Interview Relay

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

This time, we introduce a story of Reph, who discovered the true meaning of the Tokyo Marathon’s spirit through a conversation with a local man on the Shinkansen and the finish line medal that sparked it.

Running Brings People Together in One City for a Shared Experience

My connection story is about two people: my friend Orion, whom I first met when I traveled to Japan to run the Tokyo Marathon 2023, and an elderly Japanese man I met on the Shinkansen while returning to Tokyo after a snowboarding trip a few days after the 2026 race.

A few days after finishing the Tokyo Marathon 2026, I found myself on the Shinkansen returning to Tokyo from Niigata. An elderly Japanese man sitting next to me asked why I was visiting Japan. When I told him I had come to run the Tokyo Marathon and showed him my medal, his face lit up with excitement. He asked if he could hold it. As he turned the medal over in his hands, we shared stories about running, family, and life while the train sped through the snowy countryside.

In that moment, I felt the true spirit of the Tokyo Marathon: that running can unite people, even strangers from different generations and different parts of the world.

This connection happened because of a simple decision. After finishing the Tokyo Marathon 2026 in 3:03:53, following months of dedicated training, I decided not to pack my medal away right after the race. Instead, I carried it with me as I explored Tokyo and experienced Japanese culture. Traveling from New York to stand on the start line in Tokyo reminded me just how powerful running can be—it brings people from every corner of the world together in one city for a shared experience. I never expected that carrying my medal would open the door to so many meaningful conversations. The kindness and hospitality I experienced reflected the true spirit of “Omotenashi” that Japan is known for.

The Tokyo Marathon Instantly Became Our Common Ground

One of my most important connections was with Orion. He was born in New York but has lived in Japan for over a decade. We first met during my 2023 visit, and despite living on opposite sides of the world, our friendship continued to grow. Reconnecting with him was high on my list for 2026. We celebrated on the night of the race and met for tea a few days later.

Orion helped me plan something that had long been on my bucket list: a snowboarding trip to GALA Yuzawa in Niigata. Without his help in navigating Japanese websites and reserving Shinkansen seats, I’m not sure if I could have organized it. Seeing another side of Japan was an unforgettable experience, and that trip is what led to the unexpected conversation on the train ride back.

The man on the train shared stories about his life as a retired engineer and how he still enjoys skiing and riding motorcycles with his daughter. When he learned I was a runner, he became even more excited, sharing memories of running when he was younger and his lifelong love of sports. Despite our differences in age, culture, and language, the Tokyo Marathon instantly became common ground between us.

Hearing about his relationship with his daughter reminded me of my own father. My 76-year-old father and I began a journey in 2022 to complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Training and running together has strengthened our bond in ways that are difficult to describe. I told the man that we still have two races remaining—Tokyo and London—and that I hope to return to Japan to run the Tokyo Marathon with my father and my wife. He smiled warmly and said he hoped we would all come back to run it together.

In that moment, I realized the Tokyo Marathon had connected three generations of runners in one conversation. My medal wasn’t just a reminder of the race; it had become a magical symbol connecting me to people and stories I never expected.

The Tokyo Marathon is More Than Just a Race

The Tokyo Marathon doesn’t just connect runners on the course; it continues to connect people long after the finish line.

Carrying my medal around Tokyo created opportunities for encounters, shared stories, and the blossoming of friendships that I never could have planned on my own. It taught me that no matter the differences in country, generation, or culture, running serves as a universal language that creates an instant understanding between us. These moments reinforced my firm belief that a marathon is about so much more than personal records or individual achievement. I realized that the true value of a marathon lies in the human connections and the lifelong memories we form along the journey.

My hope is to return to Tokyo with my wife and father as we continue our journey to become Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Finishers. I want them to experience the incredible energy of the crowds, the beauty of the city, and the warm spirit of “Omotenashi” that I felt so deeply during my stay.

In the end, the Tokyo Marathon is more than a race. It is a place where strangers become friends and connections last far beyond the finish line. One marathon medal connected strangers, friends, and family across the world.