CHASING GREATNESS IN TOKYO: RUNNING THE RISING SUN.
WORLD MARATHON MAJORS
One of six or one of one, only ten per cent of applicants hear the sound of the gun. The largest support in the world, the Japanese know exactly how to show out when the greats stride on home turf, but how many people cheer on the runners? MSN would sell out the Parc des Princes in their sleep, but we’re talking the size of the whole population of Paris on the street to push each of the 39,000 runners to the finish. From Shinjuku to Tokyo Station, the only train available today is the 26.2 miles one foot in front of the other, and the operating conductors are the stewards telling you one more pace, one more stride, one more tread. The shogunate was overthrown, but running past the Imperial Palace made this battle your own dictatorship, that kamikaze spirit seeping through your veins with each step, even the Last Samurai crossed the finish line, feeling like Top Gun.
THE ELITES DON’T PLAY IN TOKYO
The winners don’t come to play, they come to dominate. Coming for straight remontada after a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) moved like a galatico in their prime eating up the pavement to achieve a course record of 2:14:12. Wheeling away at 34km, it was only gold in sight from there and the former world-record holder built a 2 minute lead cleaning up the 7th fastest time in history - Cash Money.
Tadese Takele (Ethiopa) is one for the dramatics. A full sprint finish with 2nd and 3rd, moving like a 3-man weave he took the win arms raised at the photo finish like D-Wade to Bron in the camera flashes of Japanese glory. Takele or Skep, it’s straight greaze mode going back 2 back for Tokyo glory after taking the win last year he came back for more to hear the bullet from the gun again and clock a 2:03:36 win.
THROUGH THE C0MMUNITY LENS
We spoke to the community putting their all out on the Tokyo streets:
@lottiepine - “an icon run from start to finish. I had an amazing race surrounded by people of ALL ages doing what we love. Everyone there has a running story & comes from different walks of life and some how we have all ended up in the same place sharing the same experience of running the Tokyo Marathon. A day I will remember”
@camsrunclub - “Tokyo is a dream of mine, I cannot wait to finally tick it off”
