2016 Season has started!

Last weekend, the first race of the season, the Shiranuka Road Race, was held and my social network feeds were flooded with pictures and race reports.

Note: Most races can be applied for through Runnet.  You can also contact the race organizers and get apply-by-mail application forms.  You usually need to have an address in Japan to apply.  Most races cannot be entered on race day.  (Although some, run by running clubs, can.)

For more information on entering races in Japan, head on over to the Japan Running News blog at http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.jp .
Their specific page on entering races in Japan is here: Race Entries.

Now for a short list of races that you may be able to apply for in Hokkaido.

Nikkan Sports Toyohira-gawa Half Marathon (Sapporo)

May 5 (Children's Day)
Dist: Half, 10k, 5k, 3k
Application: Feb 1, through March 31
http://www.toyomara.com/

Hokkaido Marathon - 30th Anniversary (Sapporo)

August 28
Application starts April 3 at 18:00pm and closes shortly thereafter (usually, within two hours!)
If you want to try and get into this race, and it is worth it, visit it's Runnet site at
https://entry.runnet.jp/entry/runtes/user/pc/competitionDetailAction.do?raceId=123074&div=1
Or their homepage for more information.  Also, if you are registering online you need to create an account with Runnet. You will need a credit card and an address in Japan. The marathon also has a multi-language website with information.

http://hokkaido-marathon.com/2016/overview-en/

Ohotsuku - Abashiri Marathon

September 25
This is a new marathon started in 2015 and is one I am eager to try.
Application starts April 1 and runs through June 30.
http://www.abashiri-marathon.jp

Northern Horse Park Half marathon and Ekiden (Chitose / Sapporo area)

May 14 and 15

Dist: Half, 7km Trail + Half, 2.5km 

Application until March 31

http://www.nhp-marathon.com/

Karikachi Trail Running (Shintoku / Tokachi area)

May 22

Apply by April 25

http://www.karikachi.org/trailrun/

20km, 12km, 4km Trail Run

Apply on Runnet: http://runnet.jp/entry/runtes/user/pc/competitionDetailAction.do?raceId=120793&div=1

There are many more events coming up, especially in June.  Check the archives to get an idea of where and when races are!

2015 Fall races

A lot of the races are on the calendar, especially those with a fixed repeating date or day like the last Sunday of October. (Apply by deadlines are in parenthesis.)

1. 9/27 Hokkaido Trail Running in Rusutsu (8/25)
2. 9/27 Kozan Green Race 20K (9/16) (Trail)
3. 10/4 Okoppe Chichi no Sato Half Marathon (8/31)
4. 10/4 Santa Land Ogon Road Half Marathon
5. 10/4 Sapporo Half Marathon (Mid July)
6. 10/4 Betsukai Pilot Marathon (7/31)
7. 10/11 Tokachi Trail Running in Honbetsu (8/31)
8. 10/11 Tomakomai Half Marathon (8/21) 
9. 10/11 Kitami Half Marathon (9/11)
10. 10/11 Terry Fox Run & Walk　
11. 10/12 Kenko Matsuri Furubira Road Race (Mid September)
12. 10/12 Kenko (Half) Marathon in Sapporo
13. 10/18 Shikaoi Trail Run (30k, 12, 5k) (9/24)
14. 10/18 Hokkaido Onuma Great Run & Walk (August)
15. 10/18 Urakawa Pisukari Half Marathon (Mid September)
16. 10/25 Nissan Cup Rikubetsu Kogarashi Half Marathon (until early October)
17. 10/25 Gokibiru Trail 30k　（Application starts 8/1 on Runtes)
18. 11/1 Foodvalley Tokachi Half Marathon (9/30)
19. 11/8 Sapporo Sayonara Half Marathon

There are some Ekiden and possibly other races that I have missed.  If you know of one, let me know in the comments!

Foodvalley Tokachi Half Marathon

Foodvalley Tokachi Half Marathon

フードバレーとかちマラソン

What: Half marathon, 5k, 2.5k

Where: Obihiro

Date: 11/1

Deadline: 9/30

Fee: 5200 for adults

Time restrictions: Yes, 2:30 for the half, 50 minutes for the 5k.

THE biggest, most popular, and arguably most delicious half marathon in the sub-prefecture of Tokachi.  Starting in downtown Obihiro with a very slight climb out to the Obihiro no Mori Sports park for the turn-around and then a slight downhill for the second half.  The course is always lined with spectators and volunteer groups cheering you on and providing sweets, refreshment and entertainment to help take your mind of the pain! High school volunteers, adult volunteer groups, staff, local cake shops and banks, all provide support for runners along the course.  You might not want to slow down as you try to get your best time but it will be hard to pass up all the sweets along the course.  The famous cake and confectionery shop Rokkatei had not an aid station but a "Sweets Station" set up along the course where they offered chocolates and bite-sized pieces of cake for runners in 2014. Runners have received "Manpuku tickets" worth 1000 yen that can be used at outside food stalls and some type of sporting goods.  I have received a running pouch, a small duffle bag, and last year an over-the-shoulder one strap bag. I don't use the running pouch much but I do sometimes, It has a bottle holder.  I do use the other bags all the time.

http://hokkaido-run.jp/obihiro/

If you need help getting registered, let me know in the comments.

