This running event format was conceived by three individuals: running coach Tetsuhiko Kin, Takeshi Nishimoto of Ekiden News, and Yasuhiro Oshima of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation (formerly a division director at the Japan Association of Athletics Federations). Unlike traditional races where everyone starts together, this event allows participants to run and finish independently—friends simply run and then meet each other at the finish area.

The goal was to create a race that eliminates the fear of a DNF (Did Not Finish) or the anxiety of being “too slow” and inconveniencing others. It is all about running freely.

Participants are free to choose their own starting locations and routes; only the finish time and the finish area (or finish line) are fixed.

Runners use a running app on their smartphones. Any app is acceptable or use the Free10Running app (TBD) to navigate toward the finish area.

Pace is entirely up to the individual—whether running fast, walking, running with a dog or child, or stopping at a shop along the way. You can even hop on a train if you get tired! If you plan to run at a slower pace, simply start earlier to ensure you reach the finish line on time.

While we have a goal that participants should try to cover a distance of 10km by the time they reach the finish line—tracked via a smartphone running app—every other aspect is flexible: the starting point, start time, route, and running pace are all up to the individual. Each runner plans their own journey from the start and aims for the goal at their own speed. It is much like the experience of battling cancer: starting points and paces vary, yet everyone shares the same finish line and finds renewed vitality.