NAC Trail Run Gains ITRA Recognition
Niseko's biggest trail race caters to all levels of runners.
The NAC Trail Run, held in early September, has been an iconic Niseko event for 18 years. While racers have toed the line of this tough race to do battle in the forests of Mt Annupuri for many years, it has only recently been recognized by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) with 2 points.
This is great news for runners looking for qualifying points to get themselves into bigger races on the international stage, such as the Ultra Trail Mount Fuji (UTMF), Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMF), or other races in the World Tour.
ITRA points take into account the factors of distance, ascent and descent meters, and the type of aid stations.
The main race comprises 2,400 meters of ascent and descent over a challenging course featuring two big climbs and 30.4 kilometers of Niseko mountain country.
There are also 10km and 5km challenges available for those who are not quite ready to tackle the full distance yet! The 5km race even allows elementary school kids to take part in this celebration of mountain running and enjoy the day.
Trail running is enjoyed by millions around the world and especially in Japan, where the physical and mental challenges of running through mountains and forests marries perfectly with the Japanese "samurai spirit"!
Escaping the city, office life or even just embracing nature - trail running is a unique way to enjoy a destination and a fantastic option for exploring Niseko.
While the NAC run heads up and down Mt Annupuri (famous as the centre of Niseko United ski resort in winter), there are plenty of other runs on trails - ranging from Mt Yotei at the extreme end to pleasurable flat trails along the river.
Fun for all ages!
Registration for the NAC Trail Run 2018 is open on the NAC website and closes on the 2nd of September with the races taking place on Sunday the 9th of September. There is no race day registration so make sure to sign up soon!
Race day itself features lots of fun games and pop-up food and drink stations, with the start and finish at the base of the ski hill in Niseko-Hirafu.
For the running geeks, the official evaluation, along with downloadable GPX data and a 3D view of the map is available. For some insight into how points are calculated, visit ITRA's Race Evaluation page.
Race Course
Elevation Profile
Interested in more sport events around Niseko? Check out our events page.
