From -25°C Training Runs to the Streets of Tokyo: My 2026 Marathon Major

How winter training in Toronto, a lost suitcase, and 42.2 kilometers through one of the most organized marathons on earth turned the Tokyo Marathon into an unforgettable experience.

More than 300,000 runners apply every year for a chance to run the Tokyo Marathon, yet fewer than 10% secure a spot through the lottery, making it one of the most competitive races among the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

According to statistics, only about 10% of runners who apply through the lottery for a Marathon Major are lucky enough to secure a spot. Tokyo is widely known as one of the hardest races to get into among the six majors.

This was my second attempt through the lottery, and this time the email finally said what every runner hopes to read:

You’re in.

But getting the entry was only the beginning.

This year brought major changes to my life. My usual athletic routine had to adjust to a completely new rhythm — irregular schedules, on-call work, and less predictable training windows. Preparing for Tokyo suddenly became a challenge of adaptation.

And then there was the Toronto winter.

Training runs sometimes happened in –25°C, when the air hurts your face and every step feels heavier than usual. But every run had the same image in mind: the streets of Tokyo on race day.

The Perfect Timing

Fortunately, life also delivered a bit of good timing.

One of my Japanese friends, and business partner had scheduled a convention for our projects in Tokyo on February 25, just days before the marathon. Suddenly the trip made perfect sense: fly to Japan, attend the convention, and run one of the most iconic races in the world.

Even better, I stayed at his home, experiencing the traditional rhythm of Japanese daily life, the food, the calm neighborhoods, and the local training routes.

Everything was lining up.

Until my luggage disappeared.

Every Runner’s Nightmare

I landed at Haneda Airport safe and sound.

My suitcase didn’t.

Inside that suitcase was my running gear, including my personalized race singlet.

Every runner knows the feeling: that split second of panic when the carousel stops spinning and your bag never appears.

Fortunately, I always travel with one rule.

My race shoes never leave my carry-on.

So there they were, my Nike Alphaflys, safely inside my backpack. I treat them like an electronic device. Not fragile, but essential to performance.

Still, the missing suitcase meant an unexpected mission: last-minute shopping in Tokyo.

I ended up buying an Adidas Evo SL shoe for training runs, along with clothes for a shake-out run, a business suit for the convention, toiletries, and the usual emergency purchases like underwear.

Luckily, my suitcase arrived a few days later, just before race day.

Crisis avoided.

Expo Day: Organized Chaos

Once settled, it was time for the marathon expo — and immediately I began asking myself something.

What makes the Tokyo Marathon so special among the majors?

The answer reveals itself quickly.

The organization here feels like it's operating twenty years ahead of the rest of the world.

At the expo entrance, runners and spectators were separated into two clearly organized lines. Volunteers in perfectly coordinated uniforms guided everyone with quiet efficiency.

At first, the event felt smaller than expected.

The first expo hall was relatively modest, mostly sponsor displays, including the official marathon partner store.

But then something unexpected happened. "The escalators".

They led downstairs, and what waited below felt like entering a completely different world.

A massive runner’s expo, packed with global brands, spectacular booths, and immersive activations.

Adidas, Nike, Puma, Seiko, each one competing for attention.

Suddenly the atmosphere changed.

I felt like a kid walking into a runner’s theme park.

The Playground of Running Brands

Adidas showcased their top-of-the-line Evo racing shoe, allowing runners to experience the same elite-level technology normally reserved for professionals.

Nike built a surreal installation, a booth designed like a crater in the ground, with mannequins erupting upward as if launching into a run.

For a moment, you almost imagine yourself as Eliud Kipchoge stepping onto the course.

Puma created a tunnel experience that felt like stepping through time — entering one side in the past and exiting into the future.

The creativity was next level.

Even recovery brands got playful. One bath salt company created a sensory booth, where runners stepped inside a cylindrical chamber filled with calming sound and scented air while waiting for their samples.

