Osaka Women's Marathon

“Running the Osaka International Women's Marathon had been a long-held goal in itself, and I wanted to enjoy the race and finish without being caught by time limit.”

I finished my first international race in 2026 in 2 hours 58 minutes 41 seconds. Even in strong winds and flurries, the support from my fellow runners and local residents gave me a boost, and I ran more comfortably than expected.

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“My first appearance on this dream stage ended here.”

The runner entered the full Osaka International Ladies Marathon course for the first time on January 25, 2026. They missed their personal hydration bottles several times and had only one gel with them. After 30 km, their body cooled down and their legs stopped moving properly, so they struggled and eventually climbed into a rescue vehicle about 5 km before the finish to withdraw. The runner reflected on their fueling and preparation and resolved to try again next time.

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“My time was 3 hours 6 minutes 6 seconds.”

The runner recorded a time of 3 hours 6 minutes 6 seconds at the 2026 Osaka International Ladies Marathon. They followed a friend in the cold and strong wind, then ran the final 5 km side by side with their friend. It was not their personal best, but encouraging each other and passing through the finish line made them feel the power of supporting one another.

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“I unexpectedly ran a time in the 2-hour range, and I still cannot believe it.”

In their first international race, the runner used the pack to maintain their pace despite the strong wind and snow, finishing in 2 hours 58 minutes 41 seconds. Taking part had been a long-standing goal, so the runner was delighted.

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“I am really glad I did not give up!”

The runner returned to racing after 6 years and experienced an overly fast start and pain after 34km in strong winds. The runner held on with water and gels and finished the race, and was happy to have set a personal best in an official race for the first time in a long while.

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“I picked up my personal hydration bottles at every point except the 15 km mark!”

The runner finished the Osaka International Ladies Marathon full course on January 25, 2026, in 2:48:05 and set a personal best. They benefited from running in a pack in the strong wind and picked up their personal hydration bottles at every point except 15 km. Although they dealt with toenail pain and a late pace decline, they broke the 2:50 barrier for the first time.

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“I had also planned to run the second half faster, but I never managed to make up the time lost at half marathon.”

The runner wrote that at the 2025 Osaka International Women's Marathon, they ran while forming their own group in the wind. The runner ran the second half faster than the first, but fell short of their two-hour-40-minute goal, finishing in 2:40:42.

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“I like that it is an all-women's race, so we can run together while making plenty of noise.”

She started with knee discomfort, not enough sleep, and feeling off after a café latte before the race. After a bathroom stop at 27K, she picked the pace back up, and said the women-only atmosphere and support were the most memorable part.

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“It was a happy 42.195 km with a great deal of support from people along the roadside.”

Nanaka Izawa of the Starts Track and Field Club ran with the lead group until around 25 km in the 2025 Osaka International Ladies Marathon. Her pace then dropped, but she finished 8th in 2 hours 29 minutes 28 seconds. She shared her experience of receiving support from spectators along the course and taking on a challenge close to her first marathon.

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“My pace did not improve; other people were clearly slowing down.”

They recorded their experience at each stage up to 20K, describing the early congestion, hunting for water bottles, running into the wind and in a group, and preparing a special drink.

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“I was happy to be able to run here again this year.”

At 30 km, the runner was told that only 2 minutes remained until the next cutoff time, so the runner stayed focused and ran through to the final cutoff time at 38 km. The runner's legs cramped after passing it, but the runner enjoyed finishing inside the stadium. The time was 3:12:15.

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“When I passed finish, disappointment was still the strongest feeling.”

Taking the headwind into account, the runner chose the second pacemaker group. The encouragement from the pacemaker gave them a boost on the mid-course climb, but they couldn't pick up the pace as planned when running alone after 26 km, so they finished sixth and were disappointed with the result.

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