About this race
At Okayama Dome, teams cover a full marathon distance by repeatedly running a flat 700-meter loop within and around the dome. The LOVE Momotaro Run Onion Relay Marathon is a relay race held in early summer in Okayama City, where runners pass a sash between teammates to complete 42.2 km. The short, level course simplifies pacing and suits beginners, with real-time timing available for teams to monitor laps, gaps to other teams, and projected finish times during the event.
The dome's facilities are beneficial in the Okayama summer: runners and spectators can use indoor changing rooms, restrooms, showers, and stadium seating shielded from sun and heat. Team ZERO, the organizer, is extending its Onion Relay Marathon Project nationwide and also organizes other relay and individual running events. The race embraces its onion theme: finishers get fresh onions, and the Onion Aid station allows runners to pick up onions during the race. Runners who take onions must carry them for one full lap, and teammates cannot assist, as only the sash-bearer can collect them. The event features MC Fumiko Tsuchimochi and Fumihito Ishimoto, a former competitive runner with a comedy background, managing the race-day microphones.
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