Breaking My Personal Best at the BIWAKO Marathon 2026: Sub‑4.5 Achieved

My previous personal best was at the 2024 Osaka Marathon. I achieved sub-5 times in two marathons in 2024.
I didn't think my past records were that bad, but for some reason I was assigned to Block E this time. Why?

I deliberately didn't announce my goal to everyone, but this time I believed I could finish within 4 hours and 30 minutes, so I followed the pacer marked 4:30.

Actually, two weeks prior, I ran a 30km in 3 hours 10 minutes, so I figured it wasn't impossible.

During the race, taking water or food slowed me down, and I'd catch up to the 4:30 pacer again, repeating this cycle.

Around the 30-kilometer mark, muscle fatigue peaked, making it incredibly difficult to maintain my pace. But my grit made it possible.

Then I did it!

You have successfully completed the 42.195 km course, feeling the breath of Lake Biwa and the spirit of the mountains. We hereby certify this achievement.

	Passing Time	Net Time	Pace/km	Rank
Start	8:24:41	0:00:00		596
5km	8:57:33	0:30:52	6:10/km	488
10km	9:27:55	1:01:14	6:04/km	490
15km	9:58:58	1:32:17	6:12/km	499
20km	10:30:04	2:03:23	6:13/km	480
21.0975km	10:36:47	2:10:06	6:07/km	479
25km	11:00:58	2:34:17	6:11/km	459
30km	11:31:52	3:05:11	6:10/km	436
35km	12:03:34	3:36:53	6:20/km	404
40km	12:34:15	4:07:34	6:08/km	384
42.195km	12:47:58	4:21:17	6:14/km	377

　The “BIWAKO Marathon 2026” (organized by Shiga Prefecture and others), which runs along the shores of Lake Biwa, was held on the 8th. Of the 8,485 individuals who entered the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF)-certified full marathon (42.195 km), 7,477 took part, and 7,055 (94.4%) finished the race. Both figures marked all-time highs.

This was the fourth edition of the event, serving as the successor to the “BIWAKO Mainichi Marathon,” which concluded in 2021. It marked the first time the event was held since a partnership agreement was signed last July to promote marathon events held along the shores of Japan’s three largest lakes by area: Lake Biwa, Lake Kasumigaura (Ibaraki Prefecture), and Lake Saroma (Hokkaido).

　Runners started at the Ojiyama Athletic Stadium in Otsu City amid flurries of snow and headed toward the finish line on the Karasuma Peninsula in Kusatsu City, passing landmarks such as the Omi Bridge along the way.

　Rinku Hirai of Yamanashi Prefecture (Tsuru City Athletics Association), who won the men’s overall title with a time of 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 17 seconds, expressed his joy immediately after crossing the finish line: “I love Lake Biwa and participated because the scenery is beautiful. This was the best race I’ve ever run.” In the women’s overall category, Chika Ueno of Mie Prefecture (team.F.O.R) won with a time of 2 hours, 48 minutes, and 37 seconds.

　The “Pair Relay Marathon,” a two-person team event introduced last year, saw 85 teams (170 participants) start the race, with 83 teams (166 participants) finishing.

by Daisuke Tsujioka