Soochow International Ultramarathon

Event Overview

Course & Terrain

Invitational 24-hour race on the 400 m track of the Xiwang sports field at the Waishuangxi campus. In 2025 the 24-hour runners were assigned to lanes 1 and 2 by ability, and lane-2 runners were credited with the actual lane-2 distance. The outer lanes carried relay teams, separated from the 24-hour runners by cones and bars, with judges at the four corners. CTAU says the race keeps traditional manual lap counting by volunteers.

Key course features to know before comparing this race:

• 400 m track on the Waishuangxi campus in Shilin District
• Track lanes printed with national and international 24-hour track bests, according to CTAU
• Relay teams on the outer lanes alongside the 24-hour field

Flat 400 m synthetic track. Soochow University says it upgraded the track with Olympic-grade synthetic rubber for the 2024 race.

Expect a hot day and a cold night. In 2025 CTAU reported about 30°C at midday and about 13°C overnight; about a third of the field showed signs of dehydration around noon, and some runners withdrew with hypothermia after dark. Local press says the race is known for cold wind and high humidity after nightfall.

Entry & Logistics

Why This Race Matters

The Soochow 24 Hour has been held on the Soochow University campus in Taipei since 1999. CTAU says it was started by Kuo Feng-Chou (郭豐州), then a computer science teacher at the university and now the IAU’s Asia and Oceania representative, and the university calls it the world’s only ultramarathon hosted by a university. It is an invitational race that draws an international field, and Soochow University reports IAU Gold Label certification for six editions: 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2024 and 2025. Fast marks on its track include Yiannis Kouros’s 284.070 km in 2002, Yoshikazu Hara’s course record of 285.366 km in 2014 and Camille Herron’s women’s course record of 263.004 km in 2024, and the university says Mami Kudo set two women’s world records there. The 2018 race doubled as the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championships.

Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):

• Course record, men: 285.366 km, Yoshikazu Hara (Japan), 2014. Soochow University reported it as an Asian best for men at the time; it passed the 284.070 km Yiannis Kouros ran at the race in 2002.
• Course record, women: 263.004 km, Camille Herron (USA), 2024, which Soochow University called a new event record.
• Soochow University says Mami Kudo (Japan) set the women’s 24-hour world record twice at the race. DUV lists her winning distances there as 254.425 km in 2009 and 255.303 km in 2011.
• Other recent winning marks: Yoshihiko Ishikawa 279.427 km (2019), Andrzej Piotrowski 277.272 km (2022) and Phil Gore 270.826 km (2024). Courtney Dauwalter won the women’s race in 2017 with 256.405 km.
• Fastest 100-mile splits in DUV’s records for the race: Andrzej Piotrowski, 12:25:03, and Miho Nakata, 13:09:09, both in 2022.

Preparing for a Race Like Soochow International Ultramarathon

The 24-hour race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:

• 24-hour races explained: How the format works and what to compare before entering.
• How to train for a 24-hour race: Progression, walking, night-gear practice, fueling and tapering.
• 24-hour race pacing strategy: Conservative starts, run/walk options and late-race reassessment.
• What to eat during a 24-hour race: Food choices, stomach problems, hydration and caffeine.

Best Fit

• Invited elite 24-hour runners chasing international standards
• Taiwanese runners seeking selection for the 2027 World Championships
• Spectators who want to watch an international field on a campus track

Planning Notes

• Start conservatively and use flexible process checkpoints for effort, walking, food, fluid, alertness, and symptoms instead of forcing one hourly distance target.
• Repetitive surfaces can expose fit, friction, and loading problems. Check in when symptoms or conditions change, and use only footwear already tested for the course.
• The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
• There is no open entry to the 24-hour race
• Midday heat and a cold, humid night in the same race
• Organizer information for 2026 is published mainly on social media

Event FAQs

Related Preparation

• Browse the curated 24-hour race calendar
• Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
• Browse the 24-hour race calendar
• Open the 24-Hour format guide
• Compare all race formats
• Use the timed-race pace calculator
• Build a crew and drop-bag plan
• Build a race-specific gear checklist