also: えきでん
long-distance relay race; ekiden
A road relay race where team members run successive legs, passing a sash (tasuki). The full term 駅伝競走 is formal; 駅伝 is the everyday word.
The Hakone Ekiden is a famous long-distance relay race held every New Year.
駅伝競走では、選手がたすきをつないで走ります。
In a long-distance relay race, runners pass a sash as they run.