The Sahara Desert in April is no place for formal wear. Temperatures hit 40°C. Sandstorms roll in without warning. And yet, on Thursday, somewhere in the middle of the 2026 Marathon des Sables, Japanese runner Masahiro Michinaka was navigating the sand in a black suit jacket, dress pants, and a burgundy tie — topped off with a pair of bright orange running shoes.
As first reported by Canadian Running, Michinaka wore the outfit for Stage 4, the race’s brutal 100-kilometer leg, widely considered the hardest single day of the entire event.
Not a First-Timer, But Not Exactly a Veteran Either
According to his UTMB profile, this is only Michinaka’s second UTMB-scale race. He’s competing in the M20-34 division. His most recent comparable effort was the Okumusashi Long Trail 35K in Japan — a technical course with 2,338 meters of elevation gain — which he finished in 8 hours, 56 minutes, and 34 seconds.
Jumping from a 35K in Japan to a 250K across the Sahara is a significant leap. Doing it in a suit and tie is another thing entirely.
The Marathon des Sables — frequently called the toughest footrace in the world — covers 250 kilometers across the Moroccan Sahara over seven days and six stages. Runners carry everything they need on their backs. The race provides only water and a place to sleep. This year marks the 40th edition of the event, which kicked off April 3 and wraps up April 13.
Suits Have a Place in Running History
Michinaka is not the first runner to line up in formal attire. Costume running is well-established in the marathon world, often in pursuit of Guinness World Records. The record for the fastest marathon in a suit currently stands at 2:38:21, set last year by New Zealand’s Jason Hunt — a time that would qualify many runners for major races outright.
Whether Michinaka set any records on Stage 4 remains to be seen. But in a race where most runners are focused entirely on survival — even elite athletes find the MdS humbling — simply finishing the long stage in a business suit would be an achievement worth talking about.
