TOK. Pre-Marathon.

Pre-travel stress

As always, the stress of traveling to a marathon was alive and well. I can’t believe that that was 7 days ago. I had clinic on Monday and the tail that came along with it. I thought I would be able to finish tasks before leaving but I didn’t so thought I would finish in the evening and even the next morning. Then picked up kids from nursery.

Travel day – though this was going to be relaxed but not really. Still didn’t manage to finish all the letters and tasks. But took the kids to Breakfast Club and said goodbye. Then, I went for a 6 mile run. Initially planned to run 13 miles but time was not on my side as the bus to Heathrow was at 12:55. Got home, showered, packed the last bits. (Also, there were people working to re-do our downstairs bathroom). So it was hectic. Then David drove me to the bus station. Hmmm… I could do letters on the bus or at Heathrow. I didn’t really want to bring my laptop but Alas!

Chaos ensued when my computer decided to update when it wasn’t connected to the internet. Heathrow internet struggled so for 2 hours I watched a blue circle instead of trying to tidy things up. I also almost bought new shoes whilst this was going. Okay maybe the next airport – Beijing (MUST PRESCRIBE CHEMO!). No luck, the internet struggled again. Maybe when I get to the hotel. So the whole journey didn’t really feel like a holiday yet. I couldn’t get into the right frame of mind as I was still in work mode. Finally internet at the hotel. I spent the first night in Tokyo writing patient letters and prescribing chemotherapy! I finished. Let marathon mode (and the jet lag) begin.

The Tokyo Marathon Expo

Finally, I got to meet up with Andrea at the Seiko shop in Ginza, where all the runners names were printed on the shop window.

Expos are always similar in these big races – claim your bib then go through a maze of sportswear, nutrition, race previews, photo-ops, charity stalls. I found out that I didn’t have a Tokyo Marathon vest, which I needed to buy sometime in December. I also found out it was $90, which probably the reason why I didn’t buy it in the first place. However, I did but a kids size vest and also a hoody – which I was pleased with.

We then stopped by our charity’s stalls. Andrea’s was WaterAid and mine was KnK. We chatted with the charity workers and they wished us Good Luck!

Support crew

I have been so lucky so far that I have really good friends that come to see me run in each of the Majors. This time, Yang-Yang (from Amsterdam and ran the Tokyo Half Marathon in October), Paolo and Sohail (from the Philippines) all came to support me. Another one of our friends, Xyza, happens to be here as well so she will come out and cheer on the day.

Pre-race running

I did a couple of short runs around where I was staying – sightseeing whilst running and stopping to take some pictures, mostly around the Imperial Palace.