Kobe Marathon Begins Call for Group Volunteers; Lottery to be Held Due to Excess Runner Capacity

　On May 8, the Kobe Marathon Executive Committee began accepting applications for group volunteers for the Kobe Marathon 2023 to be held on November 19.

Kobe Marathon held last year

　The 10th Kobe Marathon, which was scheduled to be held in 2020, was postponed for the second consecutive year due to the new coronavirus, but the Kobe Marathon 2023 will be held on November 20, 2011, for the third year in a row. However, it was held on November 20, 2011, for the first time in three years.

　This year will mark the 11th event, which will be held under the catchphrase, “‘Arigato’ with this city. The course will start in front of Kobe City Hall. The course is a full marathon (42.195 km) that starts in front of Kobe City Hall, turns around west of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (Nishimaiko, Tarumi Ward), and finishes at Port Island (near Civic Plaza). The start time is 9:00 for the first wave and 9:15 for the second wave, with a 7-hour time limit.

　Recruitment of runners began on April 18, and the lottery was decided on May 3, exceeding the 20,000 capacity limit. Applications will continue to be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on May 31. The lottery results will be announced on June 30.

　Applications for group volunteers to support the event are now being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis (individual volunteers will be accepted from May 22). The main activities include enclosing materials for distribution to runners, receiving runners, baggage check-in, guiding runners to the venue, preparing water and food distribution, organizing the course (roadside), and providing runner service at the start and finish venues. The minimum number of applicants is five per group. Participants must be at least 15 years old (as of the date of the activity), and volunteer leaders must be able to attend one of the volunteer leader orientation sessions scheduled to be held on October 14 and 15.

　A representative from the executive committee secretariat said, “Over the past 10 years, we have accumulated ‘thank yous’ from runners, volunteers, and all others who support the event. From start to finish, we aim to create an event where citizen runners will continue to challenge themselves alongside top runners, transcending the competitive level and age groups, and an event that supports the challenges of all participating runners,” he said.