Join the official DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 100 training camp with ultra-running legend Gediminas Grinius. Completion of the camp ensures qualification entry into the 2024 edition of the DEEP JAPAN ULTRA!

Message from our race director Hiroaki Matsunaga:

We have invited Gediminas Grinius, a world-class UTWT World Champion and personal coach from Europe to join us for the DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 100 Official Training Camp, where we will train on the actual DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 100 course. The top athletes in the world of ultra-running sometimes run for 20 hours or more without sleep or rest. At first glance, it may seem like intense training is the key to this incredible effort, but what are elite athletes thinking about during that time? How does their mental headspace factor into their overall results? Through this camp we hope that you will get a glimpse of not only top running and training methods, but also the philosophy (or way of life) hidden behind the scenes. In the process of such intense physical and mental training and competition there is always an opportunity to change your life, to create a new version of yourself. Through this camp and our interactions with Gediminas let's discover how it's possible to smile in the face of extreme situations and take the next step forward together! The key words and themes of emphasis from this camp are training in terms of "psychology and physiology (both the mind and body).

※Please note: This camp is intended for reasonably experienced athletes. If you are unsure about applying please contact us and we can advise you whether it may be suitable for you.

Event Summary

Dates:

2023/06/10 - 06/11 (Sat.-Sun.)

Meeting place

Day 1 (Sat) Asakusa Sanso (Asakusa MountainVilla)

Day 2 (Sun) Yottege Residence

Application Period

2023/01/13 (12:00) - 2023/05/26 (23:59 Deadline)　

Participation Benefits

■Participants who complete the entire two-day course (Saturday-Sunday) within the allotted time will be qualified to participate in the DEEP JAPAN 160 km race in 2024.

■Those who participate in the first day of the course (Saturday) and complete the course in time will be qualified to participate in the UONUMA 80 km race in 2024.

※The qualification is valid only for 2024 and cannot be carried over to 2025 or later.

※(Participants who qualify for their DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 2024 race entry via training camp participation will not be required to obtain necessary ITRA points.)

Training camp to aid in the completion of the DEEP JAPAN ULTRA!

Our camp is designed for those who wish to complete the DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 100 in the future.

Full support will be offered by our race director, Hiroaki Matsunaga, an extremely experienced, ultra-runner, who has completed all the UTMF races!

【Day 1】

■Theme:

･Power hiking techniques and training for steep climbs

■Course distance and elevation gain/loss: approx. 30 km, 2300 m±.

●Course Description：

Starting from Asakusa Sanso (Asakusa Villa) we’ll move to the Mujinazawa trailhead and proceed to the summit of Mt. Asakusa, from there we’ll descend the Nezumochidaira trailhead back to Asakusa Sanso.

After that, we’ll move to Futakuchi trailhead by car. On the Futakuchi Trail, we’ll go down the Hokure Trail via Mt. Seiundake and end up on the Futakuchi trailhead.

The training on Saturday’s course will focus on power hiking to overcome steep climbs, and will run the mountain portion of the DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 100 course.

The camp instructors will be available to answer individual questions as you run together through the course.

【Day 2】

■Theme:

・Efficient downhill techniques to complete 100 miles

■Course distance and elevation gain/loss: approx. 35 km, 1,700 m±.

●Course Description：

We’ll Start at Yottege Residence and go to Yoshigahira. From there we’ll proceed to Mt. Morimon, continue along the Shio-river trail, and go to the Shio-river aid station location. From there, the last 3 km of the course will be off-course via a patrol road under the Tohoku Electric Power Company lines and a forest road that leads back to Yottege Residence.

The training on Sunday’s course will focus on downhill techniques and will also be run on the actual DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 100 course.

Again, the camp’s instructors will be available to answer individual questions as you run the course together.

*Remarks

This Course is subject to change depending on weather and snow conditions.

Training camp capacity

[2 day course] 15 people

[1 day course] 5 people each day

※ 20 people will be the capacity each day.

■Participation qualification

Those who wish to participate in the DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 100 in the future.

Entry fee

★2022 DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 100 volunteers are free to participate! !

[2-day course] General: 25,000 yen

(Price includes course fee x 2, insurance, participation prize, private car shuttle, tax not included, accommodation fee not included)

[1 day course] General: 15,000 yen (Capacity: 5 people each day)

(Price includes course fee, insurance, private car shuttle, tax not included, accommodation fee not included)

[Regarding accommodation] The reception/starting places of "Asakusa Sanso" and "Yottege Residence" are conveniently located to the course and recommended for lodging.

*Please make a reservation on your own due to travel agency laws.

■In addition

About luggage: We will prepare a luggage/bag storage space at the reception venue. Please manage your valuables by yourself.

