2026 Tokyo Marathon – Reuben Swain

Race Date: Mar 1st    Results: 2026 (Bib # 10417)

​I had always dreamt of doing a marathon overseas, the New York marathon was my preference due to watching too much American TV. I had a friend get a stress fracture and have to pull out of the Tokyo marathon, I jokingly said that I’d buy the entry and he said yes. 
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​I had learnt Japanese in my early years of high school but forgotten most of it. I booked a random hotel in Shinjuku and set off spontaneously. 
On race morning I realised my extra gels were too heavy for the draw string in my pants. So, I carried two and ate one early. ​
I got on the train and didn’t realise that my ticket didn’t scan and was for a different train line company. At the station beneath the start myself and 20 others were caught unable to get out the gate and being asked to pay, luckily, I had Garmin pay on my watch but explaining the station where I got one the train to the agitated train guard took quite a while. 
I then walked out into the entry area where there were check points and bag checks. The start area had toilets with efficient lines and photos advising against dropping your phone in the toilet. In the 23 minutes it took to get to the front of the line I witnessed two people drop their phones in and come out crying then the toilet being taped as out of service.
It was a friendly and efficient vibe at the start and I was able to get into the start area only a few hundred people behind the professionals.

The start was a rush, downhill into turns, cheering crowds, spotless streets, lots of aid stations. There were a few turns and out and backs with lots of straights, just past halfway there were a few tiny rises.

​I smashed Japanese turns at every hairpin and got cheers from the crowd. 
The last 5-10kms were an out and back and I got a massive boost from seeing the professions run past. I even snuck into a Nick Bester video running along the other side. I ran a PB 2:29:23, it’s a mostly flat and fast course.
It was 14 degrees when I finished and I felt slightly chilly walking to the train station at the end. It was ideal running conditions, super friendly vibe.

​I got two bags of freebies at the end from shampoo to fabric softener. My watch said 42.58 as I ran around a few minutes in the first 5kms.
I would highly recommend the run, it was fast, scenic, great temperature, great atmosphere.
I’m happy to answer any questions of anyone has any.