Running to Eat: 2011

25 Feb 2011

I made it!! Arrived Tokyo - Narita.

The plan... meet Pete at Keio Plaza Hotel, go pick up our race bibs, dinner and acclimatise to the weather. IT'S COLD!!! (by my standards) :(

Took the train to Tokyo Big Sight (site of the Marathon Expo) and collected our race packs.

Then checked out the several booths in the expo.

Spent several hours at the expo and picked up some nice goodies. Then headed back to hotel, grab dinner and rest.

26 Feb 2011

Woke up late and rushed down just in time before last order for breakfast.

Then off we went - to the Phiten Shop and Pete and I picked up some stuff!!!

Then off to Ueno to look for Kit Kat hahaa.

Grabbed a late lunch at Mcdonalds then back to hotel to look for dinner and call it an early night to get ready for the marathon the next morning.

Made a slight detour to the Observation Tower near our hotel.

Weather forecast 10 degrees C - 15 degrees C.

27 Feb 2011
Marathon Day.

Run starts at 9.10 am so less stress, no need to wake up early haha. Had a leisurely breakfast in the hotel then walked over to the site. IT IS COLD!!!! Freezing for me!!! Got my Lululemon Cap and windcheater, gloves, tights on and completely covered haha.

We get to the baggage truck and I switch my windcheater for the disposable rain coat and check in my bag then off to the start point. See the truck behind? that's the bag deposit - so ORGANISED!!!

But first, a pit/pee stop. The line for the toilets are ridiculously LOOOONG, then we discover as you walk further in.... the lines are shorter! Phew!!! Otherwise, we'd never be able to get to pee before the start of the race.

As we make our way to our pens.... wow!!! the crowds!!!

Race starts and it takes me 10 minutes before I cross the start line haha.

But the atmosphere and the spirit of excitement is surely unforgettable. It's not so cold anymore (perhaps its the excitment) and by the 2 km mark, I ditch the raincoat. There are cheering crowds all through the whole 42km route!!! I sure am impressed. Only gripe, after 30k or so, it was frustrating as I didn't understand all the Japanese cheers sigh....

Along the way, I manage to take some nice snaps of historic sights of Tokyo.... (The Oldest Temple in Tokyo - The Grand Kaminarimon Gate with a large lantern of Sensoji Temple - a landmark, Tokyo Sky Tower and Tokyo Tower)

I complete the race in respectable time though no PB... :) It was truly fun and not so exhausting. The crowds are massive.

I change and take the train back to the hotel to meet Pete. I soak in the tub a while, wash up and we go grab an early dinner - Japanese. Then back to hotel and send Pete off to the airport - well, see him off at the hotel lobby as he takes the airport limo(bus).

28 Feb 2011
After a 'sore' night's sleep, I wake up to a fresh cold morning.... COLD.

After I pack, I go to check out the club floor. Yippee, there are massage chairs there. I finally get my post-race massage. While getting my massage, I notice it is snowing outside! Cool!!!

I brave the cold and take a walk out to Shinjuku for dinner and I see this nice picture of chicken wings and decide to try it. One miserable wing for S$7!!! unbelievable and not that tasty too...

1 March 2011

Morning and for breakfast I decide to try the Japanese Breakfast since it's my last day in Tokyo before I fly home. OK, confirmed!! I do not like Japanese food. Horrible breakfast man!! I had to go upstairs to the the western cafe for a second breakfast.