Third annual FT Nikkei UK Ekiden race to be held on Thames path

The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden will take place for the third time on June 12 along a 112km stretch of the Thames Path.

Anna Dingley, founder and CEO of the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden, said: “The UK Ekiden is a truly special race, and it is a team race, which people can aspire to be part of.

“University teams must qualify, while corporate teams support the event and compete alongside them.

“With costs covered for universities and mixed teams representing their institutions, it creates a high-performance, inclusive environment.

“Introducing qualification has elevated the competition even further.

“We already have a waiting list, and it’s fast becoming a standout fixture in the student sporting calendar.”

Starting at Brocas Field in Windsor and finishing at King’s Meadow in Reading, this year’s event promises to be its most competitive yet.

It will feature 35 teams – including 17 qualifying university teams from across the UK – running in a relay format using the traditional Japanese tasuki sash.

The event has been licensed by England Athletics for the first time.

Athletes will navigate footpaths, fields, gates and bridges in a true test of endurance.

Last year’s winners, Japan’s Ritsumeikan University, secured victory after Oxford was disqualified for failing to complete the tasuki handover in the designated area.

Matt Seddon, athletics director for the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden, said: “The UK Ekiden tests which institution is truly the best in endurance running.

“Success depends on the strength of the team, not the individual—there’s nowhere to hide.

“It showcases distance running in its purest form: a point-to-point relay.”

In addition to the university competition, 18 corporate and community teams will take part in the event.

Ms Dingley said: “It’s a notoriously challenging time for graduates entering the job market, and the headlines can be pretty discouraging.

“At the UK Ekiden, we’re proud that our corporate partners don’t just fund the event and student participation—they also engage directly with students.

“This year, we’re introducing informal talks in the race village where sponsors share their career journeys and offer practical advice, helping students better understand the opportunities ahead of them.”

Supported by the Financial Times and Nikkei, the event aims to promote university running and strengthen ties between the UK and Japan through sport.

Each year, the race highlights a different Japanese prefecture to introduce UK audiences to new regions of Japan.

This year’s event will focus on Ishikawa Prefecture, which was affected by an earthquake in 2024.

Participants will receive prizes from the region and a commemorative medal featuring a poem from the local community.