Race Recap Tokyo Marathon 2023

Tokyo Marathon was an incredible experience. I got my third star, and I also came home with a new PB! Here's my breakdown.

0:48 kit
3:29 nutrition plan
4:58 aid stations
7:15 race morning
9:28 corrals
11:17 congested start
13:48 5k-15k
15:02 half marathon
17:26 25k-35k
19:47 35k-40k
22:43 the last k
24:53 post race

Thanks for watching! Leave a comment to let me know you stopped by!

Running footage shot on:
GoPro Hero 11 Black (paid link)

Disclosure: It's 2023, so I think we all know how affiliate links work at this point, but for regulatory compliance or affiliate program purposes, I must state that affiliate links do not increase cost to you, but:
"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Also, you do not need to use these links. You can also search for these same items in amazon or on any search engine/shopping site of your choice and buy/research them that way.
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subscriber count at time of upload: 133,602

end card music:
Jim Yosef - Checkered

[chickengoneturkey]

Sounds simple, but yet so powerful. "Just say yes" every time the marathon asks you, "Do you want it?"

That bit around min 22 about the mantras (the question the marathon poses and the answer you give, "Do you still want to hit your goal? Just say yes"; "This is what I came here to do") is extraordinary, awesome motivation. Thank you so much for putting it into words.

[FullmetalScientist]

Revisiting this video now that I’ve gotten my first entry to the 2025 Tokyo Marathon!

[idanyella]

I love that you showed us that running a marathon it is not easy. Ive watched lots of ppl doing these videos after they run a marathon and they try to make it look like it is easy and almost anyone can do it. Thanks for make it REAL for us. Congrats of your marathon!

[johnrwilker]

My first marathon was Chicago last year. I thought I was ready for the day. I got to mile 20 which was the longest training run I had done in preparation for the day. At that time, my brain convinced me to take a break and walk a bit. I’m sure now that I was physically capable of continuing to run but when the marathon ask me, I was unprepared and answered poorly. I need to spend more time focusing on my mental training for Grandma’s in June.

[mmroadie]

Hi Ko, you are so right, the doubts in the last 10km can consume you, it is harder too when there is a noisy crowd and you feel you can’t hear to think - i say: “you are there to get a job done, no regrets, get it done”. see you in Boston (love the content, always top notch)

[AlwaysDoing]

Congrats on your new PB! And yay Pocari Sweat, it's my fav. As for the course being quiet - spectators were discouraged from yelling "more than necessary" as part of the Corona countermeasures. All the big races here, like the Hakone Ekiden, have had cheering/yelling prohibited for several years, so I think that played a part, too.

[fooshoes]

The 2.5 min ‘mantra’ section from 20:20 is the best content I’ve ever seen from you. Absolute gold. Massive congratulations on your PB 💪🏻

[michaelberry]

I spotted myself at 14 minute mark in the pink next to the hedge. I also ran a PB and first time under 3 hours (2:57:44). Great recap video and bought back that unbelievable feeling.

[josenaveo]

“Just say yes!” and “What did we come here to do!?” Thanks so much for sharing! Definitely will be thinking of this in Boston next month. Nice work!!!

[bev]

AWESOME!!! Thanks soooo much for sharing your thoughts during the race and the mantras that helped you cope, THAT is extremely useful and I'm looking forward to seeing if my brain will go that way for my fast approaching Paris marathon. I'm still at the stage, and my godsend mantra is "if it hurts to walk and it hurts to run, you may as well run"!!

[smalls.]

Hell yeah! I love how you felt with the thoughts of doubts. Acknowledge and let them slide off !

[asdfghjklgym]

This is the best marathon recap video I’ve seen! You’ve got me so excited (& nervous) for Rotterdam marathon in a months time!!

[kouvang]

Grandma's recap series was my favorite, but this now takes the cake. It gave me goosebumps, it was that good. As everyone else has mentioned, the mantras and meditation. Love it and thanks for bringing this one. Looking forward to Boston plans. I'm planning to come down for the weekend for the activities.

[doernerrr]

Congrats on the PB and thanks for sharing the details of your inner struggle to hold pace over the final 5K, that’s so inspirational. I’ve run only one full marathon but that was enough to fully appreciate the pain one feels in the last mile.

[TheNampow]

"Do you want it? Just say yes!!" .These are great. Thank you.

[kyleryczek]

Huge congratulations on the PR Ko! The bit from 20:20-22:38 about mastering your mindset and saying yes are extremely powerful, not to be understated nuggets of wisdom. Thank you for sharing with the running community!

[aliza]

I love love these recaps on how the race went. So helpful in knowing the mindset, things to consider and how you were doing at each 5k. Thank you

[robertburpee]

One of the best race reports I've seen, I was with you by your side for the whole race, thank you for taking the time to put it together.

[blackadar]

20:58 this whole general point is the single most useful piece of content I think you’ve posted. This is gold and will be something I come back to for race days. Thanks Ko!