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Nagai Marathon 2026 race photo

Nagai Marathon 2026

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Nagai Marathon 2026 race photoNagai
JP
Ebiebi2 · CC BY-SA 4.0Laitche · CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date in 10 days
Oct 18, 2026 Sun
City · Distance
Nagai · 42.195km · 21.0975km · 2km +1 more events
Entry fee
42.195km10000円From the 2025 edition
Status
ClosedThu, May 14, 2026 ~ Tue, August 18, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 8, 2026
Nagai Marathon 2026 race photo
Ebiebi2 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nagai Marathon 2026 race photo
Laitche · CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Nagai Marathon 2026 — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

This is one of the few certified full marathon races in the Tohoku region.

Certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations and a World Athletics-certified course,

it runs through a town that once thrived on Mogami River boat traffic, with views of autumn foliage on the Asahi mountain range.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Nagai Marathon 2026 runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 4
kazuRan in 2025 · Finish time 4:43:53
“My time was 4 hours 43 minutes 53 seconds.”

The runner started in Yonezawa and ran two laps of the 21km loop course. Although they alternated between walking and running after 25km, they finished in 4 hours 43 minutes 53 seconds, within 5 hours. After the race, they ate imoni.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote
ゆげっち（ドレッドランナー）Ran in 2025 · Finish time 3:57:33
“I gave it everything I had left and finish in 3 hours 57 minutes 33 seconds!”

The runner prepared with the goal of running 200km per month and aimed to break 4 hours again. The runner ran a two-lap city course, including a section that climbed 20m over 2km. After maintaining their pace together with the pacer, the runner finished in 3 hours 57 minutes 33 seconds and set a new personal record.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

何とか最後の力を振り絞って3:57:33でゴール！

Read the original on 弓削氏
demu@agelessRan in 2025 · Finish time 3:19:30
“Because I fell apart at the Harunako Marathon a month earlier, I thought under 3:30:00 would be enough, but my Nagai Marathon time surprised even me.”

After struggling in a race a month earlier, the runner set a goal of finishing in under 3 hours 30 minutes. The runner completed two laps of the 21 km loop, finishing in 3 hours 19 minutes 30 seconds overall (3 hours 19 minutes 13 seconds net). The runner achieved their target time without hitting a major wall after 30 km.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

長井マラソンは、一ヶ月前の榛名湖マラソンで撃沈したのでサブ3.5できれば良いと思っていたので、サブ山中教授を達成した長井マラソンの記録には自分でも驚いている。

Read the original on demu@ageless note
kumaono11Ran in 2022 · Finish time 5時間31分12秒
“The result was 5 hours, 31 minutes, 12 seconds.”

The cramps became severe after 25 km, and the runner fell twice on the stadium track, but started running again and crossed the finish line. The runner later received a web finishing certificate confirming the finish.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Finisher vlog

RUNNET channel · Finisher vlog

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Nagai Marathon 2026 — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2025 edition
Registration history

The 2026 race opened entry on Thu, May 14, 2026

We'll fill this in once the official entry rules are out.

Registration platform RUNNET

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Nagai Marathon 2026 course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2025 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 09:25
Time limit5 hours
Show more

Full marathon 5 hours and 30 minutes · half marathon 2 hours and 30 minutes

EventStartTime limit
Marathon42.195km09:255h 30m
Half21.0975km09:252h 30m

42.195km10000円 21.0975km5000円 エンジョイラン1500円 ファミリーラン1人1500円

START

Koyo Seiki Athlete Field Nagai South Road

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Koyo Seiki Athlete Field Nagai

Cut-off
Cut-off point 4 locations

Show more

Runners start · local time — (42.195km) / 09:25(21.0975km) / 09:40(Enjoy Run (2km)) / 09:40(Family Run (1km))

Nagai Marathon 2026 offers certified course over 42.195km and 21.0975km in Nagai, Yamagata Prefecture.

It also includes a 2km Enjoy Run and a 1km Kids Run, allowing both competitive participants and families to take part.

Former Tanzanian marathon runner Juma Ikangaa participates as an ambassador.

He won the Tokyo International Marathon in 1984 and 1986, and took part in the Nagai Marathon in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

Guest runner Kentaro Uno is a corporate team athlete with a full marathon personal best of 2 hours 33 minutes 30 seconds.

The event combines the character of a local race with international marathon experience and guests from broadcasting and athletics.

Field size
42.195km 900 people 21.0975km 300 people Enjoy Run/Family Run 300 people
Typical race-season temperature: around 12°C (53°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers
Aid stations
Approximately every 5 km, water supply at the finish point

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Event T-shirt

Finisher certificate

Bag drop

Where and when to collect your Nagai Marathon 2026 race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Registration and bib information for the Nagai Marathon could not be confirmed in publicly available sources.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Nagai Station (長井駅, Yamagata Railway Flower Nagai Line)

The venue is Nagai City Athletic Field.

Free shuttle buses connect the venue with Nagai Station, temporary parking lots, and in-city lodging, running at roughly 30-minute intervals on race day.

Reach Nagai Station via the JR Yamagata Shinkansen to Akayu, then the Yamagata Railway Flower Nagai Line.

No date conflict — confirmed Sun Oct 18 2026.

Getting to the finish

Same venue (Nagai City Athletic Field)

The same shuttle loop serves the return trip to Nagai Station, parking lots, and hotels.

Road closures

Shuttle bus information is available on the accommodation and tourism page

More details

Free shuttle buses, ~30 min intervals, connecting venue ↔ Nagai Station ↔ temporary parking ↔ city accommodations.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Race day is Sunday, October 18.

Choose your race clothing according to the temperature and weather, and prepare different amounts of nutrition as needed for full marathon and half marathon.

Participants in the 2km and 1km events do not need to make the same nutrition plan as those in the longer races.

There are accommodation options within Nagai.

Participants must book their accommodation directly with the property.

A round-trip shuttle bus is scheduled to run between Nagai Station and other special stops in the city and the event venue,

so check access to a station or shuttle stop when choosing your accommodation.

Registration is available online only.

Check the Packet Pickup venue and time separately.

Times are local to Nagai. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels that make race morning easyDistances are straight-line from the start.View on mapEating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Nagai with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Total cost and budget for Nagai Marathon 2026

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Nagai Marathon 2026

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Nagai runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Nagai Marathon 2026

FAQ
When does Nagai Marathon 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sun, October 18, 2026 in Nagai, 山形県, Japan.

What is the time limit for Nagai Marathon 2026?

Full marathon 5 hours and 30 minutes · half marathon 2 hours and 30 minutes.

(From the 2025 edition)

What distances does Nagai Marathon 2026 offer?

Marathon · Half. (From the 2025 edition)

What time should I arrive at the Nagai Marathon 2026 start area?

Bag drop: 7:00–8:45 at Nagai City Okitama Lifelong Learning Plaza.

Bibs and other race materials are sent in advance.

(From the 2025 edition)

Where does Nagai Marathon 2026 start?

Koyo Seiki Athlete Field Nagai South Road. (From the 2025 edition)

Where does Nagai Marathon 2026 finish?

Koyo Seiki Athlete Field Nagai. (From the 2025 edition)

What are the Nagai Marathon 2026 cut-off times?

Cut-off point 4 locations. (From the 2025 edition)

When does registration for Nagai Marathon 2026 open?

Registration runs from Thu, May 14, 2026 to Tue, August 18, 2026.

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