Asics Tokyo Ekiden Relay Race: What a Day with Namban Rengo
- Alex
- May 5
- 6 min read
Updated: 9 hours ago
What a Day?!
This weekend was the Asics half marathon Ekiden relay event. I think the official name is something like the Asics Tokyo Speed Race, but either way, it was one of those days that just absolutely sticks with you!
From start to finish, it was such a fun day, and as always, you could really feel how deeply rooted running and ekiden culture is in Japan.
A Slow Morning, Building Into Race Mode
The day actually started pretty slow. I woke up feeling a little bit tired, to be honest. Not flat, just a bit low on energy. But no stress. I went for a nice morning walk and kept things easy.
At about mid-morning, Sebastian and I made our way out toward the race. We arrived at about 12 o’clock to meet up with the Namban crew. Each relay team was mixed, with seven runners per team, and three teams total. Roughly 20 of us, with a fair few supporters rolling up as well (just keep the number 20 in the back of your mind). The vibes were already high when we arrived :)
Then, just before things got underway, there was a bit of a shuffle. Someone from one of the middle teams wasn’t going to show up, or pulled out last minute. And without hesitation, Sebastian stepped up!
This was going to be his first ever ekiden! What a guy?!
It takes a bit of courage to jump into something like an ekiden race, especially in a team format where you don’t want to let anyone down. But he didn’t hesitate. He got involved, and that was really excellent to see.
Heat, Format & Coming Back From Injury
It was properly hot for this time of year. Around 26 or 27 degrees, and the humidity was definitely there. Summer hasn’t fully hit Tokyo yet, but you could feel it coming. That kind of weather just zaps your energy, and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t feeling amazing physically before the race.
Regardless of how I was feeling though, before I knew it, it was 1:40pm and we were getting called to the start line.
The race format is what makes this ekiden so unique. The first runner goes out and does two laps, which is around 2.5 kilometres. Then every runner after that does a 1.2 kilometre leg. Short, sharp, fast, and intense. There’s no settling into a rhythm. It’s just straight into it, over and over again!
I wasn’t the first runner this time. I was second, which meant I’d be receiving the tasuki and heading straight out at speed.
Going into today, there was definitely something in the back of my mind.
During my recent 50km in Hiroshima, I actually tore my left hamstring. I didn’t realise it at the time, but a week later the bruising really came up and it was pretty clear something wasn’t right. I had to take a couple of weeks off but I still did what I could. Cycling, rehab work, easing back in to it slowly.
This past week was my first proper return to running and strength work. So while I felt confident in my overall fitness, I knew I hadn’t done any real running-specific training. No intervals, no strides, no speed work. I knew that once I started running fast, my body might feel a bit… off. But again, regardless of how I was feeling, I was there to race. And race I did lol!
1.2km, One Mindset
And then it happened. Yuta handed me the tasuki.
And just like in every ekiden I’ve run, something changes in that moment. As soon as you grab that sash, your body just takes over. You feel the weight of responsibility. You feel like you’re carrying something for the team, not just running for yourself.
I went out hard and fast.
Because it’s only 1.2 kms, I broke it down into 3 x 400 metre segments in my head. Fast out the gate, quick turnover in the legs, relaxed up top, and committed all the way through. I finished that first leg in under 3 minutes 30, and was really happy with that. That’s 3:00/km pace, and considering everything leading into today, I’ll take it. My legs felt strong. My mind felt stronger!
Ekiden doesn’t give you much time to think.
After that first run, I made sure to do a proper cooldown. I didn’t want the lactic acid to just sit there and lock everything up before the next leg. 20 minutes later, I was back out again, grabbing the tasuki from Antonio this time. The second run felt tough, but I locked-in mentally and ran about 3 minutes 35 for my second trip around the course.
Then came the third and final run, grabbing the tasuki from Tiff. That was a cool moment as well. Passing it between friends, it all adds to the experience. The last leg came in at around 3 minutes 37.
The exact times are a bit rough because stopping the watch while handling the sash is always messy. You’re handing it over, still moving, trying to stop your watch, so there are always a few seconds either way.
But overall, I was really happy with the consistency and the effort that I gave!
Team Energy, Atmosphere & the Finish Line
Between each run, it was all about being engaged, and that became just as important as the running itself. I was cheering on the team, watching everyone give their effort, staying loose, moving around, and doing small cooldowns so my body didn’t tighten up between efforts. There was no real switch off moment, you stayed in it the whole time, physically and mentally.
The energy across the entire event was high from start to finish. Being a public holiday, Midori no Hi, there were people everywhere. Runners, supporters, teams all spread across the course and surrounding areas. It didn’t just feel like a race, it felt like a proper celebration of running culture in Japan, which is something you really notice when you’re part of an event like this.
At the end of it all, Sabri brought us home, and there was this moment where everything kind of came together at once. All the effort from every leg, every handover, every push, it all built into that finish.
We crossed the line in about 1 hour and 4 minutes, roughly 1:04:08. And ended up taking first place in the mixed relay!
That feeling is hard to describe properly. Winning as a team, especially in an ekiden, just hits differently. It’s not just your result. It’s everyone’s. Everyone does their part, everyone carries a piece of the race, and when it all comes together like that, it really means a lot.
Progress, Perspective & What’s Next
I’ve got to mention Sebastian again because his progress in these last couple months has been unreal. His form looked sharp out there, and there’s a noticeable difference in how he carries himself.
Just the other night at Oda Field with Namban, he ran a 5K personal best. Six months ago, he was running around 23 minutes 30, and now he’s brought that down to 20 minutes 52. That’s a massive jump in a relatively short period of time, and it’s the result of consistent effort. And to add to that PB, it was only a year ago he did his longest run ever (8.32km at the time) with me in Perth!!
For me personally, things are shifting in a way that feels a lot more aligned with how I want to perform. Back in February at the Kyoto Marathon I was 80kg, and while I didn’t look exactly heavy, I definitely felt it when I ran.
Last night I weighed in at 74kg, and I can already feel the difference. The goal isn’t just being lighter, it’s being and feeling lean, agile, efficient, and moving well again. I’ve never really liked feeling overly bulky anyway. Winter in Japan, injury, less movement, and eating more for the sake of "building up my strength" while injured caught up with me, but now things are heading back in the right direction!
Next up is Hong Kong. Hyrox with Sebastian this weekend, and I’m feeling really good going into it. Now it’s about building from here, getting consistent again, training properly, and pushing into that next level over summer.
Ekiden racing in Japan reminds you of something important. It’s not just about running. It’s about team, culture, effort, and showing up for something bigger than yourself. You feel that the moment you grab the tasuki, and it stays with you for the entire race.
If you’re interested in this side of what I’m doing, I’m documenting my full racing and training journey as I build in this space! You can follow along on Instagram, or check out my website. If you have any questions around fitness, racing, or performance, or you’re keen to train or collaborate, feel free to reach out!
Comments