オフィシャル
TOKYO MARATHON 2024
Tokyo Marathon 2024 was held on March 3rd, with a total of 38,000 runners navigating through the streets of Tokyo under the clear blue sky.
Tokyo Marathon is one of the most popular marathons in Japan. Despite the fact that the marathon attracts Olympic-class runners, it also welcomes amateur runners. This inclusivity is one of the allures of the marathon. However, due to this popularity, securing entry rights is extremely challenging, with the lottery ratio exceeding 10 times. Amateur runners who manage to secure a race ticket are considered very fortunate.
The inaugural Tokyo Marathon took place in 2007. Initially resembling a large-scale citizen marathon, it has since evolved into one of the world's most prestigious marathons.
Wheelchair runners take the lead
Initially, wheelchair runners lead the race. Their presence may go unnoticed by some viewers, as they are rarely featured on television broadcasts. I'd like to draw attention to these runners. This year's men’s winner, T. Suzuki (JPN), completed the race in 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 5 seconds, maintaining an average speed of approximately 30.5 km/h, and M. Schär (SUI) won the women's race. An ordinary person would not be able to keep up with them even on a bicycle. Their performance is as cool as Formula One driver’s or Tour de France riders’. While many focus on their endurance, I'm always impressed by the flexibility of wheelchair runners' shoulders. Their ability to push the wheel over long distances is facilitated by the wide range of motion in their shoulders.
Men’s winner, T. Suzuki (JPN)
Wemen’s winner, M. Schär (SUI)
Male elite runners follow
Male elite runners follow next. Since the Tokyo Marathon also serves as a qualifier for major races such as the Olympics and the World Championships, their performance garners significant attention. This year's winner, B. Kipruto (KEN), secured victory, while Y. Nishiyama (JPN) placed 9th, the highest Japanese finish.
Men's winner, B. Kipruto (KEN), far left
Y. Nishiyama (JPN) , 4th from the right
Female elite runners come third
Female elite runners arrive slightly after their male counterparts. One of the attractions of the Tokyo Marathon is the opportunity to witness top male and female runners competing in the same event. This year’s winner, S. Kebede (ETH), secured victory, while H. Niiya (JPN) placed 6th, the highest Japanese finish.
Wemen's winner, S. Kebede (ETH)
H. Niiya (JPN), center
Finally, amateur runners take to the course
After the elite runners swiftly pass through, amateur runners begin their journey. While some top amateur runners aim to finish in under 3 or 3.5 hours, others strive to beat personal records or simply aim to complete the race. Some participants, unfamiliar with regular running, find the experience challenging. Each runner has their own motivation. Some runners even dress up in costumes, making people who cheer runners fun. Some runners come to Japan from overseas to participate in the race, and you can see their families and friends cheering them with a great fun. The man next to me was from New York and was cheering for his wife.
Tokyo Marathon takes runners around major landmarks in Tokyo, and much of the course overlaps with that of the Tokyo Paralympics 2020. It also passes by major landmarks in Chuo Ward, such as Nihonbashi and Ginza. For the runners, it is a memorable marathon, and for those cheering along the way, it is sure to be a fun spring day.