Tokyo Marathon Experience... Raw and Real....

I decided to write this piece, initially for myself as a reminder about my Tokyo experience, however it seems that many people are keen to know about my time away and how it all went, so I thought I would post it as a blog for anyone that may be interested. If nothing else it serves as a set of memories for me to read over and share with my kids in the future.

Before I go on to my experience, a burning question from most people…. why on earth did I decide to jet across the world to run a marathon? A question indeed and one that I continued to ask myself right up until I was on the plane.. actually until I finished the marathon. I have had a fear of flying forever and cannot sit still for long periods of time, so the idea of me taking a 14 hour flight AND doing so alone was really never something that I would have ever thought possible in my lifetime. 

However, since signing up for the New York Marathon to celebrate my 40th birthday, the dream of getting my hands on the 6 star marathon medal (basically a runner’s Oscar!) was beginning to take up more space in my thoughts. Until this point my three little kids had absolutely taken up the majority of my time and travelling away from them had not seemed like an option. When I went and ran in New York and left them all for the first time it became apparent that not only were they okay without me, but they were absolutely fine and it was also a very good thing for me to do. Of course I experienced all the mum guilt that surrounds 'leaving' your children, however I tried to focus my attention on the message that I was demonstrating to them. That I am their mummy and their mummy is also able to follow dreams, be fit and strong and show them that hard things can be done. Plus Daddy is more than capable of looking after them! So in answer to the ‘why’, perhaps alongside me going for the much desired medal there was also the idea of overcoming not just the physical challenge of the marathons, but the personal and mental barriers that surrounded the experiences that lay ahead.

Over the summer whilst away, I had been scrolling on some social media and the post saying 'Tokyo ballot' caught my attention. Perhaps after a gin and tonic or two I decided to apply... apparently only 3% get in so I didn't think too much about it. Around this time I also thought I would try my luck with Boston as I had achieved what could potentially be a Boston Qualifying time earlier that year. In the running world this is a pretty big deal and knowing I was only getting older (and probably slower!) I thought why not - again just entering to see what may happen but with little thought of the potential outcomes….

When the email came through saying I had been accepted in the ballot I was in shock and this was followed a week later by a place in Boston. It felt like a sign from the Universe... New York, a BQ Qualifying time and now a ballot spot for Tokyo… 2025 was the year to get closer to that 6 star medal... So I accepted both. I felt Boston was doable in terms of getting there and knew my Dad would be super keen to join. Tokyo however was another matter entirely.

It was weeks before I considered looking at flights and a good month or so before booking, knowing full well in the back of my head that I could cancel. However the weeks drew closer and before I knew it I was officially going. Fortunately, or maybe it was also meant to be, in the time after booking my flights I was asked to be an Ambassador for Sports Tours International - an amazing company who organise to take runners to the major events over the world. This really sealed the deal for me as it meant that once out there I would be able to make some friends and have this wonderful community to connect with, so not entirely alone a million miles from home!

Roll on Wednesday 26th February. The lead up had been full of anxiety, mum guilt (again) to the point where I am making my son pizza rolls an hour before going to the airport, maranoia (typical pre marathon aches and pains!) and questioning my life decisions. However I was also so excited to take on this adventure, to face my fears and prove to myself that I could do this. I had packed for Britain, despite only going away for 5 days, 2 of which were on the plane, but that was a controllable for me, so the compression pants had to come with!!

My dad took me to the airport and off I went to check in, obviously asking for a cheeky upgrade  and obviously failing... having not been on a long haul flight in 10 years there were obviously no points to my name!! I made it my intention to capture the moments, to embrace this journey and feel the feels of this once in a lifetime trip, from start to finish. 

Rescue remedy and tea in abundance I passed the time until boarding and before I knew it I was settling in to my seat on the plane. Repeating and laughing in my head literally, WTAF... what the actual f*ck was I doing, how can I do 14 hours on a plane? How can I be so far away from home? I am barely going to have any contact due to the crazy time difference… But hour by hour passed - obviously zero sleep involved, despite having purposely gone for a night fly. I was grateful to have saved the whole series of Virgin River, so spent a fair time immersed in that, as well as working on a new writing project and listening to some wonderful podcasts.. all of which successfully got me through perhaps the hardest marathon of all. I have to admit I did purchase wifi which was a game changer in terms of my anxiety as meant even though I was flying through the night I could have contact with the world!

