1 running event in East Garrison, California

Inaugural event

Monterey Ekiden

at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Teams of four. One tasuki. Run at twilight.

The Monterey Ekiden is a twilight team relay, on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

What is Ekiden?

An ekiden is a long-distance relay that has been part of Japanese culture since 1917. Instead of a baton, each runner wears a cloth sash called a tasuki and hands it to the next teammate at the exchange. The sash carries the team's effort from one leg to the next. The format was built around collective effort over individual glory.

The relay

Four runners, one team, one 2.2 mile lap each, 8.8 miles in all. At every exchange you hand off the tasuki, and the next leg carries it on.

Why we run

Monterey and Nanao, Japan, have been sister cities for thirty years. This race supports a new cross-country exchange built on that bond. Students from Nanao visit Monterey in August, and the Monterey High team travels to Nanao in October. They train together, stay in each other's towns, and build friendships that cross language barriers and oceans. We are funding this project so a student's financial situation is never the barrier. A place is earned through merit and commitment, not through what a family can afford. In a region with deep Japanese roots, an ekiden is a fitting way to honor that history and open the door for the next group of students.

Proceeds benefit the Wasshoi Foundation and the Monterey High School Cross Country Exchange Boosters.

Watch the Course Flyover

A 3D run-through of the Laguna Seca course. flyover.racemob.com/monterey-ekiden

Race day

2:00 to 5:00 PM Cultural Fair & Fitness Expo

Open to all

2:00 to 4:30 PM Packet pickup

4:15 PM Taiko by Watsonville Taiko

5:00 PM Race start, twilight

After Japanese street food, beer garden, sunset DJ set

The finish line opens into a sunset celebration.

Every runner takes home a rally towel

Every runner gets a commemorative rally towel, similar to a traditional Japanese tenugui, to take home from the day

How to register

• One person registers as team captain and creates the team, then invites three teammates who join free.

• Team entry is $171.90 for the team, about $43 a runner, all in. Price rises to $182.55 race week.

• Solo runners are welcome, though the spirit of ekiden is the team.

• New to ekiden, or a runner or two short? Tell us and we will help you find a team.

• Kids 10 and older are welcome.

• Feeling competitive? During registration your team can challenge another team for bonus raffle entries and bragging rights.

Create a team. Challenge another.

Teachers, coworkers, families, running clubs, restaurants, alumni groups, Aquarium volunteers, CHOMP nurses, or completely ridiculous costume teams are all encouraged. During registration, teams may issue an official challenge to another team in the race. Winning challenge teams receive bonus raffle entries and eternal bragging rights.

Good to know

Timing: chip timing.

Parking: on site, free.

Weather: rain or shine.

Cutoff: off the track by 7:00 PM. About two hours for the 8.8 mile relay, roughly a 13.5 minute mile across your four runners.

Walkers: welcome within the time limit. Mix walkers and runners to give your team ample time.

Refunds: none; transfers OK.

Pets and strollers: no dogs, and strollers are discouraged due to a steep downhill on the course.

Organized by

Peter Jordan

Race Director and Head Cross Country Coach, Monterey High School

Peter Jordan retired in 2017 after thirty years in education, then walked the 950-mile pilgrimage of Shikoku's 88 sacred temples. He is a Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Head Cross Country Coach at Monterey High, and helps lead the Monterey/Nanao Exchange Project.

Hosted by

Big Sur International Marathon

Sponsor

Wasshoi Foundation

Founding partner

Held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

See the full story and watch the course flyover at montereyekiden.com