About this race
The PSS Imperial Palace Health Running is a modest Sunday event held at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, offering 5 km, 10 km, 20 km, and 20 km relay race options. The atmosphere is notably relaxed for a timed competition: latecomers are permitted, same-day registrations are accepted, and participants may change their chosen distance on the day of the event. Individual registration is priced at a low 1,000 yen, with the relay team cost set at 4,000 yen. The event welcomes both novices and seasoned runners, typically attracting a few hundred participants rather than a large city race turnout.
The start and finish lines are situated near the clock tower within Sakuradamon. Timing is conducted manually using stopwatches and a printer. The longer distance races commence earlier than the 5 km and 10 km events, subject to an overall finish time limit. If a runner fails to reach a designated lap point or stops prematurely, the distance completed is recorded instead of a Did Not Finish (DNF). Feedback suggests the event is beneficial for assessing current fitness levels, refining lap pacing strategies, and undertaking long-run training in preparation for a marathon. All participants receive an award, and participation items may include a sports drink, a timing chip, and a voucher for an izakaya meal.
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