title: Hofu Marathon
text: # Hofu Marathon
  
  The Hofu Marathon (also known as the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon) is an annual road-based marathon hosted by Hōfu, Japan, since 1970. The marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label Road Race and a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.
  
  ## History
  
  The inaugural race was held on 27 December 1970. It was won by Japanese runner Toshihiko Uehara with a finish time of 2:15:49.8.
  
  In 2013, Japanese runner Yuki Kawauchi became the first marathoner to complete two sub-2:10 marathons in two weeks, by running the Fukuoka Marathon on 1 December in 2:09:15 and the Hofu Marathon on 15 December in 2:09:05. In 2019, Kawauchi returned to Hōfu to complete his 100th marathon there.
  
  ## Course
  
  The marathon begins in front of the Kirin Lemon Stadium Salt Arena Hofu [ja] and ends on the track of the Kirin Lemon Stadium Athletics Field across the street.
  
  