Yoko Shibui admitted to her shock at the bombing of the Boston Marathon that has reportedly left three dead and injured more than 170, as she prepares to run in Sunday's London Marathon.
"It was a massive shock for me," Shibui told a news conference in the English capital. "It filled me with such sadness."
The London race serves as the final qualifier for Japanese runners for the world championships in Moscow in August, with 2 hours, 23 minutes, 59 seconds or better the time to aim for.
"I haven't made a goal of how many minutes or anything and I just have to give it my best shot," said Shibui.