My marathons

千歳JAL国際マラソン

The organiser has not published a date. Chitose
Lake Shikotsu
Lake Shikotsu. Photograph by Fg2 (Wikimedia Commons), Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

The course

The marathon runs from Aoba Park along forest roads and a national forest road to the Dynax Arena, and the organiser says the first 34 km are unpaved forest road.

The course in short 3 lines
  • Unpaved forest road to 34 kmThe first 34 km are unpaved forest road, in a tunnel of trees.
  • 155 m of height difference, high point near 22 kmAbout 155 m of height difference; the high point is near 22 km.
  • The 2026 race was cancelled for bearsThe 7 June 2026 edition was cancelled because of bears on the course.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
Whole courseGeometryUnpaved forest road to 34 kmThe first 34 km are unpaved forest road, in a tunnel of trees.

The organiser describes the route as Aoba Park, the Ito-gumi Chitose forest road, the Shikotsuko national forest road and the Shikotsuko Park prefectural road to the Chitose Sports Center Dynax Arena. Aid stations stand about every 5 km with water and sports drink, and all but the first also carry light food. A distance marker stands at every kilometre.

Sourced

Whole courseGradient155 m of height difference, high point near 22 kmAbout 155 m of height difference; the high point is near 22 km.

Times are taken by chip from the start line to the finish line, with a split at every 10 km.

Sourced

Whole courseConditionsThe 2026 race was cancelled for bearsThe 7 June 2026 edition was cancelled because of bears on the course.

The committee decided on 8 January 2026, saying that anyone running in bear habitat carries some risk and that it would consult experts on measures with a view to restarting the race. The brown bear survey began on 1 May 2026, and the second survey results came out on 11 June 2026.

Sourced

Race fuel

Energy gel
An energy gel sachet
Illustration · drag to turn

5 gels for Chitose, plus 1 spare

Finish

One every 40 minutes, by the clock:

  1. km 7mile 4.4
  2. km 14.1mile 8.7
  3. km 21.1mile 13.1
  4. km 28.1mile 17.5
  5. km 35.2mile 21.8

Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side.

Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.

Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.

Anti-chafe
Compeed Anti-blister stick
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.

Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.

Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Number belt
A race number belt
Illustration · drag to turn

Compressport Race Belt

Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.

Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.

Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Electrolytes
A tube of electrolyte tablets
Illustration · drag to turn

SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20

One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.

One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.

Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Blister plasters
Compeed Blister plasters, medium, 6
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.

Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.

Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
distance
42.2 km26.2 mi

Trip

Getting a place

Entry through the organiser

Entry details on the organiser’s site →

The organiser, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.

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