14 hours is a LONG time!! Finally having taken off at 6.30pm UK time we landed in Tokyo at 5.30 local time, which was basically 8.30am in the UK. I am not sure I ever got over the jet-lag but what does one expect on such a quick trip across the world! I honestly felt that even just arriving in Japan having survived the journey was a huge achievement.

Before I knew it I was seamlessly through security and in a taxi on route to the hotel. HOW WAS I IN JAPAN?! I was still in a state of shock! I checked in at the stunning New Otani hotel, already noticing internationals in their running gear and that made me feel rather at home!! The most unlike me thing happened next. I went to my room, dumped my bags without even considering unpacking and decided to go out and explore the local area. NEVER have I ever done this, but 1. I was only here for three days and two nights I was starving and it was the home of sushi so it had to be done. Did I know where I was going? No, but I just followed the lights to the busy road nearby where there were lots of restaurants and 7/11s. I literally felt like I was in a dream - perhaps I was as I hadn’t slept in about 24 hours. I browsed 7/11 and then found myself a nice little table in a sushi restaurant and had a meal for one, ordering by pointing to the pictures as the language barrier was a thing!! It was of course, delish! Having felt that I had already overachieved in my explorations I decided it was time to head back to the hotel, unpack, wash and attempt to get some sleep. I have to say it was a great start and made me feel more confident that I was going to be okay here!

Day one, Friday, I got up and did the only thing I knew would wake me up and dust off the cobwebs having struggled somewhat to sleep… a run. So off I went - I had been told that there was a lovely route around the Imperial Palace that was only 1km away so I headed in that direction…with the constant thought ‘OMG I am in Japan!’. I ran with my eyes wide open, taking in the skyscrapers which did remind me a little of New York, but a somewhat cleaner and less chaotic version. What really sank in was the fact I was literally just running, with no agenda, no need to be anywhere, no idea where I was going (except the fact I was circling the palace in order not to get lost!) This was SO freeing and I really did feel surprisingly safe in this new and unknown environment.

I made it back to my start point and headed back to the hotel, passing lots of runners, evidently from all over the world here for the same reason as me. This is one of the things I have come to absolutely love about running abroad. No one really knows each other, however there is this mutual appreciation and understanding that is shared, the anxious and knowing smiles passed and realisation that in two days time we would be getting ready to run the 26.2 miles. No words needed!

Back at the hotel I showered and picked a couple of things that I had been told about to see whilst in Japan, that didn’t require too much thought or need to book. First up it was to the famous Shibuya crossing, where I had been informed there was a great Starbucks where you sat and watched this crazy road crossing. Rucksack on and Google Maps at the ready it was time to explore the famous Japanese rail system. Admittedly I did end up travelling in the wrong direction on my first trip, but noticed this schoolboy error very swiftly and calmly got off and changed direction. A great lesson and also it absolutely helped to make a mistake as made me concentrate more on following instructions better, because the language barrier made it tricky to ask for help!

Once there, with my Starbucks in hand I sat and watched the crossing, taking in this famous site and again marvelling at where I was. The mad thing was that it was now the middle of then night back home, so I really was experiencing this solo - whatever photos I sent over to my family wouldn’t be received for a good few hours! But actually it was quite nice in a way as I felt fully present and in the moment without the normal phone distractions. From here I headed to the metropolitan building - in actual fact where the marathon was to start - to suss out the area, but also take the lift to the top for a wonderful viewpoint. This was well worth the two train changes to get there.. free of charge and no need to book I found myself at a 360 view of this amazing city. A moment of self pride at this point, for getting to Tokyo, for stepping outside my comfort zone and making it to this hotspot!!

I had arranged to head to the Expo with a fellow Sports Tours Ambassador David Yim, who I am so grateful for as he made the trip extra special and absolutely had my back! So we met back at the hotel and headed to the expo to pick up our race bibs and check out the ‘merch’. This proved exceptionally useful as he helped me with my purchasing decisions.- or rather just told me to buy the lot - and was also a fab photo taking buddy! It was really lovely to experience this with someone - there is nothing more real about the fact you are about to run a marathon than collecting your bib. Despite my fears of the queues the expo was great, no crazy rush of people, able to look around casually and enjoy it all. On route back to the hotel we passed Ginza, a really fab area of Tokyo and then I picked up some snacks and epsom salts for a chilled night in. I had racked up over 30,000 steps and it was 7pm so a bath, my compression boots and a quick chat with the kids was was calling me.

