O wyścigu
PSS Imperial Palace Health Running is a small, low-cost running event in central Tokyo. The start and finish are near the clock tower inside Sakuradamon Gate at the Imperial Palace. The August edition offers 5km, 10km, 20km, and a 20km relay. It serves as both a race and a practice session. Individual entries cost 1,000 yen, the relay costs 4,000 yen. The field is capped at 100 runners for non-relay races and 25 relay teams. The event is open to beginners and runners of any level, though longer distances have cutoff rules.
The course uses Imperial Palace laps, allowing runners to treat it as controlled training in the middle of Tokyo. The organizer describes it as “Japan’s most relaxed race.” Same-day entry is allowed, late starters can still be counted, runners can switch categories on the day, and an unlisted distance like 15km may be created on the spot. Timing is manual, using a stopwatch with a printer. Everyone is recognized, not just podium finishers. Participation awards include a sports drink, an izakaya meal ticket, and a magnetic chip. Reviews suggest it functions as a practical tune-up for marathon training or fitness checks, rather than a polished big-city race.
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