About this Site
Some well known history ..
The traditional origin of the marathon comes from the story how a herald named Phidippides ran the 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory and died on the spot. He wasn’t even sponsored.
Some less well known history ..
In 2006, three hopeless desk-bound friends called Paul, Joe and Reza decided to emulate young Phiddy by running the Tokyo Marathon. Hoping to not re-enact the dramatic ending, they set out on a tough, disciplined training regime. This commitment, this fanatical devotion to getting fit, lasted a full lunchtime. The remaining performance through 2006 leading up to the actual event in February 2007 can be found documented on this site.
In breaking news, it seems a few of us may have inadvertently signed up once more, and may be thrilling the crowds in 2009. Watch this space.
For those new to this page, here is the course. No change for 2008. Stretching langorously from Shinjuku, downhill to the Imperial Palace for the 10Km mark. Then followed by a long boring stretch down to Shinagawa, and then an even more tedious trip all the way back to Ginza, before ambling along to picturesque Asakusa. Then a saunter home to Tokyo Big Site in Odaiba.
The next Tokyo Marathon will be run on the 22nd March, 2009.
The official Small Print
This site is not offering training advice or willing you on to run a marathon. This site is a creative outlet for some desk-bound Tokyo-residing friends who all somehow joined a marathon for various not-too-clear to any of us reasons. The ‘creative’ bit is up for debate too. The site wont collect your private information. Well, unless you publish it yourself as a comment or post – which is kind of up to you. But even if you do this, and later regret it, you can delete it, or ask the admin to attend to it. In fact, please contact the admin about any concern or question you might have regarding the use or this site. Thanks !
Nice site — have just signed up for the Marathon myself too and stumbled across your site by accident…good luck and hope the training’s going well for you all…
Good luck in the marathon, I hope to be there too. Have you by chance recieved your acceptance notification yet?
The marathon web site states that notification will be delivered in early October but I haven’t recieved a yea or nay yet and I’m wondering if any applicants have been contacted.
Terry
I haven’t received a response. A quick poll of the equally concerned Joe, Ed, Graham and the others today and no-one has yet received an email. Hopefully this means we’re all still in with a chance ?
Good luck in the draw and good luck in the event,
Paul
I would just like to say ‘good luck and we are all counting on you’.
Serioulsy, well done to all of you. You must all be crazy! But good on ya for giving it a go. I hope you all manage it.
I’ve just started running again, so maybe I’ll give it a go next year. Or maybe the next. actually the next.
Hello Guys,
I will be running the Tokyo Marathon as well!! It will be my first marathon. I was looking at the DVD yesterday and WOW!!! it’s gonna be an amazing race.
Good luck with your training. Only 29 days left!!! So take it easy so you don’t get hurt.
See you on Feb 18!
Felipe R
Hiya!
Nice website, very amusing! I’m running the marathon too and slightly scared that its only three days to go. seriously undertrained and going for your theory of positive thinking to get me to the end. Hal Higgley wouldnt be amused with us.
Have fun (if pain allows) and see u at the goal. or the taxi rank. or nearest bar.
From Gemma, a random in Wakayama who just wants the marathon T shirt.
Felipe .. good luck sir, and thanks for the comments. Mango .. nice quote. Finish ? Thats just what they are expecting us to do. Remember, the white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a red zone.
Gemma .. welcome, clearly a kindred spirit. The T shirt is the motivation.
Hey guys,
You should try the Hong Kong Trailwalker (100KM charity walk). It’s also great fun.
Cheers,
Vince
Vince … we all tried the Tokyo Trailwalker ! See how we got on here …
Hey Guys,
Nice blog/website!
I have plans to run 2010 Tokyo Marathon. I am interested on since 2006 when I saw the guys on ING NY City Marathon Expo.
Do you know how many Marathon Japan has?! I saw in Runner’s World magazine that USA has around 400 (I think last year was 425)!!!
Cheers and hope to see you guys on next edition (2010).
Valter