Last weekend I lined up for the Tokyo Marathon, one of the most special races in the world. Getting into Tokyo is incredibly difficult, so simply standing on that start line already felt like a privilege.

But once the gun goes… the mindset changes.

You're no longer just happy to be there — you want to race.

Early in the race I found myself in a massive pack, running much quicker than planned. It felt smooth. It felt effortless.

So I rolled with it.

But as every marathon runner knows… those days don’t last forever.

Around 14km in, reality kicked in and I backed off the pace. From there I ran almost 28km completely solo, often not seeing another runner ahead of me.

Tokyo has a unique racing culture and I got caught up in what I call the “Japanese racing style”:

Start fast. Hang on for dear life.

Risky for a marathon… but when in Japan 🇯🇵

Here’s the interesting part.

As a coach, I normally tell athletes to do the opposite:

• Stick to the plan
• Control the pace
• Respect the distance

Yet in Tokyo I did the exact thing I usually warn runners about.

I went with the pack.

And honestly?

Part of me loved it.

It’s chaotic.
It’s risky.
But it’s racing.

If you were on that start line… what would you do?

A) Stick to your pacing plan no matter what
B) Go with the pack and see what happens

We’ve just redesigned the community, and it’s still evolving as you’re reading this.

Jump in, share how you mentally break down a marathon, and see how other runners approach the toughest moments of the race.

Let’s build this space together.

One thing I noticed during the race was how some runners took the 180° turnaround corners.

Instead of slowing down and stepping around them…

They pivot hard and accelerate out.

Almost like a quick track-style turn.

I gave it a go during the race and honestly…

It felt surprisingly good.

You exit the corner with momentum and rhythm instead of breaking stride.

Next time you hit a tight turnaround in a race, try this:

• Stay tall
• Pivot quickly
• Accelerate out of the turn

It might feel strange the first time.

But once it clicks — it becomes natural.

If you try it, tag me and let me know how it feels.

After a race block or heavy training phase, the goal isn’t to force fitness.

It’s to absorb the work you've already done.

This simple session keeps the legs moving while helping the body recover.

Session

• 10–20 min easy warm-up
• 3 × 8 min steady running
• 2 min easy jog between efforts
• Optional: 4 × 20 sec relaxed strides
• 10–20 min cool down

Effort should feel controlled and relaxed — around marathon effort or slightly easier.

These are the runs that quietly build consistency.

Purpose

• promote blood flow and recovery
• maintain aerobic rhythm
• gently reintroduce structure after a race or hard block

This is the type of session that leaves you feeling better than when you started.

And those are often the most valuable runs.

I’ve previously shared how I mentally break down a 5K, 10K and half marathon — but I realised I’ve never explained how I approach the marathon itself.

After completing my 80th marathon at London 2024, it felt like the right time to finally share it.

In this week’s blog I walk through how I mentally break the marathon down — from the opening kilometres all the way to the final stretch.

Because the marathon isn’t just a physical challenge.

It’s a mental game.

The legs might carry you…

but the mind decides how far you go.

Or jump straight into the conversation and share how you mentally break down a marathon with other runners in the community.

In this week’s video I take you inside the final 8km of the Tokyo Marathon — where the real race begins.

You’ll see:

• the huge packs early in the race
• what it feels like running solo for long stretches
• the Japanese turnaround technique in action

Along with the pain, the crowds, and the internal battle every marathon runner knows.

👉 Just click the video above to: Watch the Tokyo Marathon race footage