The Tsukuba Marathon takes place in late November in Tsukuba City, offering a 42.195 km marathon and a 10 km race. Approximately 10,000 runners participate, giving it the atmosphere of a large city event rather than a small local one. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, which is important as the primary race categories can fill up during the application period.
The course highlights two aspects of Tsukuba: vistas of Mt. Tsukuba and sections passing the research facilities that define the city's science-city character. It also crosses developed areas near the station, facilitating local viewing and encouragement for runners. The event is currently in its mid-40s iterations, and organizers recently revised the start, finish, and course design to incorporate more of the city into the race.