Tokyo Marathon 2008

Tokyo Marathon 2008

Date: Sunday, February 17, 2008
Time: 9:05 a.m. (Wheelchair Start) ; 9:10 a.m. (Elite and Mass Race Start)
Event: 1) Marathon doubled as 92nd National Men's Marathon Championship, doubled as Olympic Trials for Japanese Men's Marathon, Women's, Men's Wheelchair, Women's Wheelchair
Event: 2) 10km Race - Men's, Women's, Men's Wheelchair, Women's Wheelchair
Course for Marathon: Marathon: Tokyo Metropolitan Government -- Iidabashi -- Imperial Palace -- Hibiya -- Shinagawa -- Ginza -- Nihombashi -- Asakusa Kaminari-mon Gate -- Tsukiji -- Ariake (Toyosu) – Tokyo Big Sight
Time Limit: Marathon : 7 hours

The story behind Tokyo

I was lated. As usual. I wanted to do Tokyo Marathon when i learned of the event 2 years back, but unfortunately the event have closed registration when i knew about it. Sigh.

Why Tokyo? I have not done any event in Japan before, it will be pretty cool if i can do one. A new venue, a new cultural, a trip back to the land of the rising sun(first time was 6 years back during honeymoon!). Other Japanese event are a bit tight on timing and this one which attract alot runners should be a very good event.

This is a ballet event. Whether i will get the nod is another question? Anyway, what is destiny cannot be avoided.

To the start point

Fate have a way to decide the path for us. Come 17th Feb 08, 7 of us - Ray, Ronnie, Ivy, Chong, Joanna, Ai Li and myself make our way into the starting pan.

It was very cold, i was informed the weather is about 2-3 deg cel. It is pretty windy as well. I was shivering and trying my utmost to keep myself warm before the race start.

Chong and myself are at the same pen so we tag along and squeeze ourself to the start point. It is about 10 mins before starting time and we are stopped way before our designated pen! We felt strange, so to many foriegn runners arguing with the officials and due to language barrier, we can't understand what they say. WTF! Don't care, we did a flank with some of the other runners to our pen nonetheless.

The race start on queue. We slowly proceed forward and wish each other luck and see each other at the end. It took us about 10 mins before we crossed the start point.

I feel the organiser did a good job to ensure maximum spectacular exposure along the running route, by making the run route surrounding the city. If it have been running on highways, that some marathons did, there are going to be many sessions of the route without a single soul of supporters. NYC marathon have more supporters on the road, but Tokyo have less section that are deviod of supporters.

When i reached 2km+, i am getting pretty hot and decide to strip out of my extra layers of clothes. Wow, i was surprised that i feel abit cramping up on the calves at this early part of the run. Glad that i can stop by the road side and give abit of stretching. It took me a while to take out the wind breaker, gloves and MP3 before continue the journey.

The crowd was pretty good. Giving encouragement along the way. Some "pom pom" teams spotted as well. It was pretty cold and they are out in force to cheer the runners.

There are a few groups of runners together with some celebrity doing the race. One of the runner will carry a small portable camera(filming live), with a signal set(kind of equipment) backpacked running along the celebrity. Wow, my hats off to this runner and subsequent runners, taking turn to carry the equipments. These celebrities are news caster doing some sort of challenge between the different tv stations.



There are many "gays" running around. MEN wearing ladies dress or skirt or whatever that make them feminie! They are pretty fast as well. As usual some run with costume, how tough is it? One have to run with it to check how difficult it is.

I felt tired very early in the event. Before 10km, i felt too cold and have to stop for a few minutes to wear back the wind breaker and try to keep whatever warm i can generate.

By 15km i wish i could take a rain check and come back for another run! I was cold and hungry and need to find a toilet! Sigh...

When the body deteriorate until a stage whereby all those running "DON'T do taboo" is no longer valid. You know, it is time to "cut loss" and pray that nothing serious happen between now till finishing line. When i reached replenishment points, i take some cut banana(despite have bad tummy after taking those during HK Marathon), lumps of sugar(it last pretty long in the mouth!) Basically try to fuel the "tank". I still abit apprehensive about taking food from supporters. Who know what is inside the food! It might be poison! I keep remembering of the chemical attack on the Japanese subway many years back by the cult members. So scary! I heard i miss alot of goodies from the public generosity! :(

Joanna over took me and ask me to pace her. This notty gal is getting faster that old man(like me) have to smell smoke...:( I signal her to go ahead and i slowly "enjoy" my suffering - cold, tired and ending is still so far away.

Slow and steady as time goes on, the finishing line get closer and closer. Saw the sweeping bus around 30km+. Lucky it is on the other side of the street and not right behind me! Haha.

There is always a phrase in running, whereby The body will get tired, very tired. Then it recover itself.

This phrase to me is the part whereby the energy burnt during running changes from glycogen to FAT. It took a long while, but the “2nd wind” did kick in around 35km.

I was cruising back in good speed, although the body continues to show sign of tiredness. The urge to visit the toilet get stronger as the end point grew nearly.

Around 40km, I passed Joanna. This time round, I was the one urging her onwards, from my calculation; she should be able to go under 5 hrs if she continues the pace. I am sure she can do it after many sessions of KTS …hehe.

A strong headwind stop us on the track as we push for the final turn towards the ending point. The music grew louder, the crowd get thicker on the home stretch.


4:57hr after starting, i completed a cold and windy Tokyo Marathon. Phew! What a run.

This is a very good organised event. I rate this pretty high among the marathons i have completed. NYC is still firmly at the top. Japan come abit shy of NYC. I can see alot of similarity that the two share. Worth a trip down Tokyo if you have not visited Japan before.

Pictures for Tokyo available here.