Day 1 – Arrival Day: Wednesday 25th
After traveling over 6,000 miles, I touched down to a wet, grey Tokyo morning. Since I couldn’t check into my hotel until the afternoon, I leaned into the jet lag and headed to my first stop: the ASICS store in Ginza. The selection of marathon merch was incredible, and I noticed immediately that the gear was significantly cheaper than back home.
While navigating the aisles with my passport in hand (a must for tax-free shopping!), I caught the attention of a group of runners from Limerick (Thanks Kevin, Kathleen, Helena, Marcella and Marie). We hit it off immediately – there’s nothing like a shared marathon goal to turn strangers into friends – and they effectively “adopted” me for the week.
After a much-needed nap, I finished the day at the iconic Shibuya Crossing. The rain never let up, which made the usually swarmed “Scramble” feel oddly quiet and ethereal under the neon lights.
Stats: Step count: 16,139 | Sleep total: 2 hours (and plenty of caffeine).
Day 2 – Shakeout Run and Expo Day: Thursday 26th
I started the morning with a shakeout run around the Imperial Palace, a world-famous route for locals and visiting runners alike. There was no chance of getting lost; I simply followed the hundreds of other runners who had the same idea. After a lovely 5km loop and the jog back to the hotel, I hit the 5 miles I was hoping to do.
Then, it was off to the Marathon Expo. I took a bus and arrived at 9:30 AM. The queue moved quickly, and once the doors officially opened at 10:00 AM, I had my bib in hand by 10:08 AM! I picked up my t-shirt and got my bib checked to collect my pre-ordered ASICS merch. While queues started to snake around the building for the main ASICS stand (some looked like hours-long waits!), I was glad I had done my shopping in Ginza the day before. I spent a few hours just wandering the expo, soaking up the atmosphere and the excitement of runners from all over the world.
That evening, I headed to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The 45th-floor South Observatory offers incredible free views of the city, followed by a massive light show projected onto the building itself. From there, I explored the neon-lit sights of Shinjuku.
Stats: Step count: 26,125 | Sleep total: 4h 34min.
Day 3 – A “Quieter” Day: Friday 27th
With the marathon looming, I aimed for a more relaxed pace, though “relaxing” in Tokyo is relative! I started early at Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. Being there in the morning light before the midday rush was a highlight of the trip. From there, I pivoted to the future, exploring the buzzing electronics and neon of Akihabara.
That evening, I met back up with the Limerick crew. We shared a great pre-race meal and plenty of laughs, which was the perfect distraction from the Sunday nerves. After that, it was straight back to the hotel to finally put the feet up and start the mental prep.
Stats: Step count: 21,524 (so much for a “rest” day!) | Sleep total: 5h 22min.
Day 4 – Parkrun Day: Saturday 28th
The day before the marathon – surely it was time to put the feet up? Instead, I headed to the Futakotamagawa Parkrun. It happened to be their 300th event, and a massive crowd was out in great spirits. I met Kevin and Kathleen there and, despite the warm morning, I kept it nice and easy. The best part? Officially adding the Japan flag to my Parkrun app!
From the river, I headed to Tsukiji Fish Market to sample some local food. Was it a good idea to experiment with my stomach 24 hours before a marathon? Time will tell. I finished the day with the Limerick crew for a “final supper” to fuel up for the big day.
Stats: Step count: 21,207 | Sleep total: 6 hours (Slowly trending upward!).
Day 5 – Race Day: Sunday, March 1st
If you’ve made it this far into the blog, you know the drill: little sleep, high nerves, and a lot of caffeine. I was incredibly grateful to have a fridge in my room, which allowed me to prep my trusty overnight oats – the ultimate runner’s fuel. After pinning on my race kit and layering up against the morning chill, I headed out.
