2026 Gunma Marathon - Nov 3

2026 Gunma Marathon - Nov 3 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2026 Gunma Marathon - Nov 3
CityMaebashi
Date2026-11-03 at 08:55
Field Size~5,500 runners
Time Limit6 hours
Cutoff pace8:32/km
TimezoneAsia/Tokyo
Official SiteGunma Marathon Organizing Committee (ぐんまマラソン実行委員会)

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Race Day Weather

Average Temperature10.5°C / 51°F
Humidity80%
Wind14 km/h
Rain Chance29%
Typical ConditionsCrisp, dry inland-Kanto autumn morning, typically 8-14C at the 8:55 AM start, with low rain odds and the chance of a dry Akagi-oroshi wind sweeping off the mountains.

What to Prepare: Expect cool, dry conditions ideal for a fast time: race in a singlet or short sleeves with arm sleeves you can shed, and pack a throwaway top for the corral. Watch for a headwind on the open Tone River stretches.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 14 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

Cooler Typical Warmer
Temperature 7.4°C 10.6°C 13.5°C
Dew point 3.3°C 7°C 10.8°C
Wet-day chance: 29% Runnability: 75/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course TypeOut-and-back road marathon
Elevation Gain65m
TerrainRoad
ProfileA flat, PR-friendly course along the Tone River, starting and finishing at Shikishima Park. There is one longer rise between roughly 10-14 km and a series of small undulations after 30 km, but no major hills — net elevation gain is only around 65 m.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Gunma Marathon - Nov 3

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Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Gunma Marathon 2026?

The Gunma Marathon 2026 is the 36th edition, held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 — Culture Day, a national holiday in Japan. The full marathon starts in two waves at 8:55 and 9:00 AM and both starts and finishes at Shodan Shoyu Stadium inside Gunma Prefectural Shikishima Park in Maebashi City, running an out-and-back route along the Tone River.

How do I enter the Gunma Marathon, and is there a lottery?

There is no lottery: entry is first-come, first-served and closes as soon as the cap is reached. The full marathon is limited to 5,500 runners, and demand is strong — in recent years the full division has sold out months before race day. Registration runs roughly from April through mid-August via the official site and RUNNET, with a full-marathon entry fee of 13,500 yen. Use our race time predictor to set a goal before you commit.

What is the time limit, and is the course beginner-friendly?

The cutoff is a firm 6 hours, with all events closing at 15:00, so Gunma is a brisker, more performance-oriented race than the 7-hour cutoffs at some other Japanese marathons. The course is flat and fast — a genuine PR course — but the 6-hour limit means it suits runners who can comfortably break six hours rather than first-timers needing a long buffer. Plan your splits with our pace calculator.

Is the Gunma Marathon a Boston-qualifying race?

Yes. The full-marathon course is certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF / 日本陸連公認), so an official chip time can be used toward Boston Marathon qualifying if you meet your age-group standard. Its flat profile makes it a realistic place to chase a BQ — check your target with our Boston qualifying calculator.

What is the course like and how flat is it really?

The route runs along the Tone River from Shikishima Park and is widely regarded as a fast, record-friendly course. It is not pancake-flat the whole way: there is a longer climb around the 10-14 km mark and a string of small undulations in the final 12 km that can wear you down, with total elevation gain of roughly 65 m. On clear days the Akagi and Haruna mountains frame the inland-Kanto scenery.

How do I get to Maebashi as a visiting runner?

Maebashi is in Gunma Prefecture, about an hour from Tokyo: take the Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen to Takasaki, then the local line to Maebashi or Shin-Maebashi. Many nationalities can enter Japan visa-free for short tourist stays and Japan does not currently require an ESTA or eTA, but confirm your own nationality's requirement before booking.

What is the weather usually like in early November?

Early November in inland Gunma is cool and dry — often 8-14C at the morning start with low rain chances, which is close to ideal marathon weather. The main variable is wind: the dry Akagi-oroshi can blow down off the mountains and create a noticeable headwind on the open riverside sections, so be ready to tuck in behind other runners.

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