Getting into running marathons

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you will know that I have been slowly training for the Tokyo Marathon next February. I know, the application process hasn’t even started and I’m telling people I’m running it.

Well, I’m fairly confident of getting it even though it’s a lottery-style selection process, because word has it that all foreigners who apply for it will get it, like all.

Most guides or experienced marathoners will tell you three to four months is enough to train for a marathon. I would have to agree it is enough if you are consistent and careful with your running schedule.

So why am I starting to train now? In fact, I made up my mind in January and have been on the look out for half-marathons or other long distance running events to take part in. Taking off by yourself on a 20km run can be a bit dull, plus I wanted to get used to the whole process of Japanese marathons — from the application process to getting to the location.

I managed to rope in the kangaroo for the Yamanaka-ko Road Race (it’s one of the lakes at the foot of Mount Fuji) at the end of May. He’s had a bit of experience running half-marathons whereas this was my first. The longest distance I’ve run on my own was 16km when I was 25 and that took the wind out of me, so I figured it would be suicidal to dive head first into a full marathon. A few running friends have told me that taking part in half-marathons is perfect for building up to a full one.

Back to our trip: we rented a car from Odawara station and zoomed off into the Mount Fuji and five-lakes area. It was a fun relaxing drive but I realized I was a bit nervous and couldn’t sleep when we went to bed at 10pm. The bed in the pension lodge we stayed in was highly uncomfortable and the kangaroo was also sleepless. But we rose at 630am to eat and get ready.

It was a very chilly 8 degrees so we bought gloves at the sports flea market near the reception area. I didn’t expect it to be that cold but thankfully I had a long sleeved T-shirt I could wear under my thin dry-fit jacket.

The atmosphere was incredible — you could feel the buzz and everyone was impatient to start. There were thousands of people behind the starting line and the marathon host was practically jumping out of skin entertaining us. He made us cheer and laugh and was just awesome.

Then the horn blared and so it began…

Check out the Batman dude next to me. There were so many people wearing costumes. I spotted an Ultraman, a 60-year-old male ballerina (white tutu, leotard, makeup and tiara), a golden Buddha, men in cheongsams, men in samurai dress, women in cute bunny outfits, and a strange topless man who hoisted a huge cardboard cutout of a Japanese school girl under his arm.

The day was so grey and cloudy that Mount Fuji eluded us. But there was enough entertainment on the course to stave off any boredom. There were people who suffered cramps, or blared their tunes through portable speakers, or the never-ending parade of crazy costumes.

That’s the kangaroo getting his groove on. He finished an hour before I did but still waited around to cheer me on as I approached the finishing line.

How did I feel? Well, I think I went too slowly — don’t I look like I’m walking here? I swear I wasn’t! I was really scared of running out of puff and took it as slowly as possible. I brought along my date-lemon-water drink and a Larabar for the last 5km. I sped up towards the end because there were people who were done and walking home already — argh!

I felt good all the way and didn’t cramp so to me that was a good first half-marathon. My timing was 2 hours and 47 min which meant I made it to the 3-hour cut-off but that’s just way too slow. I think the average female runner should finish 21km in 2 hours 30 min.

Right now I’m focusing on improving my timing because quite a number of Japanese races have a fixed maximum finishing time.

After the race, we drove to Fujiyama onsen where there was a “sleeping” bath (just lots of water jets firing at your back and feet in a tub) and a restaurant. We were both in quite a lot of pain and were thankful for the hot bath and hearty food (tempura soba, yeah!). The kangaroo did a great job in driving us back and I nodded off in the passenger’s seat.

It was so much fun that we want to do it again!! We’re eyeing a couple of half-marathons in Sept and Oct so I’m gearing up for those.

Now the big question is, why am I obsessed with running a full marathon? It’s quite a personal reason but I think there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I feel like my life is about to change in a big way — marriage, starting a family, and accelerating my business many-fold — and I need to know if I can do it. I feel like if I could run a marathon, then I could do anything.

For aspiring marathoners, I would highly recommend watching Spirit of the Marathon, a documentary that tracked five individuals from all walks of life who trained for the Chicago Marathon in 2005.

Running 42km at one go is very hard and so the whole process is undeniably life-changing — you’ll definitely hear more about my own epic journey in the months to come.

No related posts.