Au×Adidas Ekiden Grand Prix

A relay race – organized and sponsored by Au and Adidas – scheduled to take place on Dream Island (Yume no Shima), Tokyo, in which teams of four compete in a race made up of four stages (stage 1, 10km; stage 2, 5km; stage 3, 3km; stage 4, 5km). The total capacity for the event is 6,000 people (or 1,500 teams) and registrations can be made through the event’s official website (ekidengp.jp/). Note: one of the conditions of registration is that each team must include at least one female member (all-female teams are also allowed). Until Thursday August 5, applications can also be made through the website for a chance to run in the same team as (and train before the event with) Adidas model, Shiho, on TeamShiho. With an emphasis on making the race into an event that can be enjoyed by both seasoned athletes and amateur runners alike, in addition to awards for the fastest times, there are also various additional awards up for grabs, such as an ‘Adidas Running Style Grand Prix’, which will awarded to the team that dons their Adidas running wear in the most stylish way. After taking place in Tokyo, the event will also be held on Osaka’s Maishima Sports Island on Saturday, January 22, 2011 and in Nagoya’s Ai Chikyuhaku Kinen Koen Expo Memorial Park on Friday, February, 11 2011 – bringing the number of participants for all three events combined to a whopping total of 12,000 people (3,000 teams). Scheduled start time: 11am