911 from Tokyo

By Michael R

The phone display showed a strange caller-ID.  I assumed it was just another marketing pitch so I picked up primed to demand being taken off their calling list.  

Instead, there was a familiar “Hi Michael” from friend and teammate, Pei A. (also Flyers treasurer).

I was surprised.  “I thought you were in Japan, Pei, for the Tokyo Marathon in five days?”  

She replied, “I am, but I don’t have one of those cool new Flyers caps for the race!”  

I understood, immediately, that this was a Flyers gear 911 call.  Sizing up Pei’s predicament and perceiving the urgency I leapt into action: “Hang tight.  I’ll grab one and be in Tokyo tomorrow.  See you soon.”  

Three hours later I was boarding at JFK and heading for Narita.  I packed my running shoes, just in case.

We met soon after I landed and the cap handoff took place with the same precision of a baton hand-off in an ekiden relay race.  Pei and I had practiced this last December at the NYCRUNS Ekiden in Central Park.  She was now ready for any weather eventuality.  Mission accomplished.  

Special Delivery: Flyers Hat

Then Pei surprised me and told me there were still some marathon slots available.  Was I interested?  Without hesitating I said “Sure.”  I still had two days to train.

 

Trying to Recruit Training Partners in Tokyo

That night I developed my own RUN S.M.A.R.M. marathon training program (with the help of coach Johnny Walker).  The schedule was intense.  I had one day to build mileage and one day to taper. I stuck to the rigorous plan and felt ready on race day.

Looking for Pei at the Start Corral.
Pei? Pei?? Anyone See A Petit Woman Wearing a Flyers Hat?

Even though Pei and I were assigned to the same start corral, the crowd was thick and we didn’t see each other.  The race started and I assumed we’d just meet that night for dinner, as planned.  It was a perfect marathon day with a temperature of about 4 degrees Celsius and an overcast sky (actually a bit too warm for the Flyer cap!).  

The event was flawlessly organized and friendly, enthusiastic crowds lined every meter of this 42.2-kilometer foot-tour of Tokyo.  That was another thing they do differently in Japan, by the way.  Instead of a normal 26.2-mile marathon, this one was 42.2 kilometers.  Go figure.

I was sticking rigorously to my RUN S.M.A.R.M. race plan and stopped at kilometer 22.5 (mile 14) to grab some fluids.  Then I heard someone calling “Michael!”  I turned and there was Pei, with a huge smile, coming toward me.  

It felt like a miracle that she found me among the 37,000 runners.  We resolved to toss the race plans and that the rest of the marathon was going to be nothing but fun and we’d cross the finish line together without missing one photo opportunity along the way.

One additional pleasure of running with Pei was that her husband, Zoltan, had planned to be at many spots along the course to cheer her on.  So, we had a personal, mobile cheering squad!  

With Zoltan As He Recovered from a Long Day of Cheering

It seemed like he was there at every turn and even though I’d never met him before, we were on a first-name basis by mile 20.  Pei and I stopped frequently to take pictures at every landmark and even to mingle with the spectators along the way.

When we met at that fluids station we each reset our race goals and were determined to have fun and cross the finish line with our arms held high, together.  

This turned out to be a huge lesson in running, resetting priorities, friendship and life, in general.  The Tokyo marathon was a great, world-class event made even greater by the experience of running it with a friend.  

Finish Line Hug

Heavy Medal

We met all of our goals and had a fun marathon, together, even if it was only 42.2 kilometers. And now, we're enjoying these pictures of an amazing experience!

-Michael R