The 300-person “warm-up” Parkrun from yesterday was a distant memory as I boarded the 30-minute train to Shinjuku. Shinjuku Station is a city in itself, but the organization was world-class; volunteers were everywhere, guiding us toward the gates at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Security was smooth, and I was relieved to find the rules had been loosened this year – we were allowed to bring empty soft flasks to fill up inside. Despite the “carnage” I’d heard about regarding toilet queues, everything moved perfectly, leaving me with plenty of time to relax before heading to my corral.
The Start: A Blizzard of Confetti
Once in the corral, things got real. The countdown began, the music swelled, and a literal blizzard of white confetti was blasted into the air, dancing against the skyscrapers like premature cherry blossoms. It took me exactly 1 minute and 53 seconds to cross the start line and begin my tour of the city.
The race starts with a slight downhill through Shinjuku’s soaring skyscrapers, which is where many runners feel their fastest and most energized. It was congested early on with a few sharp turns, so the first kilometer wasn’t a PR-setter, but I tucked into the right side of the road to stay sheltered from the beating sun.
Through the Heart of Tokyo
As we headed east, we swept through Iidabashi and Suidobashi, catching glimpses of the massive Tokyo Dome. By the time we hit the 10km mark, the energy was electric. One of the absolute highlights was Asakusa, running past the iconic Kaminarimon Gate (Thunder Gate) with the Tokyo Sky Tree looming ahead. The crowds here were easily the loudest of the entire race.
The course then dipped south into the historic district of Nihombashi before opening up into the wide, high-fashion boulevards of Ginza. It truly felt like running through a high-end movie set.
The Mental Battle
The “grind” started as we crossed the Sumida River into Ryogoku and Monzen-nakacho. This section features a grueling out-and-back; mentally, it was tough to see the 28km sign on the other side of the road when I was only at 20km. As the temperature began to rise, we all had to work a bit harder.
Heading toward Shiba, the Tokyo Tower dominated the skyline – a beautiful sight, but a tough reminder that I still had 8km to go. By the time I reached the lush greenery of the Imperial Palace gardens in Hibiya, I was suffering. Yet, even in the “hurt locker,” I enjoyed every meter. The crowd support was relentless, with volunteers handing out Coca-Cola and fellow runners offering words of encouragement that kept me moving in the right direction.
The Grand Finale
The final kilometer is truly grand. I turned onto Gyoko-dori Avenue, a magnificent boulevard leading straight to the historic red-brick Tokyo Station. Running those final cobbles, surrounded by the sleek towers of Marunouchi, gave me the last push I needed.
I did it: 3:27:21.
I hit a rough patch after 32km, and while I’d had a faster goal in mind prior to the trip, I left that behind on the course. Looking back at my 85,000+ steps over the previous four days, I realize that a “perfect” taper would have meant missing out on one of the best cities I’ve ever visited. I’ll take the memories over a faster chip time any day.
The Victory Lap
The post-race vibes were incredible – runners everywhere showing off their medals. I waddled back to my hotel for ice cream and a cold drink before braving an ice bath. The rest of the day was a “greatest hits” tour: a Tracksmith pop-up for a free hand-stamped time poster, then back to Tokyo Tower, Shibuya, and the Seiko storefront for those essential medal photos.
I finally slept soundly that night after a record-breaking day of steps.
Stats: Step count: 58,431 | Sleep total: 4 hours
Final Reflections: Was it Worth the Miles?
Looking back on the week, the Tokyo Marathon is so much more than a race; it’s a 42.2km love letter to the city. I came here with a specific time goal in mind, but Tokyo had other plans. Between the rain-soaked neon of Shibuya, the early morning peace of Sensō-ji, and the spontaneous “adoption” by a crew from Limerick, I realized that the best way to experience this World Major isn’t from the confines of a hotel room “tapering.”
I finished with a 3:27:21 and a medal that feels heavier and more earned because of the 85,000 steps I took just to get to the start line. If you’re heading to Tokyo, my advice is simple: run the race, but live the city. Your legs might forgive you for the extra walking, but your heart never would have forgiven you for missing the magic.