At the end, runners used a giant Japanese capsule toy machine, inserting a coin and receiving a large capsule filled with product samples.

It was marketing, but brilliant marketing.

A full 360-degree brand experience.

Race Morning

Race day started early.

4:30 AM.

My pre-race routine began almost automatically.

Anti-chafe applied.Band-Aids ready.Banana eaten.Electrolytes taken.Nutrition bars packed.

And for a Japanese twist, two onigiri.

Salt pills ready.Gels loaded onto my belt.Precision Hydration bottle filled.

I was staying in Warabi, Saitama, about 40 minutes from Tokyo by train, so the commute to the start line was simple.

My friend and I left his house just before sunrise.

The starting area was located near the Keio Plaza Hotel, which felt strangely familiar, I had stayed there during my convention just days earlier.

Thousands of runners were filling the lobby and surrounding streets.

Because I already knew the hotel layout, I quietly escaped upstairs to the convention floor bathrooms, completely empty while the lobby downstairs was chaos.

Sometimes local knowledge is the best race strategy.

The Start

Tokyo Marathon organizes runners through a color-coded bib and corral system, making the flow toward the start line incredibly smooth.

Only runners with the correct bib and bracelet could enter the start zone.

Even the portable toilets had an efficiency twist.

They had no doors.

It sounds strange, but the system keeps lines moving quickly and prevents odor buildup.

Another small example of Japanese efficiency.

Soon, 37,000 runners stood ready at the start line.

Many chasing the famous Six Star Medal.

(Not me… not yet.)

Then, right on schedule the race began.

Confetti exploded into the air as runners crossed the start line, while volunteers in bright yellow caps waved and bowed respectfully.

Running Through Tokyo

The streets were immaculately clean.

Crowds lined the route from start to finish, cheering runners with steady energy.

Aid stations offered everything:

Pocari Sweat, water, sponges, bananas, sweet potatoes, candies.

At one point, a smiling elderly woman handed out tiny cups of noodles.

A surprisingly perfect boost in the middle of a marathon.

Volunteers stood along the course holding trash bags, waiting for runners to discard empty gel packets.

The result?

Not a single wrapper on the road.

It was, without question, the most organized race I have ever run.

The Weather

The days leading up to the race were cold and rainy.

But race morning arrived with ideal conditions: around 9°C at the start, warming later toward 20°C.

Because my training had been inconsistent, I wasn’t chasing a personal best.

Instead, I focused on absorbing the experience.

Running through Tokyo.Taking it all in.

When I crossed the finish line, the official race time showed 4:03.

My Garmin Vivoactive 4, however, recorded 4:01.

Either way, it was a race I’ll remember far beyond the numbers.

The Finish

The finish line rewards were classic Japan, simple, but perfectly presented.

Instead of a loose banana, runners received a beautifully wrapped banana, possibly the most elegant banana I’ve ever seen.

There were also recovery gels, Pocari Sweat, and bath salt samples.

However, I did notice one small difference compared to other majors.

Tokyo doesn’t use a traditional finish arch with a large race clock. Instead, the finish area uses two pillars.

It may be a modern design choice, but personally I still love the classic finish arch with a huge timer and LED screens.

Another surprise was the long walk from the finish line to the medal and exit zones, organized again by bib color.

And unlike races such as San Diego, there wasn’t a large celebration or festival area after the finish.

Still, these are small details in an otherwise extraordinary race.

Final Thoughts

Japan may very well be the cleanest and most organized country I’ve ever visited.

The kindness of the people, the efficiency of the volunteers, and the incredible attention to detail make the Tokyo Marathon one of the most unique races in the world.

For runners chasing the Marathon Majors, or simply looking for an unforgettable race experience, Tokyo deserves a spot on the bucket list.

No question.

Watch my Tokyo Marathon Highlights

Happy running.

Gear:

Pace Singlet Tokyo Edition

Adidas Running Short

Compressport Running Socks

Nike Alpha Fly 3 Race Shoes