When I run the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday March 5, I will be aiming for a World Record.
Curious? Read on.
Any runner who completes all of the World Major Marathons (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City) earns the coveted Six Star Medal celebrating the accomplishment.
A typical marathoner may need years, maybe a decade or longer, to fit all these marathons into their schedule. Hence, when the stars align and they bag that sixth race it’s a big deal for them.
The sponsor of this challenge, Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM), hypes the accomplishment (as well they should). Months before any Major takes place, AbbottWMM determines who will be getting their sixth star. They will be ready at the finish line to award those runners with their bling. Big time photo op.
Usually, a few dozen to a few hundred of the participants will earn their Six Star Medal at a Major. In 2022, of all the Majors, Boston adorned the most Six Star Medalists (429).
Six Star Medalists are a rare breed. As of the end of 2022 there have been 8,143 athletes who have completed the challenge. Given that there are something like 1.1 to 1.3 million active marathoners in the world (based on the total number number of marathon finishers worldwide during recent pre-pandemic years), less than 1% of marathoners reach Six Star status.
The 2023 Tokyo Marathon may move that number north of 1%. Still rare, yes, but it is a significant upwards bump.
In many ways, the 2023 Tokyo Marathon will be unlike any that I or the rest of the world has seen. First and foremost, because of the pandemic, it has been four long years since the typical recreational marathoner has been allowed to run in Tokyo. Thus there has been an enormous backlog of runners who only need to bag Tokyo to get their Six Star Medal.
AbbottWMM reports that more than 3,000 of the 37,500 entrants to the 2023 Tokyo Marathon expect to earn their sixth star at this year’s race. (I am one of them. Yay me!) Abbott has let us all know that we are going for the Guinness World Record of “most people to earn a Six Star Medal at a single marathon”.
And for just $30, I can purchase the commemorative Guinness World Record Medal to receive at the finish line.
Hey, a world record is a world record! I don’t see anything on the horizon to suggest that I will get another shot at one. Count me in!
I mentioned the Tokyo Marathon will be unique. There are several significant logistical challenges for the runners. Undoubtedly, it will also be a lot of fun.
Several of my running peeps I’ve met over the past two years (Natan, Erika, Bill, among others) will also be getting their Six Star Medals. And there is at least one runner of worldwide fame getting hers: Joan Benoit Samuelson, the American who dominated the women’s marathon scene in the 1980’s. I need to save some smiles for all the post-race selfies I am anticipating.
The challenges begin with Tokyo’s policies regarding COVID-19.
Unlike the other WMM venues, Tokyo hasn’t totally loosened up their COVID policies. It is likely that the wearing of masks will be obligatory. And entry into Japan is subject to compliance with their distinctive protocols.
Procedures are being updated regularly so these may change. But as of now, entry into Japan requires all travelers to present evidence of at least three vaccination shots. I don’t want to sound disrespectful of my hosts but this is so 2021.
Runners in the marathon have additional rules that are already triggering anxiety among runners as per postings on various WMM Facebook groups. However, all the final details will not be available until February 17 when the official Runner’s Handbook is made available. Some very important issues, however, have already been drilled into us.
Specifically, runners must have their cell phones loaded with an official health app to be used to record one’s body temperature. Everyone must have their body temperature measured and recorded in the app daily for the week prior to the race. Each runner must display the app’s data to get into the Expo and to get into the starting area. They must carry it during the race as well. No cell phone, no data, no race for you.
At the Expo, each runner will be given two antigen test kits. Runners are to administer their tests at prescribed times and the (negative) results must also be loaded onto the runner’s cell phone to be checked by the race authorities in order to gain entry to the start area.
Another trigger involves the race cutoff time. All runners who don’t complete the course within seven hours will be disqualified.
All the Majors have cutoff times and “sweepers” are assigned the job of pulling runners off the course who are unable to meet the cutoff. The other races display a fair bit of flexibility and compassion towards runners in danger of missing the cutoff.
Tokyo is notoriously rigid with respect to the cutoff. Not only is there the overall seven hour limit but additionally there are checkpoints throughout the course that all runners have to achieve or face early disqualification.
For example, the cutoff clock starts ticking as soon as the gun goes off for the elite runners at 9:10 am. Many of the remaining runners may not reach the start line until 9:40 am and hence they have already used up 30 minutes of their cutoff time.
It appears that the first checkpoint will be at the 5.6 km mark (~3.5 miles) and runners must pass that checkpoint by 10:30 am. That’s readily achievable for most runners. But there’s a catch.
For example, stopping for a toilet break early in the race also chews up cutoff time. There are some nightmare scenarios documented by video on the web where runners in Tokyo have been disqualified early in the race because the checkpoint cutoff time elapsed while they were waiting to use a toilet. Imagine the disappointment! Entitled Americans can get quite belligerent when this happens to them. It’s important to plan ahead.
Tokyo’s strict discipline is not always an undesirable thing. In every other Major I’ve run, spectators on foot, bicycle, and wheelchair have at times entered the course in order to get to the other side of the road often at decidedly inopportune times. Runners have to be alert or risk collisions and potential injury.
This sort of thing does not happen in Japan. The course is for the runners; spectators do not enter it. It’s a cultural thing. Lovely.
Of course, irrespective of race and COVID protocols, there’s the issue of jet lag. Japan time is 17 hours ahead of Seattle and with my 11 hour flight I will be arriving at 3:10 pm local time just when my circadian clock will be signaling me to go to sleep (~10 pm West Coast time). I’ve dealt with a lot of jet lag these past two years but this trip will be the greatest acclimation challenge to date.
Running aside, by all accounts Tokyo is a fabulous city to check out. Word is that Tokyo has taken pains recently to provide English language signage everywhere and so getting around may be straightforward. And the food apparently is fantastic.
Consider the humble, uninspiring 7–11 of the United States. They are not known for fine dining. But in Tokyo they are, very much so. Same is true for all Tokyo convenience stores (“konbini”). It’s a great way for a jet-lagged traveler to grab some delicious food in the dead of night when sleep is not happening.
By all accounts, the food served in restaurants is astounding. From what I’ve read on-line I’m dreaming of carbo-load heaven! Tendon, Tsukemen, Soba, Tokyo buns, Omurice, the list goes on. Be still, my heart.
The Tokyo Marathon kicks off another year of self-inflicted challenges for me. Although not as nutty as my 2021 World Marathon campaign, my goals for 2023 are nonetheless . . . how should I put it? Entertaining? Let’s go with that.
I’ve learned a lot since my marathon debut in 2019 and I am eager to try some new things this year. More on all that in my next post.
In 2023, I will be running for Team Fox in some races again. You can donate to my London Marathon campaign (click this link). I could really use your support. If you share the passion that The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) and I have for finding a Parkinson’s cure please consider contributing. All donations are meaningful and greatly appreciated.
Alternatively, if you would like something tangible in exchange for a contribution, you may purchase my book Run With It: A True Story of Parkinson’s, Marathons, the Pandemic, and Love. I’ve heard it’s a good read. Most of the reviews are coming in at five stars. And all profits from its sale are donated to MJFF. It can be found on my authors website and Amazon. It’s cheaper on my author site (for domestic shipping), a larger percentage goes to MJFF than for Amazon sales, and you get the option of having it signed by the author.
