Interview Relay

Interview Relay 2nd Run: Stories of “Connections Between People” Born Through the Tokyo Marathon

This time, we introduce the story of Daz, who is channeling his love for his mother into running as he aims to complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM). This is a story of an “unbreakable bond” that transcends life itself.

Seeking to Understand the Life My Mother Lived

My mother was the strongest, most resilient person I have ever known. She lived with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), where every single breath was a battle. I wanted to understand, even just a little, what her daily life felt like.

With that desire, I decided to take on my first marathon in 2021. At the time, I was quite overweight and couldn’t even run a single mile without stopping. Nevertheless, facing the struggle of breathlessness over 42.195 km was my way of getting closer to the “fight for air” my mother experienced every day.

Through rigorous training and enduring the pain, I finished my first marathon in 4 hours and 24 minutes. It was an incredibly grueling race, but it carved a deep respect for my mother’s strength into my heart. That single race lit a fire within me.

To honor my mother and raise funds to support those battling lung disease, I set a goal to complete all the AbbottWMM races. I have only two stars left to earn—and one of them is the very race I am aiming for now: the Tokyo Marathon.

Running Provides Hope and the Strength to Move Forward

This journey toward becoming an AbbottWMM Finisher has fundamentally changed me. I went from someone who couldn’t run a mile to someone who has completed multiple marathons, getting faster with every race. However, the true transformation lies much deeper.

Running taught me “resilience” in a way nothing else could. During the most painful years of my life, watching my mother suffer, running gave me a purpose. It turned my love for her into “action.” Running became the bridge between us; every training session, every race, and every labored breath is dedicated to her.

Sadly, my mother passed away in March 2025. I wasn’t able to show her the moment I finished all the AbbottWMM. However, her passing has made this challenge even more meaningful.

Now, every step I take is a tribute to her. I run to keep her close, to honor her struggle, and to carry her strength into the future. Running saved me during my darkest times, and it continues to give me hope and the power to move forward every day.

Love Can Take You Further Than You Ever Imagined

Through this journey, there is one message I desperately want to share: “Love can take you further than you ever imagined.”

When someone you love is in a fight they cannot control, standing by them in your own way—challenging your limits, turning empathy into action, and never giving up—can be the most powerful way to stay close to them.

Despite facing COPD, my mother never complained. From her silent strength in living through each day, I learned that courage isn’t always something loud or flashy. Sometimes, courage is simply getting up and continuing to breathe through the pain.

Now that she is gone, completing the AbbottWMM is my way of saying, “Thank you,” “I love you,” and “You are still running with me in my heart.”

If my story inspires even one person to lace up for a cause, to support someone they love, or to donate to lung disease research and charities, then her legacy lives on a little longer. And to anyone who can help me secure a spot in the Tokyo Marathon — thank you from the bottom of my heart. It would mean the world to finish this chapter for her.