Interview Relay 42 Stories of the Tokyo Marathon
〜Connecting Hearts〜

Interview Relay: 42 Stories of the Tokyo Marathon ~ Connecting Hearts~

This time, we introduce a wonderful story of tn2024, who challenged to run the Tokyo Marathon 2024 for the first time.

The greatest appeal is the course layout.

――Out of the interview relay articles published now, which one resonated with you the most? At which kilometer mark was that runner featured?

 It’s the article by Ms. Yuna Nitta of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation’s Race Management Division at the 6km point. I was very moved by how she has made efforts to provide the greatest marathon race with all runners behind the scenes. I get to see volunteers and runners that I run together on the race day, so I can develop a feeling of fellowship that we create in the Tokyo Marathon together, but as for the event organizers, I did not have a chance to contact them directly, so I almost forgot to thank them.  After I read the article, I was able to develop an ‘appreciation’ from the bottom of my heart. 

――What is the biggest appeal of the Tokyo Marathon, the point that makes you want to run it?

 The greatest appeal is the course layout. The first 6km is downhill, and the majority of the course is flat so for runners who aim for a record and raking, it has very competition nature. 

Furthermore, we can run with a sense of euphoria, something that we cannot feel in our daily lives, as we get motivated by enthusiastic support from the crowd which is unique to Tokyo. 

Therefore, we can show our strength much more easily, compared to other marathon races. In addition, as the course weaves Tokyo’s most iconic landmarks such as Asakusa and the Tokyo Tower, it is also an enjoyable race for fun runners. The course is designed to secure a safety for the wheelchair runners as the wide roads and streets in the heart of the city are blocked. Thus, I feel that all the Tokyo Marathon lovers can have a sense of satisfaction. 

I want to cross the finish line for the volunteers and to make the Tokyo Marathon successful together with everyone. 

――Please tell us about a Tokyo Marathon related episode or story that moved you.

 The Tokyo Marathon 2024 was my very first marathon. What impressed me was a volunteer I met around the start area, when I went to check out the place in advance on the day before the race. The volunteer had previously run the Tokyo Marathon, so with the experience, the volunteer was very good at supporting from the perspective of runners. The volunteer kindly taught me the less busy way from the closest train station to a start block and also advised me that I could give my garment to a volunteer with a bag on the sideline if I missed to put it in the garment collection box, the detailed information which was not mentioned in the Runner Handbook. Therefore, I was able to eliminate my concerns associated with the first marathon. When I saw the volunteer politely responding not only to me, but also to other runners who kept questioning one after another, I strongly felt that I want to cross the finish line for the volunteers, not only for myself, and to make the Tokyo Marathon successful together with everyone. 

Changed the monotonous daily life and increased colorful days

――What does the Tokyo Marathon mean to you? #MyTokyoMarathon is…?

 The Tokyo Marathon is the event that I look forward to the most in my life as well as the core of my life now. For the Tokyo Marathon, I train hard and am thrilled every day, thinking that I want to live a healthy life and to greet the race day happily. I have first-hand experience that the Tokyo Marathon can be held thanks to the support of a number of event organizers and volunteers, and the Tokyo Marathon made me realize once again that it is important to have a sense of gratitude to those who play background roles in daily life. It shows how big changes the Tokyo Marathon has brought to my lifestyle.  The connections I gained through the marathon have expanded, changing my monotonous daily life which was to go back and forth to work and have added more color to my daily life, I even feel. I will participate in the Tokyo Marathon 2026, beat my personal best time and make the event successful in cooperation with everyone involved in the Tokyo Marathon.