The Tokyo Marathon—the first World Marathon Major of 2024—took place Sunday morning in Japan. In near-perfect conditions, with a starting temperature of about 42 degrees, more than 37,000 runners took to the streets in Japan’s capital city. Course records fell, although several notable pre-race favorites fell short.

Graydon Widdicombe travelled to The Land of the Rising Sun, to take part in Tokyo Marathon on Sunday 3rd March.

He arrived in Japan on the Wednesday in order to try and get over any jet lag prior to the race, but he still found that quite difficult, what with Japan being 9 hours ahead of UK. Still, conditions on race day were perfect, as it was chilly but sunny, and hardly any wind and Graydon was very excited for what was to come on race day.

This race had some top elites in it, and there were high hopes for both Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) and Sifan Hassan (Netherlands). Graydon actually ran within metres of them both, albeit they were travelling at speed some 15 miles up the road, on a section of the course where competitors were running in both directions. It was a good moment in the race though, as many runners stopped or slowed to cheer them on. Kipchoge eventually finished in 10th and Hassan 4th, so probably not what they were hoping for on the day. On the other side, this race has generous cut offs, but the officials are very strict with them, to the second. Graydon did also witness back markers being pulled from the course at around 11 miles.

The atmosphere was not quite like anything Graydon has experienced before in a race, what with the mainly Japanese spectators, some seriously quick Japanese amateurs, and the nature of the course where runners went past various temples and shrines, plus a football stadium, towers, and other famous parts of Tokyo

Graydon has been suffering with plantar fasciitis on-and-off for nearly 2 years now, and he had a flare up in the week leading up the race, and indeed it was making itself known throughout the event, from the start. Even so, he paced the race well, with a strategy of getting to half way in reasonable shape, and seeing what would happen after that. As such, he went though half way in 1:58:54 and managed to more or less maintain the effort to finish in 3:58:40 and 12,927 overall.

Grayon also said "It’s a very nice medal. Also we got a towelled poncho, which is a really good memento too and something a bit different."

This very popular, flat, tarmacked, officially measured, road race is now going into its sixth year.

The race starts on the beautiful Exmouth Seafront. Runners head up to Orcombe point before looping round the flag pole and head back along the full length of the beachfront, another turning point will be made to bring runners back around to start their second lap (10km) or split to finish (5km). The finish line sees you passing the Octogan Icecream shop to hug the beachfront railings to the finish line

Tim Synge was the sole representative of the Trotters over on the other side of the Exe as he toed the line for the Bradley's Exmouth 10k on Sunday morning. LM Events stage this a couple of times a year and this year they had a one-lap 5k on offer in addition to the normal 10k, although most runners were doing the full 10k (which had 155 finishers compared with 30 in the 5k). Excellent weather conditions with almost no breeze meant that the Exmouth sea front made for a friendly course without headwinds and Spectators lined the seafront to support and cheer creating an absolutely fantastic atmosphere. Tim finished 58th in 50:35 and enjoyed the race, he was a little disappointed not to go sub-50 in those conditions. Tim Quoted...Really don’t know whether to be pleased with my fastest 10k since May 2023 or disappointed at missing a sub-50. Not sure I could have gone any faster today, though! He was 8th out of 17 in the 55-69 category..