Echigo Country Trail 2016 — The 1st Edition
The very first Echigo Country Trail welcomed 471 participants: 135 runners in the 53 km race, 121 in the 15 km race, and 215 in the 2.5 km race.
At the pre-race gathering the evening before, we treated our guests to homemade dishes prepared by local women, along with a performance of Miko-Jiji, a traditional folk performing art designated as an intangible cultural asset of Oguni.
On race day, we even ran shuttle buses from the Oguni Branch Office of Nagaoka City Hall. With so many things being done for the first time, there was plenty of hustle and bustle behind the scenes.
It truly felt like a festival!
Echigo Country Trail 2017 — The 2nd Edition
he second Echigo Country Trail welcomed 767 participants: 299 in the 53 km race, 179 in the 15 km race, and 289 in the 2.5 km race.
The number of participants jumped by 300 from the previous year, much to the surprise of the local community!
That year’s pre-race gathering featured Hossue Kagura, a traditional performing art designated as an intangible cultural asset. To wrap up the evening, everyone joined in dancing to Oguni Ondo, a traditional local folk dance.
On race day, even more local people came out to cheer on the runners than in recent years.
Echigo Country Trail 2018 — The 3rd Edition
The third Echigo Country Trail welcomed 936 participants: 349 in the 53 km race, 282 in the 15 km race, and 305 in the 2.5 km race.
With another 200 participants joining the race compared with the previous year, Echigo Country Trail was gradually becoming established as a local event in Oguni.
Echigo Country Trail 2019 — The 4th Edition
The fourth Echigo Country Trail welcomed 948 participants: 413 in the 53 km race, 266 in the 15 km race, and 269 in the 2.5 km race.
We set a new record for the highest number of participants ever, with the 53 km race selling out!
By this time, both the pre-race gathering and the race itself had become familiar events for runners and the local community alike.
And this would be the last edition before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Echigo Country Trail 2022 — The 5th Edition
The fifth Echigo Country Trail welcomed 735 participants: 234 in the 63 km race, 293 in the 22 km race, and 208 in the 2.5 km race.
As this was our first race after the COVID-19 pandemic, we approached the event with some hesitation and caution. The pre-race gathering was cancelled, of course, and aid stations offered only simple, non-perishable snacks.
This year also marked a major change to the courses: the 53 km race became 63 km, and the 15 km race became 22 km, making both courses more challenging. The 63 km race also became eligible for ITRA points.
Echigo Country Trail 2023 — The 6th Edition
The sixth Echigo Country Trail welcomed 450 participants: 224 in the 22 km race and 226 in the 2.5 km race. The 63 km race was cancelled.
Heavy snowfall during the winter left us unable to complete the necessary course preparations in time, forcing us to cancel the 63 km race. Even so, many runners who had usually taken part in the 63 km race chose to enter the 22 km race instead. It was a race that was truly supported by the runners themselves.
From this year on, race operations were taken over by Tokimingo, a local trail running team.
Echigo Country Trail 2024 — The 7th Edition
The seventh Echigo Country Trail welcomed 572 participants: 151 in the 63 km race, 177 in the 22 km race, and 244 in the 2.5 km race.
After being cancelled the previous year, the 63 km race successfully returned in 2024!
Echigo Country Trail 2025 — The 8th Edition
The eighth Echigo Country Trail welcomed 566 participants: 155 in the 63 km race, 218 in the 22 km race, and 193 in the 2.5 km race.
Rain from the day before left the course in extremely muddy conditions. It was a muddy adventure from start to finish!
Even so, what stood out most was seeing the runners smiling through it all.
Echigo Country Trail 2026 — The 9th Edition
The ninth Echigo Country Trail welcomed 643 participants: 209 in the 63 km race, 205 in the 22 km race, and 229 in the 2.5 km race.
For the first time in several years, more than 200 runners took part in the 63 km race. We also welcomed 20 runners from overseas, making Oguni feel a little more international than ever!
