I did not run 42.195kms, but went around in circles for 18kms around Ginza, Tokyo Station City and the Imperial Palace clumsily tracking my sister’s crusade on the marathon app. It’s been a couple of hours and no luck so I figured this app thing is driving me crazy and I should just wait for her at the 40km mark. Besides how did people support their friends in the early 2000s sans apps? Meanwhile, the population of the last pack of runners grew in number so I faced another challenge. Finding her. I had no idea what she was wearing. Lesson 1: Always ask the runner you’re supporting what they’re wearing and appreciate that not everyone wants to finish first in their age group or win the race.
This is what went down before I found her by chance at the 40km mark.
At 9am, I headed to Ginza’s main avenue waiting for the marathoners, who were taking in the challenge of running 42.195kms for their personal thrill, growth, olympic entry or torture to arrive. It was at the 30km mark when I saw the lead male group following the red Porsche, choppers flying overhead. Ben Kipruto (Kenya) and Timothy Kiplagat (Kenya) were leading. Kipruto eventually won the race at a time of 2:02. The fastest Japanese runner, Nishiyama, came in 9th in 2:06:30 just beating Kipchoge by 19seconds. The ladies leading ran in the pack with other male elites who did not fall under the sub 2:10 category. Ten male runners from Japan ran under 2:10 which affirms their commitment to endurance running. The Japanese love running (Ekiden) and after the Kenyans and Ethiopians, you’ll find a high concentration of fast runners in the Japanese community. They’re really fast.
As for the females, Sutume Kebede (Ethiopia) was in the pack at the 30km mark and won the race in 2:15:55, a course record for Tokyo. It was not until 2019 when Paula Radcliffe’s marathon record of 2:15:25 seemed far from impossible to break. Now, running 2:15 is like a run in the park. The way things are going, women will be able to run faster (female marathon record 2:11:53) thanks to carbon flys, fancy gels/nutrition and Artificial “Intelligence” pun intended. Meanwhile, the Japanese were all cheers for Hitomi Niiya, the first woman from Japan to cross the finish line, 2:21:50.
I headed over to the finish chute in haste to catch the winners cross the finish line. I missed them but could catch the ladies run down to the finish at Marunouchi Naka Dori Avenue off the gardens of the Imperial Palace. I watched everyone cheer the fast runners running to the finish and by that time had spent over 3 hours on my feet. I imagined taking a lunch break sat in a restaurant.
So, I walked back towards Ginza via the restaurant district under the bridge of Yurakucho Station. I was overwhelmed with all the choices. But then the juicy fish displayed on a counter and an old chef at an authentic looking restaurant got me curious. I walked in and placed my order -via an app. It was not until I placed my order I noticed there were no chairs. It was a standing sushi bar. It was one of those days where I was going to eat more sushi, walk back and forth because Google Maps is confusing and I’ll have to pretend I’m not tired.
After lunch, I walked back to Ginza. According to the app, she was going to be there. I missed her again.
Finally, at 40km I spotted her. She came over and we took a selfie as all marathoners do when they’re on the course. I walked another km or so to the finish area to give her a congratulatory hug. She looked stressed and asked me to leave. I did the sensible thing and left, leaving her on her own in a closed off area where it was impossible to find a cab. As for me, I walked back to my hotel a km away from the finish area.
She called me later and suggested we have sushi for dinner at a high end Japanese restaurant. “Are you sure?” I asked hoping she’d change her mind because I stuffed myself with over 100grams of protein content over lunch, way over the limit of what my body can take and synthesize. “Are you sure you don’t want a burger?” I asked again.
Two hours later, we met again and went to the posh Japanese restaurant she went to the first time she came to Tokyo because my restaurant recommendations don’t meet her standards. After dinner, we headed towards Akihabara to watch a bunch of nerds play video games and hang out with their girlfriends.
I was beat. I didn’t even run a marathon.
CRAYSCAPE 
Oh my goodness, I’m so glad you at least managed to finally see your sister amongst the runners, Sarah. AND that she spotted you. Sounds like you deserve a medal too. Not just for the amount of walking you ended up doing, but also consuming the amount of sushi you did. I must admit that I had a little giggle about you failing to find restaurants that matched your sister’s standards.
Yes! It was a trek, an enjoyable one!! Yes, we are totally different and have different standards. I don’t blame her, sometimes I feel I have no standards and I’m okay with anything 🙂
I read your latest post, glad to see things are coming together I hope the rain was good for the garden and crops. The cats are too cute!
You make me laugh. Perhaps having lower “standards” that can translate into lower expectations, make travelling and eating more enjoyable.
The rain was really lovely, and I’m sure it will act as some sort of super food for the vegetable garden.