THE Japanese city of Tateyama has invited up to three Port Stephens runners to participate in the 45th annual Wakashio Marathon to be held on 26 January 2025.

A sister city of Port Stephens, Tateyama will provide homestay accommodation, pickup and drop off at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport), entry fee to the marathon, and tours.

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The invitation, from the City of Tateyama and the Tateyama International Exchange Society (TIES), provides for five nights accommodation, arriving Thursday 23 January and departing Tuesday 28 January.

Runners will meet the city’s mayor and have an opportunity to attend a two-hour class by Tetsuhiko Kin, a professional marathon coach.

Those selected can choose to enter the full marathon, a ten kilometre (km) race, or a two km fun run.

Expressions of interest should be emailed to Port Stephens Sister Cities Committee Chairperson Nigel Dique at nigeldique@me.com by 14 October.

The email should briefly outline the runner’s history and why they would be interested in participating in Japan.

There will be a selection process for prospective runners.

Two runners represented Port Stephens at the 2024 Wakashio Marathon, whilst in a reciprocal event, three runners and an official from Japan attended the Winery Running Festival in the Hunter Valley in July 2024.

For further information contact nigeldique@me.com.

By Simon EKINS