident who had been entered. “The course is usually flat and really straightforward to run, so this was a very talked-about race. I would do the digital race as a substitute, however I need to see if my mates are going to do it too first.”
One other entrant, a 42-year-old who owns a specialty store making shoe insoles, has been coaching arduous since December within the perception that the race would occur. “I form of anticipated it to canceled too since plenty of different races across the identical time have been canceled, however nonetheless, it is actually disappointing. I have not been in a position to run a full marathon for nearly two and a half years, so it is getting arduous to remain motivated.”
Akiyuki Kinugasa, 60, head of an area agricultural co-op that tends shiny yellow rapeseed fields alongside the course to welcome passing runners, shook his head in disappointment, saying “The fields are in full bloom this yr. All we are able to do now could be plant them once more for subsequent yr.”
Mayor Hidemasu Kiyomoto, 58, commented, “Our precedence is to guard the well-being of our residents. The burden on our medical companies from COVID is projected to be even increased on the time of the race, so it was my private duty to make the ultimate determination to cancel.”
Translator’s observe: In its final version in 2019 the Himeji Citadel Marathon had 6,938 finishers.
supply article:
translated by Brett Larner