Roll on Saturday morning, the Sports Tours shake out run, a nice 7am start, which was great prep for marathon day, so I was pleased to be up at this time and it was a really wonderful way to start the day. An organised 5km around the local area with all the other international runners who had chosen to go with Sports Tours. Great chat, excitement, anxiety and pre marathon nerves all in one and a energising way to start the day.

I spent the rest of the morning at a nice slow exploring pace, taking a casual stroll around the palace and then headed to Ginza again as I wanted to check out my name on the big Seiko window - where all the runners names were posted. I was very aware that tomorrow was marathon day and then I was leaving first thing Monday morning so wanted to take in as much of the city as possible, whilst also respecting my pre marathon body! I got my carbs in, sat in the gorgeous freakishly warm sunshine and mentally prepared for the day ahead! 

Back at the hotel it was time to prepare my flat-lay, ensure I had everything ready for race day morning, eat a bit more and attempt to get an early night… easier said that done. The mad thing about this quick stint is that my body clock was all over the place, so my focus was trying not to stress about the fact I could not sleep, but just rest my body as best as I could.  3am maranoia and calf cramps had me icing my legs, fearing that I ma not be able to make it to the finishing line, but two hours later my 5am alarm was beeping for the start of Tokyo marathon day!!! It was here!

It is amazing how these things just suddenly creep up on you. This all had seemed like a faraway dream but now it was here - marathon morning, a million miles from home, no turning back now. I tried to stick to my regular long run routine, up, shower, electrolytes, coffee, peanut butter bagel (which I had bought from home!) stretch, get dressed, bib on and dance! I played some happy music went to the toilet about 50 times and then made it down to reception to meet the other runners and get on the bus to the start. I cannot emphasise enough how amazing it was to be part of a group of people heading to the start together, everyone nervous and excited in equal measure, sharing stories, plans, and a general love and enthusiasm of this crazy marathon game. We got to the start and for me this involved going to the loo, getting into my start corral and then queueing again for the loo. Now this was somewhat different in Tokyo. Strict guidelines forbid any men from peeing in a bush (unlike London and NYC!) so the toilet queues were ridiculously long. I am normally at the start line with time to spare, however I was still queueing as the race started, which was a little unnerving, but a quick toilet stop and straight back into the corral and before I knew it we were off, no time to think. Here I was RUNNING the Tokyo marathon 2025. Even as I was running I still felt a sense of disbelief! 

This was a very different race for me in a number of ways. First up, the obvious, being so far from home, on my own, so unlike previous occasions where I have had family to look forward to seeing on the course, there was none of this. Secondly being in Japan, only a small number of people could read the name on my vest - my last experience had been New York, where your name is screamed by the crowd pretty much the whole way around. So from the start I was very much in my head and this wasn’t necessarily the best thing! Then the conditions, I know now that it was the hottest Tokyo marathon on record, temperatures reaching 22 degrees, a stark difference from the sub zero temperatures I had been running in back home. Then the small factor of Tokyo rules, meaning you can’t carry your own hydration. This was the main cause of my concern as I am a ‘carry your own bottle’ kind of girl! So the sun, the heat and no personal hydration gave me a fair amount of  anxiety. 

I wanted to write this blog as an honest account, but also to serve as a reminder of how I felt during this race and what I had to overcome in order to help me going forwards in future races. I have a distinct recollection of my feelings at mile 8, where I suddenly felt overcome with fear. I was hot, I didn’t know where the next water station would be, my fuelling was already off as I was concerned about dehydration. It is incredible how powerful your thoughts can be sometimes. I suddenly felt in a state of panic as if I may have to stop, I feared passing out and having no one there to look out for me and having to call back home saying I was ill. Completely irrational of course - or maybe not in retrospect. It took a fair bit of self chat plus a salt tablet to focus on sucking on, to calm my mind, focus on one foot at a time and get back on track. It was a momentary panic, which came and went quickly but absolutely did require some mental strength to fight against and get back on track. A reminder that marathon running really is a mental game. From that moment I went back to my original mantras that I had repeated in the lead up to this race to help me through at tough spots… ‘its just another long run, you can rest later, how amazing that you get to be here doing this, chase the line not the time’. Sometimes this is all you need to get you back on track.

