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Tokyo Marathon 2024: My first big athletics photoshoot
Tokyo Marathon 2024 was a big event. It brought together 380000 elite runners and passionate amateurs to Japan’s bustling capital. And it was my first time to attend it as a press photographer. It was a day I’ll remember forever. I was thrilled.
The event brought much excitement to the city. I saw this when I went to Ariake to pick up my press credentials. Tokyo Big Sight, the exhibition center, was swarmed with people. They were athletes who would run in the race and needed to receive their participation packs. There were so many of them. They were all smiling. The energy was palpable.
Why did I want to photograph Tokyo Marathon 2024?
Elite Competition:
Tokyo International Marathon attracts top-tier talent from around the globe. It has a reputation for fast times and competitive fields. Spectators witness the world’s best athletes push the limits of human performance. What else would you expect with athletes like pre-race favorites Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan in the pack?
Iconic Course:
The marathon route winds its way through many of Tokyo’s iconic landmarks. It offers both participants and spectators a unique perspective. They will see the city’s rich cultural heritage and modern urban landscape.
Unforgettable Atmosphere:
The marathon is renowned for its electric atmosphere. Tokyites love this event and will line the streets to watch it. They cheered and encouraged their heroes. I’m sure the event was an unforgettable experience for the athletes.
Global Impact:
The Tokyo event ranks highly as one of the six World Marathon Majors. Elite athletes use it to showcase their talents. It also motivates aspiring runners to pursue their own athletic goals.
The race ended in 38000 “I did it” moments
A marathon is 42.195 kilometers long. I can’t imagine what running that must be like. It must involve a certain amount of pain, I guess. Whether the athletes are elite or amateur, they push their physical limits. Yep, I bet at some point, it hurts.
But, at the race’s end, there is an emotional release. For some, it will come from improving personal bests. Others will be happy with knowing they just ran 42 km. Whatever the case, I enjoy photographing the athletes’ expressions at that moment.
How was my photography experience?
I have to give thanks to the Tokyo Marathon Foundation. They issued me a press pass, for which I will be forever grateful. That allowed me into areas, and see things that I could never without it.
The hardest part of the day was waking up! I started at 5 am. That would give me enough time to be at the meeting point without rushing. But it was cold, maybe about 3 degrees, when I left home.
That was my only hurdle because the Foundation’s staff had looked after everything perfectly. They escorted us to our photography positions. Buses took us around the city to our locations. I just sat back and took photos.
Also, I must make a special thank you to one of the staff members for saving me from disaster. At one point, I needed to change batteries. But with the camera being so hot from taking so many photos, the case had swelled. I couldn’t get the thing out.
That’s happened before. The fix is easy. Stick some tape to the battery, then pull it out. But I didn’t have any! What could I do?
I did the only thing I could do. I asked around but no one had any! I was looking at a photography disaster. No battery means no photos.
The last person I asked was a female staff member. She said she had none but asked what I needed it for. I told her, and she thought for a moment. She reached into her bag and brought out a manila folder. It had a small piece of double-sided tape attached to the flap.
She carefully tore it off and handed it to me. It worked perfectly. The disaster was averted! I thanked her profusely and went back to taking photos. That lady was a legend in my book.
Event details
- How many participants? 38000 runners
- Course: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (start)→ Suidobashi → Ueno-hirokoji → Kanda → Nihombashi →Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate → Ryogoku→ Monzen-nakacho → Ginza → Tamachi → Hibiya →Tokyo Station/Gyoko-dori Ave (finish)
Tokyo Marathon 2024 Results:
Men’s winner
Benson Kipruto – Kenya
Total time: 2:02:16
Runner-up
Timothy Kiplagat – Kenya
Total time: 2:02:55
3rd place
Vincent Kipkemoi – Kenya
Total time: 2:04:18
Women’s Winner
Sutume Asefa Kebede – Ethiopia
Total time: 2:15:55
Runner-up
Rosemary Wanjiru – Kenya
Total time: 2:16:14
3rd place
Amane Beriso Shankule – Ethiopia
Total time: 2:16:58
Wheelchair Men’s Winner
Tomoki Suzuki – Japan
Total time: 1:23:05
Runner-up
Daniel Romanchuk – United States
Total time: 1:28:33
3rd place
Masaru Watanabe – Japan
Total time: 1:31:03
Wheelchair Women’s Winner
Manuela Schär – Switzerland
Total time: 1:40:10
Runner-up
Eden Rainbow-Cooper – United Kingdom
Total time: 1:40:28
3rd place
Susannah Scaroni – United States
Total time: 1:41:35
Conclusion
Tokyo Marathon 2024 was an athletic spectacle. The event excited me from start to finish. It combined elite competition, an iconic course, with an unforgettable atmosphere. Witnessing athletes like Benson Kipruto, Eliud Kipchoge, and Sutume Asefa Kebede along with a huge cast all pushing their limits against the Tokyo skyline was a privilege.
Thanks to the Tokyo Marathon Foundation’s support, I had an enormously great day, capturing moments of triumph and perseverance. With 38,000 participants and stellar results, the event solidified its place as a global sporting phenomenon. Let’s see it again in 2025!
To see more sporting events, check out:
External related websites
- Tokyo Marathon Foundation (official website)
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2 thoughts on “Tokyo Marathon 2024: My first big athletics photoshoot”
Nice work with the photos and the write-up! You did a great job of capturing the day. Each year, I also watch it on TV. During the Tokyo Olympics, I did something similar at the Men’s Mountain Bike Race, albeit without the press credentials. Hopefully, this encourages you to cover other international sports events as the year unfolds.
Thanks for the kind words David. Yes, it was a good event to photograph and I’d like to do more of this type of thing. I have a business card now and they seem to open more doors in Japan …