long-distance relay race
Abbreviation of 駅伝競走. Refers to a road relay race, especially the famous Hakone Ekiden. Each runner covers a leg of the course.
See also: 駅伝競走
The Hakone Ekiden is held every New Year.
He was chosen as the final runner for the relay race.
Historical use referring to the relay system of horses and stations in old Japan. Rare in modern conversation; mainly encountered in historical contexts.
The ekiden relay system of the Edo period was an important means of communication for the shogunate.
He ended up taking part in his university's ekiden race.
The sash was passed to the final runner, and the team won.
She ran the longest leg of the ekiden race.