Venue: Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort, Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan

Myoko City is home to the celebrated Myoko mountain range, one of Japan’s rare “Hyakumeizan” (100 famous mountains). With hot springs and tourist attractions scattered around the area, it’s hailed as a trail running destination built on travel. The race start/finish is at Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort, and athletes will race along the Myoko range’s dramatic ridgelines and lakeside scenery.

Course information:

The GTWS 23.5 km race is the main event at this stop. The course measures approximately 24.7 km, with about 2,020 m of cumulative ascent, an ITRA mountain grade of 8, a 5‑hour cutoff, and a field of roughly 400 participants.

Course highlight: the extreme test of “two climbs, two descents”

The Myoko course is effectively two vertical races rolled into one. After leaving Suginohara Ski Resort, runners face a steep initial climb; after topping out on the Myoko range they immediately enter a long, technical descent, along which they can take in spectacular views of Lake Nojiri.

After returning to the start/finish area the route turns back toward the Myoko range for a second climb, followed by another fast descent to finish. The high‑intensity rhythm of two climbs and two descents leaves athletes very little time to recover — a genuinely hardcore course tailored for top competitors.

The competitive picture for this season’s GTWS has begun to take shape, with Elhousine Elazzaoui leading the men’s standings and Mădălina Florea topping the women’s standings, each with a clear advantage.

Men’s: Elazzaoui in a class of his own

Morocco’s Elhousine Elazzaoui has been in red‑hot form this season, winning Zegama-Aizkorri, Ledro Sky Trentino and the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail. He leads the standings with 824 points, more than 80 points clear of second place. Although he unfortunately withdrew at Sierre‑Zinal, his earlier results leave him firmly atop the leaderboard.

Kenya’s Philemon Ombogo Kiriago successfully defended his title at Sierre‑Zinal to claim his first race win of the season, his points rising to 740 and moving him into second. His teammate Patrick Kipngeno sits third with 688 points. Romania’s Bogdan Damian (509 points) and Kenya’s Nashon Kiplimo (481 points) are fourth and fifth, respectively.

Women’s: Florea’s title defense is powering ahead

Romanian star Mădălina Florea, the 2025 season overall champion, has continued her dominant form this season. She claimed victories at Québec Mega Trail, Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail and Sierre-Zinal, and leads the women's table with a commanding 860 points.

The biggest challenge to her title defense comes from Kenyan Caroline Kimutai, who sits second with 712 points. Spain's Sara Alonso (620 points) is third, while the USA's Sophia Laukli (540) and Switzerland's Oria Liaci (510) are fourth and fifth, respectively.

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Live broadcast information

Broadcast time: 12:00 (noon) on September 20, 2026

Live platforms:WeChat Channels | Xiaohongshu (RED) | Bilibili | Douyin | Weibo

Wherever you are, if you love trail running you can join us virtually for this mountain rendezvous.

Reminder:

Please search for and follow “跑野 RUNYEAH” on each platform in advance and enable the live-stream reminder. At 12:00 noon on September 20, 2026, let’s meet in the live stream to cheer on the athletes and witness the Golden League’s Japan stop in all its glory!