You recognize what they are saying: a swimsuit and tie pairs ridiculously effectively with trainers.
On Thursday on the 2026 Marathon des Sables, the 250-km race throughout the Moroccan Sahara, Japanese runner Masahiro Michinaka was noticed in full enterprise apparel–black swimsuit jacket, costume pants and burgundy tie. Plus, after all, his vibrant orange trainers.
Regularly known as the hardest footrace on the planet, the Marathon des Sables is each relentlessly unforgiving and iconic. Over the span of seven days and 6 levels, individuals are principally unsupported, carrying all their provides on their backs. The race gives solely water and tents for sleeping at evening. With sandstorms and 40 C warmth, it’s a brutal check of grit and endurance. This yr marks the fortieth version of the race; it started on April 3 and can conclude on April 13.
Michinaka wore his swimsuit for Stage 4, the 100-km stage, extensively thought of probably the most troublesome phase of the race.
In keeping with his UTMB profile, the Marathon des Sables marks Michinaka’s second UTMB-scale occasion. Racing within the M20-34 division, he accomplished final yr’s Okumusashi Lengthy Path 35K in Japan, which options 2,338m of climbing, stopping the clock in 8:56:34.
Normalizing enterprise apparel on race day
Michinaka isn’t the primary runner to sport a swimsuit and tie on race day. Atypical outfits are frequent in marathons, typically in pursuit of Guinness World Data. The mark for the quickest marathon in a swimsuit retains dropping, and now stands at 2:38:21, set final yr by New Zealand’s Jason Hunt.
