2026 Iwate Morioka City Marathon - Oct 4 Countdown

-- DAYS

-- HRS

-- MIN

-- SEC

Want personality modes & weather integration? Try the full countdown experience

Registration open · 12000 JPY View official registration →

Race Information

Race	2026 Iwate Morioka City Marathon - Oct 4
City	Morioka
Date	2026-10-04 at 09:00
Field Size	~6,000 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Timezone	Asia/Tokyo
Official Site	Iwate Morioka City Marathon Organizing Committee (いわてシティマラソン実行委員会)

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	13.7°C / 57°F
Humidity	86%
Wind	8.8 km/h
Rain Chance	48%
Typical Conditions	Cool, settled northern-Tohoku autumn weather, typically 10-17C at the 9:00 AM start, with crisp morning air, low humidity and only a small chance of rain.

What to Prepare: Early October in Morioka is close to ideal racing weather: dress for a cool start with a throwaway top layer in the corral, but expect comfortable, dry conditions once you warm up on the flat sections.

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 8.8 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	10°C	13.8°C	17.5°C
Dew point	6.3°C	11.3°C	15.6°C

Wet-day chance: 48% Runnability: 74/100

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

Course Profile

Course Type	Loop road marathon starting and finishing at Kitagin Ball Park
Elevation Gain	95m
Terrain	Road
Profile	A renewed, flat and record-friendly course (the start/finish moved to Kitagin Ball Park in 2024 and overall climb was roughly halved), running through Morioka's newer districts, the historic castle town around the Morioka Castle ruins, and open rural countryside with views of Mt. Iwate.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Iwate Morioka City Marathon - Oct 4

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

Use Calculator →

Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

Use Calculator →

Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

Use Calculator →

Marathon Predictor — 5K, 10K & Half Marathon Race Predictor

Free marathon predictor — convert your 5K, 10K, or half marathon time into race-day estimates from R...

Use Calculator →

Race Finish Time Calculator & Predictor — Free

Predict your race finish time from pace, or set a goal time to find required pace. Free instant calc...

Use Calculator →

Heart Rate Zone Calculator — 5-Zone Training Guide

What heart rate should you train at? Enter your age and resting HR to get personalized 5-zone traini...

Use Calculator →

View all running tools

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Iwate Morioka City Marathon 2026?

The 8th Iwate Morioka City Marathon is held on Sunday, October 4, 2026, with a 9:00 AM gun start. It is a loop course that starts and finishes at Kitagin Ball Park in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, in northern Tohoku, passing through the city's newer districts, the historic castle town and open rural scenery on the way.

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

There is no lottery. General entry is first-come, first-served, so the 6,000 full-marathon slots can fill before the deadline once popular categories sell out. For the 2026 edition, registration runs from early April to July 20 through the official site and platforms such as RUNNET, and the standard full-marathon fee is 12,000 yen.

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

The time limit is 6 hours, a fairly standard cutoff for a Japanese city marathon. Combined with a flat, recently renewed course, it suits a first marathon or a personal-best attempt, though slower runners should train to comfortably clear the 6-hour gun-to-finish window. The route is gently rolling at most, with a total elevation difference of only about 36 m across the whole distance.

Is the Iwate Morioka City Marathon a Boston-qualifying race?

Yes. The 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. The flat profile and cool October air make Morioka a realistic place to chase a qualifying time.

What makes this a good destination race for overseas runners?

Morioka is the castle-town capital of Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan, reachable from Tokyo in just over two hours by Tohoku Shinkansen, which makes a race-weekend trip easy. The course threads the Morioka Castle ruins, the historic city center and rural countryside under Mt. Iwate, and aid stations are known for local specialties such as wanko soba and apple pie. Early October usually brings crisp, dry autumn weather.

Do I need a visa to run as a foreign visitor?

Many nationalities, including the US, UK, EU countries and Australia, can enter Japan visa-free for short tourist stays; confirm your own nationality's requirement before booking. Japan does not currently require an ESTA or eTA for short visits. From Tokyo, the Tohoku Shinkansen reaches Morioka in roughly two and a quarter hours.