My marathons

Saitama International Marathon

09:009:00 AM Saitama
Saitama Super Arena
Saitama Super Arena. Photograph by Kakidai, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The course

The marathon is a JAAF-certified course starting and finishing around the GMO Arena Saitama (Saitama Super Arena); in 2027 the finish moves to the road on the arena's south side because of its renovation.

The course in short 2 lines
  • Start and finish at the Saitama Super ArenaCertified loop from the Super Arena; the 2027 finish is on the arena's south road.
  • Nine gates, from 2.9 km to 39.9 km, and a six-hour limitNine planned gates, 9:46 at 2.9 km to 14:42 at 39.9 km; six hours overall.
Course notes 2 short reads on the course
Whole courseFinishStart and finish at the Saitama Super ArenaCertified loop from the Super Arena; the 2027 finish is on the arena's south road.

The organiser’s 2027 outline gives the marathon course as starting and finishing around the GMO Arena Saitama (Saitama Super Arena), certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations. Because of the arena’s large-scale renovation, the course page says the finish in 2027 is on the road along the arena’s south side. The 8 km race uses part of the marathon course and is about 7.5 km in 2027 because of renovation at Urawa Komaba Stadium.

Sourced

Whole courseTacticsNine gates, from 2.9 km to 39.9 km, and a six-hour limitNine planned gates, 9:46 at 2.9 km to 14:42 at 39.9 km; six hours overall.

The gates listed for the marathon are at 2.9 km (9:46), 7.1 km (10:20), 12.4 km (11:02), 17.2 km (11:40), 23.0 km (12:27), 28.2 km (13:08), 35.4 km (14:06), 37.5 km (14:23) and 39.9 km (14:42). The organiser lists these as planned distances and times. Limits run from the gun at 9:00, and the organiser notes that the last block can take about 20 minutes to reach the start line.

Sourced

Race fuel

Energy gel
An energy gel sachet
Illustration · drag to turn

5 gels for Saitama, 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
cut-off
6:00 h

Race week

Timetable

Sunday 14 February Race day

  1. Time not published

    Overall time limit Six hours from the gun. The last block can take about 20 minutes to cross the start line. 6:00 limit: 8:31/km for 42.195 km6:00 limit: 13:43/mi for 26.2 mi
Cut-offs and other races (10)

  1. 09:009:00 AM

    Marathon and 8 km start

  2. 09:469:46 AM

    Gate 1 at 2.9 km Planned closing time.

  3. 10:2010:20 AM

    Gate 2 at 7.1 km Planned closing time.

  4. 11:0211:02 AM

    Gate 3 at 12.4 km Planned closing time.

  5. 11:4011:40 AM

    Gate 4 at 17.2 km Planned closing time.

  6. 12:2712:27 PM

    Gate 5 at 23.0 km Planned closing time.

  7. 13:081:08 PM

    Gate 6 at 28.2 km Planned closing time.

  8. 14:062:06 PM

    Gate 7 at 35.4 km Planned closing time.

  9. 14:232:23 PM

    Gate 8 at 37.5 km Planned closing time.

  10. 14:422:42 PM

    Gate 9 at 39.9 km Planned closing time.

Times as published by the organiser, in Saitama time, checked .

Add to calendar .ics file, times in Saitama time

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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