Majestic, beautiful nature and the long, passionate journey that begins there — what awaits beyond the trail…
The Birth of the Shinetsu Five Mountains Trail Running Race
The first time I set foot in the Shinetsu Highland region, spanning Niigata and Nagano Prefectures, was in 2005.
I remember the day I heard that it might be possible to link the five independent peaks known as the Shinetsu Five Mountains — Mount Madarao, Mount Myoko, Mount Kurohime, Mount Togakushi, and Mount Iizuna — along a single trail, and I began researching the route with great excitement.
After countless expeditions into the trails and bush with the generous support of local residents, we finally managed to connect a 100 km trail.
Simply tracing the trail on a map and imagining the journey ahead filled me with anticipation. Once on the course itself, every vista was breathtaking, and the ever-changing landscapes were endlessly fascinating. The 100 km distance offered the thrill and emotion of an adventure that tested both physical endurance and mental fortitude.
Fortunately, I was able to secure support from communities across the region and from sponsors, and in 2009, the Shinetsu Five Mountains Trail Running Race was unveiled as an Ishikawa-produced event.
Introducing the Pacer System and Assistant Points
I had been involved in race management in various forms across Japan to promote trail running and revitalize local communities. For this race, however, I wanted to express new dimensions of “excitement, enjoyment, and the challenge of running” by incorporating appealing features I had experienced overseas — elements that had never before existed in Japan’s trail running scene.
During the race, runners can designate an assistant and receive support at designated points. In the latter stages, runners may also be accompanied by a pacer — a running companion who stays with them all the way to the finish line.
This system is a popular format in North American races, and it was something I had long wanted Japanese trail runners to experience.
The goal is to bring out each runner’s peak performance and create the best possible racing environment through the combined efforts of the runner and their team — to fight toward shared goals, persevere, and enjoy the journey together with family and friends who share both the good times and the hard times.
The Appeal of Local Communities and Volunteers
From the second edition onward, portions of the course were modified, extending the distance to 110 km.
This 110 km route connects Iiyama City, Myoko City, Shinano Town, Nagano City, and Iizuna Town, with aid stations positioned throughout, offering local specialties. Every year, local residents and a wide array of communities provide support and encouragement.
In addition, a great number of volunteers gather from across the country to take on a broad range of responsibilities.
Encountering the cheers of so many race staff on the trails and at aid stations undoubtedly gives runners energy, filling them with determination and courage. The involvement of so many people, starting with the local communities, is one of this race’s greatest attractions.
The Long-Awaited 100 Miles
Then, at the milestone of our tenth year, the long-held dream of producing a 100-mile (160 km) race was finally realized. This distance is one that trail runners around the world aspire to conquer.
While the 100-mile concept had existed since the very beginning, during the early days of trail running in Japan — when only a handful of runners were capable of completing long-distance trails — we had no choice but to abandon the idea of creating a race with an estimated finish rate of just 20%.
We devoted years to developing a course worthy of the Shinetsu Five Mountains spirit. By the ninth year, we had the course and operational framework ready to support the 100-mile distance and its time limits. Unfortunately, that year a typhoon forced us to shorten the course midway. The following year, in 2018, a great number of runners who started the race made it all the way to the 100-mile finish.
The 100-mile distance presents challenges that go far beyond simply adding more kilometers to the 110 km race, and overcoming those challenges produces countless moments of drama. A race truly begins long before you line up at the start. What matters is how much training you have put in and what preparations you have made to reach the finish.
On race day itself, I believe that only those runners who fully embrace the experience — the joys and the suffering alike — will cross the finish line.
We look forward to welcoming all trail runners who are captivated by the magnificent nature of the Shinetsu Highland and ready to challenge the limits of body and mind.
Trail Runner Hiroki Ishikawa