After a long absence due to COVID restrictions and typhoon damage to trails and access roads, the Mt. Minobu Monk’s Run Trail Race is taking place Sunday, November 27. This is the first time in several years that the full 36 kilometer course over Mt. Minobu and Mt. Shichimen is open for competition. See the Japanese web site for details. Here are 2 article posts covering the event:
Poor Minobusan cannot catch a break. The Shugyoso Monk’s Run Trail Race profiled in 2014 was cancelled in 2018 due to major typhoon inflicted damage on the Minobusan~Shichimensan trail. Denied use of the full course, race organizers made do with mini races covering usable parts of the trails. This year’s challenge was greater than ever: the COVID crisis almost cancelled it altogether.
To keep it alive Rev. Yuji Komatsu of Takeibo and the resourceful Shugyoso organizers opted for a 17 km ‘mini course race’ up and down Shichimensan this year, limited to 50 runners each on November 21, 22, 28, 29 with COVID protocols in place to limit crowding. It’s an encouraging sign that all race slots sold out.
The first race on November 21 went very well. The weather was clear and warm. Organizers did a good job taking care of the race and racers. Everybody was relaxed and enjoyed a good time. Final race results ranking the best times of all 4 race days are posted on the Shugyoso FaceBook page (Japanese).
If all goes well the road linking Minobusan and Shichimensan will be completely repaired and once again open for Monks Trail Race event.
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