Enter Now

■Training camp instructors

We have invited athletes who mainly compete in 160km events (100 miles) as leaders of our camp.

HIROAKI　MATSUNAGA

'I want to provide people an opportunity to change their lives'

Hiroaki Matsunaga is one of the few athletes to have completed every UTMF since its launch in 2012.

He has also competed in various UTMB races for 11 consecutive years from 2009 and appeared on the Japanese TV program "Gekiso Mont Blanc,". During these years he has completed UTMB 6 times, CCC 3 times, and TDS once. He has immense mental strength to complete an ultra-distance race even in the face of disaster.

Born in February 1980, more important than his career as an athlete, Hiroaki is a loving husband and the father of three children.

Born in the soccer-obsessed prefecture of Shizuoka, he aspired to become a professional soccer player while attending the renowned Fujieda Higashi High School, but was frustrated by the high level of competition. While still a student, he had experience travelling and cycling around the world. It was then he became determined to, in his words, "do what I love and live freely.” He decided to become a professional athlete and found his way to the mountains, where he had been training and running since he was a child.

In 2006, he started Trail Runners with the mission of "providing an opportunity to change lives.”

In addition to being an athlete, Hiroaki has organized more than 15 trail running events throughout Japan. He also organizes trail running schools for a wide range of levels, from ultra marathon preparation courses with world class athletes, to courses for children and beginners. He constantly strives to promote and popularize trail running throughout Japan.

A born conversationalist, Hiroaki loves to chat and tell stories in both Japanese and English. Although he may ramble on from time to time, feel free to ask him about anything you may be wondering, he’ll be more than happy to oblige your questions, big or small.

Daily Schedule:

Reception Location:

Day 1: 2023/06/10 (Sat) Asakusa Sanso, 887-127 Ooshirakawa, Uonuma, Niigata 946-0303

Day 2: 2023/06/11 (Sun) 588-2 Yottege Residence, Sanjo, Niigata 955-0135

Meeting time

Day 1：2023/06/10 (Sat) 6:45　

Day 2: 2023/06/11 (Sun) 6:45

Access

*At the start and end of the camp on Day 1, you can be picked up and dropped off at the Yottege Residence or Nagaoka Station. (First 7 arrivals)

*After the event on Day 2, we can drop you off at Tsubame-Sanjo Station. (First 7 arrivals)

Please come to the reception area on your own on the day of the event. It is recommended to use your own car or rent a car from nearby the station.

Parking lot

Day 1：2023/06/10 (Sat) Asakusa Sanso　

Day 2：2023/06/11 (Sun) Yottege Residence

* Pick-ups and drop offs for participants come free of charge

Training camp schedule

Day 1 Saturday (2023/06/10)

06:45 Registration (Asakusa Sanso)

07:00 Start the run from Asakusa Sanso (Instructors: Hiroaki Matsunaga and Gediminas Grinius)

11:00 End of the run. Take shuttle transportation to the Niguchi trailhead (those who use their own cars will take their own cars to the Niguchi trailhead)

11:30 Start the 2nd Run

14:30 End of the run. Take a complimentary shuttle to Yottege Residence or Nagaoka Station (first 7 participants)

15:30 Arrive at Yottege Residence

Please prepare your own meals.

*After the event, a private shuttle will be available to take you to Yottege Residence or Nagaoka Station. (First 7 arrivals)

Day 2 Sunday (2023/06/11)

06:45 Registration (Yottege Residence)

07:00 Start of the run from Yottege Residence (Instructors: Hiroaki Matsunaga and Gediminas Grinius)

14:00 End of the run Arrival at Yottege Residence

*Please prepare your own meals.

*After the event, a private shuttle will be available to Tsubame-Sanjo Station (First 7 arrivals)

*Showers are also available after the event.

What to bring:

The DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 100 required equipment as follows (in order to practice running with all the required gear):

Running pack
COCOHELI Transceiver (you do not need to bring this for the training camp)
Cell phone and spare cell phone battery
Portable cup of 150ml or more
At least 1 liter of water
Two lights
Survival blanket
Whistle
Taping or elastic bandages
Supplemental food 800 kcal or more in total
Rain jacket with hood and rain pants
Long tights or leggings and socks
Hat or buff
warm clothes to change into:
<Long-sleeved mid-layer for warmth (men's M size 180g or equivalent, no cotton material)>
Or a combination of the following:
Warm long-sleeved mid-layer (men's M size, 110 g, no cotton)
Windproof jacket (separate from the rain jacket...)
Fingerless gloves
Waterproof winter gloves
Portable toilet
Shoes for mountain running
Bear bell
Identification card (with photo)
Cold weather kit:
(Depending on weather conditions, you may be asked to carry the following items)
Warm third layer (between the waterproof jacket and second layer)
Recommended: fleece or a light down jacket that can be compacted
Other items:
Cash
Writing materials
Other personal items required for lodging, etc.
*Please prepare your own meals.