Kenko (Half) Marathon

Kenko Marason Taikai
第27回健康マラソン大会
札幌市
Sapporo
Put on by the Sunshine Sports Club

Dist: Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, 3k
Fee: 3000 yen
Deadline: 9/23

Meet at Toyohira River riverside park by the Myunhen Bridge (ミュンヘン大橋)
Reception: 8:30 to 9:20
Course briefing: 9:30
Start: 10:00 (Half Marathon, other distance start AFTER the half marathon start)

Apply by bringing your application and application fee to the Sunshine Sports Club or by sending your fee to the following bank account.

北海道銀行中央支店　(普)0769447 サンシャインビル(株)
Hokkaido Ginko Chuo Shiten (futsu) 0769447  Sunshinebiru


You can download a PDF of the application form from their website at the link below.

Contact

Tel 011-221-3411

Fax 011.221.2718

http://sunshine-sc.com/news/2015/08/post_374.html

Santa Land Half Marathon

Ogon Doro Santa Land Half Marathon

After hearing about this a couple of times over the past year, the new running event finally has a website up and an official date. It is scheduled for October 4, which would make it the same weekend as the Betsukai Pilot Marathon.  The main distance is a half marathon and the fee is 3,500 yen.

http://santaland-marath.main.jp/index.html

Date: October 4, 2015
Apply: June 10, 2015 - September 4, 2015
Where: Hiro-cho, Daimaruyama Park

They say participants will get a present from Santa on Christmas Eve!?

The website is brand new and unfinished.  I expect there to be more information by the time the application period starts.

The website has been updated and you can now apply for the race as of June 10.
Online application is being handled by Sports Entry.
http://www.sportsentry.ne.jp/event/t/61014


Distances
Half - 7th grade and up
5k - elementary aged and up
3k - elementary aged kids through high school
3k - Costume (Dressed as Santa?)
3k -  Pair


Fee:
Half: 3,500 for adults, 2,500 for high school, 2,000 for junior high school
5km: 2,500 for adults, 1,500 for junior high school, 1,000 for elementary school
3km 1,000 for junior and high school, 800 yen for elementary school
3km  costume and pair, 1,000 yen.

If you can't apply through Sports Entry you can get an application mailed to you and apply by Yubin Furikae at a post office.

There will be medals and prizes for placers, soup after the race, and a lucky drawing.
A portion of the participation feel will be used for charity.  There will also be whole roasted half of beef, ikura don (salmon roe on rice) and other goodies.

Okoppe Chichi no Sato Half Marathon

Okoppe Chichi no Sato Half Marathon

おこっぺ牛乳(ちち)の里マラソン

What: Half Marathon, 10k, 5k, 3k

Date: 10/4 (Sunday)
Deadline: 8/31

Where: Okoppe-cho 興部町

Fee: 2,500 yen for adults

Runners get salmon soup, rice with scallops and milk after the race to help speed your recovery. Looks like  a delicious event.

Apply by Yubin Furikomi: http://www.town.okoppe.lg.jp/cms/section/education/shakai/nbm3tm0000001kq8-att/npk8cg0000001fsj.pdf

Event Page:
http://www.town.okoppe.lg.jp/cms/section/education/shakai/nbm3tm0000001kq8.html

Bekkai Pilot Marathon

Bekkai Pilot Marathon
別海パイロットマラソン

October 4th
(The first Sunday of October every year)
Bekkai-cho
北海道別海町

Full, 5k

Run down the Pilot Road lined with rolling hills and contented cows. Famous for dairy products, you get milk, ice cream and other complementary dairy products at the party the night before. You can also watch the two mascot cows take off at the start of the marathon.
There are only two distances, the full 42.195k and a 5k. At the end of the full, finishers get an extra large beach towel and a whole salmon as their reward. Not much to do in Bekkai but enjoy the views and the food.

You can get all of the details, in detail from this page.
http://betsukai-marathon.jp/


Full Starts 10:00
5k Starts 10:45
Time limit for the full is 5 hours 20 minutes.

Reception:
Oct. 4th
8:00-9:00
Bekkai Choei Rikujyo Kyogijo (The Town Track)

Last call for the full: 9:30-9:45

Time limits:
10k: 11:10(70 min)
20k: 12:20 (70 min)
30k: 13:30 (70 min)
40k: 14:50 (80 min)
Goal: 15:20
Total: 5 hours 20 minutes

Fee:
Full 5000
5k 2,000

Participation prize:Dairy products from Bekkai, certificate of completion, 5k split times for those who completed at least 20km.
Finisher's Prize: Original Extra Large Bath Towel, 1 Bekkai Salmon.
Sorry, 5k finishers don't get a salmon.  If you want the fish, you gotta finish the full!

There are also several nice prizes for the top placers in each category (mens, womens, age).
Add it to your calendar?
Click here to add it to your Google Calendar 

Or, you can download this VCS file for you calendar program here: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=E184E616536E2E8!112511&authkey=!AFhP7O6nxmPBJj8&ithint=file%2cvcs