Patience Capital Group brings Golden Trail World Series to Myoko

Adam German
16 hours ago
3 min read

Myoko is set to join the global trail running circuit in 2026, as Patience Capital Group moves to position the Niigata mountain resort area as a year-round outdoor sports destination.

Singapore-based Patience Capital Group announced on May 20th that Myoko City will host MYOKO TRAIL, race number 6 in the GOLDEN TRAIL WORLD SERIES, on September 19th and 20th, 2026.

The event will be held at Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort, with courses set against views of Mount Myoko and Lake Nojiri.

The announcement comes as trail running continues to grow as a global outdoor sport. Market data cited from the International Trail Running Association Report / International Trail Running Association Performance Index, 2024, estimates the global trail running community at around 20 million participants, with annual growth of approximately 12 percent.

For Myoko, the race represents more than a one-time sporting event. It places the region inside a fast-growing international market tied to outdoor recreation, wellness, endurance sports and nature-based travel.

Myoko Joins the Golden Trail World Series

MYOKO TRAIL will be part of the GOLDEN TRAIL WORLD SERIES, one of the world’s leading trail running circuits. The series is held across eight locations worldwide and attracts top-level international athletes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT8QtsZwiAU

The Myoko event will include three planned race categories: a 23.5-kilometer official GTWS race with approximately 1,800 meters of cumulative elevation gain, as well as 11-kilometer and 5-kilometer courses for general participants.

By allowing elite athletes and recreational runners to take part in the same event environment, organizers aim to create value from both a competitive and experiential perspective.

Trail Running’s Global Growth

The scale and profile of the trail running market help explain why international race hosting has become increasingly relevant for mountain and resort destinations.

Available market indicators point to several notable trends:

• Trail running has an estimated global community of approximately 20 million participants.

• The sport is estimated to be growing by about 12 percent annually.

• The participant profile suggests an audience with meaningful travel and spending potential.

• Around 68 percent of trail runners are reported to hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

• Participation appears strongest among adults in the 25–34 and 45–54 age groups.

• Women’s participation has reportedly increased by 45 percent over the past five years.

• Spain, France, the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom are identified among the major markets represented in the sport.

For destinations such as Myoko, these trends are significant. Trail running connects naturally with mountain terrain, outdoor branding and travel experiences that extend beyond traditional sightseeing.

A Year-Round Tourism Strategy for Myoko

Patience Capital Group said the event is part of a broader effort to raise Myoko’s international profile, support a shift toward year-round tourism and promote a sustainable tourism model that makes use of the region’s natural resources.

For a ski resort area seeking to broaden demand beyond winter, trail running offers a natural extension of the mountain tourism economy. The sport uses much of the same natural landscape that attracts winter visitors, while creating new reasons for athletes, spectators and outdoor brands to engage with the area outside the ski season.

PCG Founder and CEO Ken Chan said “PCG views this event not simply as an international sporting event, but as a strategic starting point for developing the Myoko area into an outdoor sports destination recognized around the world.

In recent years, trail running has grown rapidly worldwide, supported by values such as nature, wellness, and sustainability.

The hosting of this event embodies our strategy of building a sustainable tourism model that makes use of the region’s natural resources, and we believe it will contribute to raising Myoko’s international profile and developing the area as a year-round tourism destination.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Uk7P16HvEA

During the race period, organizers plan to hold not only the competition itself, but also athlete presentations, press conferences and community-linked exchange programs.