7°
Sunny, light wind, low near 7 C and start around 12 C climbing toward 17 C
2020 Edition
Tokyo Marathon 2020: elite-only race
Run elite-only after the mass field was cancelled over COVID-19, Tokyo 2020 saw Birhanu Legese defend his title in 2:04:15 while Lonah Chemtai Salpeter smashed the women's course record in 2:17:45.
Elite-only race
The datasheet
The mass field of the Tokyo Marathon 2020, around 38,000 entrants, was cancelled in early February 2020 over the COVID-19 outbreak, making it one of the first major sporting events disrupted by the pandemic. Only the marathon elites and wheelchair elites raced on March 1, 2020. Registered mass runners received no refund of the 2020 entry fee, but were offered guaranteed deferred entry to a future edition (the 2021 edition that ran March 6, 2022, or the postponed October 2021 event) on payment of a new entry fee, a no-refund policy that drew criticism.
Edition
14th edition
No mass ballot this edition
Field size
n/a
Not yet reported
Race day
Mar 1
2020
Semi-elite
M2:21 W2:52
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 2020 notable
Tokyo 2020 was the edition COVID-19 hollowed out. In early February the Foundation cancelled the mass field of about 38,000, leaving only the marathon and wheelchair elites to race on March 1, one of the first majors the pandemic touched. The cold, sunny morning suited the front runners. Birhanu Legese defended his crown in 2:04:15 amid remarkable depth, and Lonah Chemtai Salpeter broke clear to run 2:17:45, a course record and an Israeli national record. The lasting story for everyday runners was the entry policy: no refunds, but a guaranteed deferral to a later edition for those who paid a fresh fee, a decision that frustrated many ballot winners.
Year over year
Finishers over time
Finishers · 2021 → 2026
19K38K37K37K39K
'21'23'24'25'26
FAQ
Questions about the 2020 ballot
Why was the 2020 Tokyo Marathon elite-only?
The Tokyo Marathon Foundation cancelled the mass field of around 38,000 runners in early February 2020 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Only the marathon and wheelchair elites raced on March 1, 2020.
Did 2020 mass entrants get a refund?
No. The 2020 entry fee was not refunded. Registered runners were offered guaranteed deferral to a later edition on payment of a new entry fee.
Who won the 2020 Tokyo Marathon?
Birhanu Legese (ETH) defended the men's title in 2:04:15. Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (ISR) won the women's race in 2:17:45, a course record and Israeli record.
What were race-day conditions on 1 March 2020?
Sunny with light wind, a low near 7 degrees Celsius and a start around 12, cool conditions that helped produce fast times.
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