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The Okhotsk Marathon takes place in September in Shibetsu, a town in eastern Hokkaido situated on the Sea of Okhotsk. The event offers more than just a half marathon; its program features 15 categories across 3km, 5km, 10km, and half marathon distances. This variety allows children, novice runners, club athletes, and senior participants to select a fitting race. Infants are also welcome to participate, provided they run accompanied by a guardian.
The course guides runners through natural landscapes with vistas of the Okhotsk coast. Established in the early 1970s by the Shibetsu running club, the event is now managed by the town sports association as part of Shibetsu's initiative to integrate sports into daily life. A recent edition saw just over 400 participants, with the half marathon attracting the largest contingent. Local elements are significant: half marathon and 10km runners receive a set of Shibetsu specialty products. This replaced the former finisher prize of salted salmon, which became difficult to sustain due to poor catches and elevated prices. All participants are given a seasoned salmon onigiri.
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