GREEN LIGHT RUN is an urban marathon race, where the runner doesn’t have to stop for any red light.

Using traffic data provided by the local police department, and taking traffic signal patterns, distance, timing and safety all into account, adidas Japan brought a one-of-a-kind, urban race through the busy streets of Tokyo to life.

A “world first” marathon utilizing traffic signal cycle data analysis was held. The runners took their mark at midnight in Marunouchi, for a full-length marathon race leading them to the goal at adidas Harajuku Brand Core Store. They followed real-time navigation based on traffic signal cycles and ever-changing traffic conditions, and they were able to run the entire 42.195km from start to finish without stopping once for a red light.  Response was immense, and its buzz instantly went global.

This signal analysis system developed is a revolutionary technology that allows the bustling streets of central Tokyo to be marathon-ready at any time.

It forever changed the perception of runners toward city running.

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We delivered real-time navigation to a large number of runners, and opened up the city streets of central Tokyo, creating a dedicated urban marathon course

A major national marathon called the “Tokyo Marathon” does exist, however only limited numbers can participate in this full marathon. This system gave freedom to runners through real-time navigation, and opened up the city streets of central Tokyo, creating their very own full marathon course.

Every city has its urban runners. Each runner has a different purpose, but they all have one enemy in common; traffic lights. London has 6,252 signals, NYC 12,460 and Tokyo has a staggering 15,772. Signals are absolutely necessary in traffic control and saving lives. However, they make completing an uninterrupted urban run near impossible, throwing runners off pace, and hindering record time performance. Dedicated to supporting all runners, adidas Japan took a stand to resolve this issue and to make city running dreams come true.