Scheduled for Feb. 20, 2022, the 16th Shonan International Marathon has been officially canceled. For everyone who has borne hope through the coronavirus crisis and worked together to bring back mass-participation marathons, we had set as our goal the task of staging an event where everyone could participate safely even in the midst of the pandemic. To that end we were requiring a negative PCR test and full vaccination for all runners, volunteers and staff members, and we are deeply disappointed not to be able to follow through for all of those who understood the need for these requirements and made the brave decision to support them.
Our initial plan for implementing the race safely was based on these two requirements and additional countermeasures against the spread of the virus. But with the outbreak of the omicron variant, which has a very short incubation period from infection to expression of the disease that decreases the reliability of PCR testing in the three days before the event, we decided that it was no longer possible to ensure the safety of everyone involved. As a result we had no choice but to cancel the marathon.
We apologize for not being able to do something more for everyone who had gotten their hopes up about the race going forward. Above all else, we would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported our attempt to make it happen. We are in your debt. As soon as we can, we will notify all entrants by email and on the race website regarding partial refunds of entry fees and getting their commemorative race goods to them.
Translator's note: At its last edition in 2019 the Shonan International Marathon had 16,821 finishers.
translated by Brett Larner
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