And then I was ok, more than okay, I was running the Tokyo Marathon! Off I went, taking in the crowds, watching the elites pass on the other side of the road, observing the sights of Tokyo and living my best life on this marathon course and I loved every second thereafter, chatting to fellow runners, pouring water over me from the daft cups offered at the hydration points and just ticking off mile after mile. Before I knew it I had reached my final mile and was running towards the end, trying to savour every moment! 

One more bend in the road and then I find myself ’sprinting’ the finish line, smiling for the cameras, and just like that, the TOKYO  Marathon is done! I crossed the line with elation, relief and a LOT of sweat!! There really is nothing like the feeling of crossing that line, such an array of emotions, connecting with people around you, just trying to take in the moment whilst being utterly exhausted and overwhelmed. As always there are the picture ops, the walk to get your medal, poncho - which doubled up a sweat towel - and some other bits and bobs. And that was it, me and my medal to celebrate! It was funny being there with no one to have to meet, or try and find, so I just walked as I know this always helps my legs, smiling, holding my medal and embracing the moment. I headed out the busy area and towards what I thought was a direction of my hotel area, but road closures prevented me from getting too far. Luckily I was in no rush, so I took in the atmosphere, grabbed a much needed diet coke, which tasted like heaven, and headed to catch a train to my hotel. It was all so surreal, but so amazing at the same time. I had that medal! 

Back at the hotel I bathed, ate lots of salty crisps and finally caught up with my family at home who were just getting up. The time difference was mad!! I then decided to get out one last time to grab some bits n the local shops (mainly matcha kit kats) to take back home. This is where the post race buzz really kicks in and I love nothing more than parading my medal around the city that I just ‘won’ it in. I use the term ‘win’ because really whatever the time, if you cross that finish line you have ‘won’ your marathon. As I walked around I remember feeling so proud that I had done it, so proud to have ticked this off the list, so proud to have completed it and feel more than okay in myself! So proud to have overcome the barriers I had felt pre and during the race and still achieved a time I was thrilled about.

The day ended with the Sports Tours Party, a great time to analyse the hottest marathon ever, to hydrate, to meet fellow runners and applaud those with the dreamy 6 star medal around their necks, mixed with sushi and sumo wrestlers. Then it was time to head back to the room, pack up and get not much more than 3 hours sleep before another 5am alarm for the 6am transfer back to the airport. Homeward bound.

I had done one 14 hour flight solo, what was one more. One more was totally fine, once again zero hours sleep, but instead lots of reminiscing over the last 3 days and then turning my attention to returning to mum and work life back home. I landed, another seamless journey thankfully picked up by my relieved parents at the airport which I was so grateful for! I made it home just before the kids returned from school and was greeted with wonderful cuddles and thrilled when my son said ‘that was so quick’ - no need for an ounce of mum guilt clearly! Just like that we were back to normal life, as if I had never gone.

However, in reflection so much had happened!! It is hard when you’re back in your home environment and you slip back into routine just as swiftly as you left, to even think about what had just happened. Firstly, let’s be honest all the kids were interested in were the snacks I had bought back, the hubby who had been wonderful was rather on the knackered side and life just goes on, so there is no time to go over it all. Plus I think there is a lot to be said about the fact that it is a little world, particularly in an abroad marathon, that you are in and share with those around you at the time that it is difficult for anyone who wasn’t there to grab a hold of or understand, in terms of experience and feelings. Hence why I put pen to paper and wanted to remember my experience for me. I certainly overcame barriers to achieve this one and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity, the experience and a husband and family who support me and help make this is all possible. I have no doubt that it has made me feel that I am capable of more than I thought I was and that I can survive long flights! It also fully made me appreciate how amazing and lucky it is to have people join me at other international marathons on this 6 star journey as I won’t forget that 8 mile panic in a while!

So this is here for the memories, the details that I don’t want to forget, and perhaps for anyone else taking on a challenge to know that you CAN make it out your comfort zone and do hard things. I approached this moment by moment, with gratitude and with an intention to appreciate the moment and the experience, making the most of every second that was on offer. An experience I will never forget.