Running News Daily

2021 Tokushima Marathon won´t take place and this is the second year in a row that the event has been cancelled due to the pandemic

On Feb. 3 the organizing committee for the Tokushima Marathon announced that this year's race, scheduled for Mar. 28, has been cancelled.

The second year in a row that the event has been called off, the committee's decision to cancel was unanimous.

With the national government's decision to extend the state of emergency in ten prefectures and the impending demands of vaccine distribution, the organizing committee felt that it was important to prioritize society's needs and not to ask medical staff to put time and energy toward a marathon. 

The 2300 people already entered will their entry fees completely refunded. They and others will also have the option to run a virtual 42.195 km race whenever they like using the race's official app.

With regard to next year's race, prefectural officials commented, "We will monitor the situation surrounding the virus moving forward and evaluate whether the race can be held."

With 11,010 finishers in 2019 Tokushima was one of the last big spring marathons still on Japan's spring calendar.