Did virus scrap your marathon? In Japan, there's an app for that

The coronavirus pandemic has shredded the sporting calendar, most notably forcing the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics [COURTESY]

When the coronavirus outbreak forced organisers to cancel marathons in the Japanese city of Nagoya, they turned to tech to ease the disappointment, offering runners the chance to race alone.

The Nagoya Women's Marathon and Nagoya City marathon were scheduled for March 8 and expected to attract some 20,000 runners -- a potential health hazard during a global pandemic.