Enter Now

Application Process:

Please fill out and submit the entry form by clicking on the "Enter Now" button.
The entry fee will be sent to the e-mail address provided on the entry form, and payment instructions will be provided at a later date. The entry fee is free for those who participated in the 2022 DEEP JAPAN ULTRA 100 as volunteers.

Application Period:

Until 23:59, Friday, May 26, 2023　

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

*Applications will stop being accepted as soon as capacity is reached.

If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail after applying, please contact us by phone or e-mail.
If there are any errors or changes in your application, please contact us as soon as possible.
We may confirm the details of your application by e-mail or telephone.

Notes on Entry

This course is intended for experienced trail runners. If you are unsure about joining, please contact us before applying.

Course changes due to inclement weather:

The course may be changed in the following cases. (The course may be changed to a long run, a mountain pass run, on asphalt, etc.... Please understand this in advance.)
- Inclement weather: Precipitation of 2.5 mm or more per hour for more than 2 hours.
- Danger of hypothermia: Forecasted maximum temperature is below 20℃ and wind speed is 5m or higher intermittently.

Miscellaneous

Application Terms and Conditions:

By participating in this event, you agree to the following: The organizer will hold the event in accordance with the following terms and conditions.

As the event will take place in a natural environment, you pledge to comply with all rules, regulations, and instructions set forth by the organizer, and to participate in the event with due consideration for environmental conservation.
This will be a training camp event for a maximum of two days and one night. Please practice sufficiently to participate in the event.
Once the application has been received and payment has been made, no changes or cancellations can be made for any reason. Please note that the participation fee is non-refundable.
In the event of a weather warning, disaster (when a warning is issued), or landslide warning, the organizer will make a decision to cancel, change, or shorten the duration of the event after considering the effects of the disaster. The final decision will be announced on this website by 4:00 a.m. on the day of the event.
Please note that no refunds will be made in the event that the event is unavoidably interrupted, changed, or canceled due to natural disasters (earthquakes, storms, fires, etc.) or other extraordinary circumstances.
In the event of a serious accident on the day of the event, regardless of the progress of the event, the event will be cancelled thereafter.
If you have any information about your physical condition that you would like the organizers to be aware of (e.g., allergies, hypersensitivity, or other specific or pre-existing conditions), please contact the organizers at least 10 days prior to the event.
We are committed to an eco-friendly and paperless operation. No documents will be sent to internet applicants. We will confirm your application by your name at the venue reception on the day of the event.
If you are late for registration, you will not be able to participate.
If you do not wish to continue participating for any reason during the event despite having registered, please be sure to inform the staff at the registration desk. You may be subject to a missing person search.
Participants are requested to assemble 5 minutes prior to the start of registration.
Departure times are subject to change depending on the progress of the event. Please follow the announcements made on the day of the event.
Please carry or wear required equipment during the event.
Participants are expected to follow the instructions of the instructors and staff.
If a participant must withdraw from the event due to illness or other reasons, we will do our best to arrange for a collection vehicle. Please be sure to notify the staff.
Please do not throw garbage on the course.
There are many rare plants and animals in the area. We will enforce the rules for protecting the natural environment, such as straying off the trails and not making loud noises or shouting. Participants who violate these rules will be asked to leave the course.
The course is a mountain trail, forest trail, and ridge trail. Please be sure to follow the rules and manners, such as walking past climbers while greeting them if they are present, and ensure that you are responsible for your own safety.
The organizer may, at its discretion, encourage participants to leave the course if they think it will be difficult for them to finish.
As with any other mountain climbing event, participation is at the participant's own risk. Therefore, please sign the pledge to confirm that the organizer will not be held responsible for any problems that may arise, except for first aid measures.
The organizer will not be liable for any accidents during the event, such as injury or loss of the participant himself/herself, or damage or loss caused to a third party, except for first-aid measures.
The organizer will not provide compensation for accidents during the event beyond the maximum amount of insurance benefits provided by the accident insurance. If you need compensation beyond the insurance benefit limit, please purchase it on your own.
The organizer recognizes the importance of personal information and will handle personal information in compliance with the Act on the Protection of Personal Information and related laws and regulations. However, the organizer retains the right to publish on the Internet and in the media any images, photographs, and records taken during the event. Please note that the organizer may provide information on participation, records, and related information to participants for the purpose of improving services, as well as services provided by event sponsors, cooperating organizations, and related organizations.
No prizes will be mailed to participants who do not participate in the event.

Contact Us:

Trail Runners

Phone number: 0258-66-7991
Emergency inquiries on the day of the event: 090-4672-6162
For general inquiries, please contact: contact@trailrunners.jp