japan running news

http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/news/20090921ddm041040144000c.html http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=soc_30&k=2009092000128 translated and edited by Brett Larner Click photo for full-sized version. At about 12:25 p.m. on Sept. 20 on Mt. Oe near Kyoto, a swarm of the giant killer hornet suzumebachi attacked runners taking part in the Yosano Mt. Oe Mountain Race. Thirty runners out of the field of 370 were stung as they ran on the mountain's hiking trails, some receiving multiple stings. Race officials helped incapacitated participants to return to the start via cars at road access points along the course. While most of the stings were mild, five people were injured badly enough to be taken to the hospital after police received word of the attacks from a nearby campground and from race officials. One athlete remained in the hospital to receive further medical treatment. Translator's note: The suzumebachi is the hornet which produces the amino acids used by 2009 World Championships...

JRN's most-read articles of 2008 by month: January First-time winner Mara Yamauchi takes Osaka in 2:25:10 PB, Kayoko Fukushi 19th in debut. -  Jan. 27 February Last run for Team Toshiba LSI: the Betsudai Marathon. - Feb. 2 Tokyo Marathon 2007 through foreign runners' eyes.   - Feb. 4 Arata Fujiwara: an unknown contender for Beijing. - Feb. 19 March Koide presecient: Yurika Nakamura wins Nagoya in 2:25:51 debut.   - Mar. 9 April 30 hospitalized after honeybee attack at Saga Sakura Half-Marathon.   - Apr. 8 May Mekubo Mogusu sets Olympic A-standard 10000 m meet record at Kanto University track and field championships.   - May 20 June Sapporo International Half-Marathon preview.   - June 11 July Chisato Fukushima selected as first women's 100 m Olympian in 56 years.   - July 6 August Mizuki Noguchi considering dropping out of Olympics after hospitalization for fatigue.   - Aug. 9 Chunxiu Zhou's Japanese coach Shinya Take...

http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0406/SEB200804060008.html translated by Brett Larner At around 11 a.m. on April 6 in Yamato, Saga, a swarm of honeybees attacked participants in the Saga Sakura Half Marathon. 30 runners were sent to the hospital after receiving severe stings, while an additional 2 runners sustained only minor stings not requiring hospitalization. Prefectural police are investigating whether the bees came from a local beekeeping farm and, if so, whether race officials took the presence of beekeepers into account when designing the course. Beekeepers within Saga Prefecture are required to register their operations, but the beekeper believed to be involved in the attack was not licensed by the prefecture. 6200 runners took part in the race, a half marathon along the Kase River. The attack took place near the 11 km point in the race. After the lead pack of competitors passed, the swarm of bees appeared and began to attack the trailing runners. Police were able to deter...