Marathon man

Why do the Japanese love the marathon so much? Is it because they fail at most other sports?

Coming 6th is nothing to be ashamed of...I think.

1-3 news, otherwise not newsworthy.

if u knew anything about this guy, ud know that he came last (74th or something) in the Olympics marathon, so coming 6th in Berlin is a huge achievement.

Why do the Japanese love the marathon so much? Is it because they fail at most other sports?

why can't you be happy about his achievement and congratulate him? This is a great result and marathon is one of the hardest disciplines, many contestans cannot even finish it so everybody who finishes a marathon is a hero. Coming 6th at a world competition is a truly great acvhievement and he deserves our applauses. Marathon requires completely different approach and body than the sprint disciplines where black men win almost everything. I am not a racist but it is obvious that Caucasians and Asians do not stand a chance in 100 and 200 m sprint or hurdles.

LoveUSA; Oh dear another Japanophile i sense with me Japanophile meter.

6th is nothink is it, big bleeding deal!

He looks fit. Japan managed to get the bronze for the team.

I am not a racist but it is obvious that Caucasians and Asians do not stand a chance in 100 and 200 m sprint or hurdles.

Obviously, Liu Xiang of China would disagree with you as he won the 110m hurdles in a record breaking time in the 2004 Olympics. And I am sure there are lots of Caucasian medal winners too.

Japan managed to get the bronze for the team.

I meant to say: The team managed to get a bronze for Japan.

Can't imagine that there are too many pictures in U.S. papers, or UK ones for that matter, of folks who finished sixth in an event.

Congratulation!

Respect to the people of Berlin for putting the marathon along such a picturesque route. It was a breath of fresh air after the Olympics last year.

This is a great result and marathon is one of the hardest disciplines

Excellent point. Congrats to him and all the runners who completed it. I'm sure all the haters on this thread are just jealous that they can't even finish a marathon, much less compete in one. IMHO, at least the marathon is a real sport, unlike that racewalking stuff.

Hotbox08 -- how do you figure that for Japan, which has a rich history in men's marathon, including at least one Olympic Gold, that 6th is a "great result"? Absolutely, anyone running a marathon in world-class time has my admiration and respect. But, as an accoplishment for Japan's running culture, it is hardly worth celebrating.

Hotbox08 -- how do you figure that for Japan, which has a rich history in men's marathon, including at least one Olympic Gold, that 6th is a "great result"?

herefornow, read my quote again: "Congrats to him and all the runners who completed it. "

I simply said that ALL runners in this marathon, from every country should be congratulated. How can you not agree that runners from all the world should not be respected?

Can't imagine that there are too many pictures in U.S. papers, or UK ones for that matter, of folks who finished sixth in an event.

Not true at all, they always mention where the people from that country finished. I think people care less about who finished first, since they know he/she will be from Kenya.

To quote East Bound & Down: “I play real sports…not trying to be the best at exercising.”

haha j/k Congrats! 2 hours and 12 minutes is fast as hell.