INAWASHIRO, Fukushima Prefecture--This town of 16,000 souls has been facing an uphill battle since the nuclear disaster flared in March.
INAWASHIRO, Fukushima Prefecture--This town of 16,000 souls has been facing an uphill battle since the nuclear disaster flared in March.In keeping with that idea, and in an effort to lure visitors back to this area's famed ski slopes, dozens of local people signed up for a run designed to test the stamina of even the fittest of men.More than 50 people took part in an uphill run organized Nov. 5 and 6 by six ski resort operators.The competition, called "Ski Slopes Reverse Run in Fukushima," was held to counter widely held concerns about radioactive fallout from the quake-crippled Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant.The runners completed either a 5-kilometer or a 10-km course.One of the town's ski slopes had served as the site for freestyle moguls competition held by the International Ski Federation for 12 consecutive years through 2010.However, reports of radioactive fallout prompted many schools--major customers--to cancel ski camps scheduled for this winter.One hotel said it expected school-related customers to drop by 70 percent.Undeterred, ski resort operators came up with the idea of holding an uphill running competition.The 5-km and 10-km courses consist of the uphill run from the foot of a mountain and a return trip from the top.Runners are encouraged to take part in seven "reverse" courses being offered through June 2012, but they can participate in only one.