4.2.3 Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon

This half marathon is held on the first Sunday in February every year. The official course was laid out in 2000. In 2001, Naoko Takahashi, gold medalist in the Sydney Olympics, took part in the run, and in 2005 Mizuki Noguchi, gold medalist in the Athens Olympics, took part, bringing great prestige to the event.
On the day before the race, famous runners hold jogging classes, and souvenir and local Sanuki udon noodle stands are set up for the runners when they finish the race.
In 2009 the race was recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as an international competition, and is drawing many foreign athletes.