Running Tokyo marathon

To run Tokyo marathon has been a dream of me for a decade. I been trying and trying to get a spot and last year I finally got mine through the race lottery. If I was excited about the adventure? of course. I heard it is a different marathon and with my 40+ others done around the world I can confirm that. It was different.

I went to Japan with a friend I met through a runclub in Stockholm 14 years ago. We were almost neighbours in Vasastan at that time so started to hang out, travel and now she joined me to Japan. Not to run because she had no ticket so I had my personal cheerleader and coach. Our Japan trip started with a visit to Hokkaido for skiing and exploring and on Thursday morning the same day as the marathon expo opened we flew down to Tokyo and passed by the exhibition to collect the bib on the way from the airport to the city. Already then it was very busy. If you wished to buy the official race merch you had to wait 120 minutes to pickup your pre-paid items. Luckily I had not bought anything so we checked out other stuff and it could have happened we had some more shoes to carry with us from there.

Pre race day

Saturday was pre race day and not walking 30K steps in Tokyo is a challenge. We went to one, two, three or five coffee places and did some sightseeing to the cat temple which I have had on my to visit list also a long long time. Had some more drinks, shopping and a girl dinner from 7eleven at our 12 square meter Tokyo compact living hotel room.

Starting procedure

Race day came. Sunday 1st of March. The run started at 09:10 so no need to get up in the middle of the night. Tokyo is huge so I checked out a bit where to stay when I booked the hotel so there would be a direct subway line to the start. It took 20 minutes to go there from Asuksabashi where we stayed. It was not super busy when I got there but the toilet lines where already reaching way outside of the well organized corrals. I badly needed to go especially since I just had my coffee, some water and a banana smoothie. You could not bring any drinks into the starting area so had to finalize all outside. A Japanese lady that I spoke to in the long line said that if you miss your corral you need to start the last so when mine closed 25 minutes before the start I had to give up and line up.

It was very different from other races. No music and no crowds around. You could almost hear a needle falling. One American guy broke the silence and screamed out that it was his last major and it took him 40 years to complete. People around were didn’t know how to react. Japanese culture is not known for being loud. It is all about respect.

It was so quiet and from my corral E you had no clue that the race had started. Suddenly it was ours turn to start and just 50 meters before it was a line of toilets. Chaos. Everyone wanted to go. I managed to get into one before starting my watch but I also missed my start slot and joined in group F.

My first marathon in Japan

39 000 runners that got the sought after places had started to move. It was a bit surreal. High rise government buildings in the part Shinjuku around us and quietness. You could hear carbon fibre shoes stepping on the ground and it was packed. One guy managed to pull his hand under my bib so I lost one of my attachment magnets. I kicked my left toe into a cone and it was hurting like. A lot. Damn. Already had a blue toe nail and I could feel it came off a bit.

It was very, very special to run here. I could not expect it at all. A lot of people was out watching but just some cheers here and there. Only at a few places there were some more life. Some people that had dressed up like Supermario and some cheer squads. Think there were two official cheer zones. Not much of advertisements around the course either. Drinks were sufficient and also restrooms. I was doing my first long run with my new Adidas EvaSolo shoes and they were very bouncy. Didn’t know what to expect but wanted to give them a try. Could feel quite fast that I should have tied them more since the front is quite wide so it was not very comfy but didn’t wanted to stop and re-tie them. I had not “the” day so the first 10K felt very long. It was strange to finally be in the middle of something that has been a dream for so many years. Thoughts were all around. I didn’t pay much attention during this first part of the run.

If you ever been to Tokyo you know that the streets are wide and the city is almost flat so it is a great course for a fast time. After 15K the elite was coming on the other side. They kept twice the pace as I did. Impressive. I started to like the race more and more. Looked out for my cheerleading friend but could not find her where she planned the first stop but knew she would stay at 29K again. It was fun. Spoke with one American and one Danish guy captured some photos on the run and enjoyed it. Wasn’t to hard. Passed half way at 1:46 so all good timewise and I felt relaxed.

Second half

It was nice and sunny, 19 degrees and perfect conditions. Had two gels and some gel candies with me to keep up the energy. It worked very well. Kept on going and I managed to see my friend at 29K where she was standing with an ice cold coke. Dream. My badly tied shoe kept on bothering me so with 32K I stopped and retied it. Much much better. I could run without cramping my toes. A few kilometers later I did though hurt my other big toe. Didn’t paid attention to a hole in the street and crushed my toe right into it. The right one. Which had a blue and bad lose nail already before. Managed to do a new best time for 30K.

The last 5K felt very long. Very long. I got a motivation loss when I saw I would not make a PR and knowing that I almost have to run 800 meters more than an marathon. So took the chance to stay and stretch my legs and walked through all upcoming water stations to drink enough. No need to push for one or two minutes when I do this for fun. Kept on going and the last 700 meters to the finish line was packed with people cheering. I didn’t wanted this to end. But after almost 43K it was over. The 12 year long dream. I made it.

The runners were separated from everyone after finishing. This was also different from other races. It was all quiet when you finalized. A huge area near the Emperor palace with only runners. We got some goodies and I enjoyed the sun for a bit trying to find out how to travel back to Switzerland.

What some days before would have been a pallet full of options was now narrowed down to do what is possible thanks to the closed aerospace in the middle east. No time to celebrate just a shower in express speed and off to the airport.

All in all Tokyo marathon was a great running experience. If you would have asked me just after the race if I would apply again I would say no. Now some days later I say yes. I love Tokyo as a city. The race was special and if I keep on applying maybe I get another chance in 12 years?. Or never. If you have a change to run this race take it. Sometimes I though think I should not give it a second change and let someone else get the chance to experience this unique race and there are so many marathons out there. Maybe I will be back. Maybe not. I will though forever be grateful that I did it once. Organization wise I have though been running better races. Shanghai and Rio I liked more. Anyone else who is dreaming about Tokyo marathon?

/ Pernilla that just fulfilled a runners dream