The September 2025 Nintendo Direct kicked off with Shigeru Miyamoto discussing Nintendo’s celebration of Mario’s 40th anniversary. One of the more minor announcements including sponsoring the Kyoto’s 2026 marathon. My view on participating in a marathon jumped from over my dead body to I need to sign up ASAP. Follow me as chronicle my training journey as I reflect on why I love video games and Nintendo in the first place.
Hello! It’s been a while since my last check-in, and now I am less than one month away from running my very first marathon in Kyoto, Japan. The race will take place at 9 A.M. Japan time on Sunday, February 15th and will circle around the scenic and historic city.
If you care to read my previous entries, you can find them here:
For those that don’t know the main themes of this year’s race in Kyoto is “DO YOU KYOTO? Marathon” and “Everyone is a hero”. The organization’s primary objectives are the promotion of citizen sports, presenting the wonders of Kyoto to Japan and the world, and the revitalization of Kyoto. While the first doesn’t apply so much to me, but I am honored to be part of this sense of pride, as Kyoto was the former capital of Japan before it moved to Edo (aka. Tokyo). Kyoto is a beautiful city that honors hundreds of years of traditions and history, and while we speed through modern society, it is important to preserve and honor the city’s history. Honestly, those timeless shrines and traditional architecture sets Kyoto apart from most cities, and what better way to build pride than showcase it through a community driven event.
I also think the second motto, “Everyone is a hero” is such a lovely one, especially with Nintendo as the primary sponsor. Nintendo champions the hero of all kinds, from the humble plumber Mario to the noble Zelda. Nintendo encourages creativity through play, and through play, everyone can be a hero. With so much tragedy and negativity we face, it’s important that we acknowledge we all can make a difference. You don’t need a cape, as they say, nor any monstrous feats of services. Sometimes it just takes small acts of kindness or getting together as a community.
My Progress Thus Far
Since my last entry, I’ve accomplished many milestones and ran into obstacles. As a resident of New England, I’ve dealt with a few snowstorms, below freezing temperatures, and ice. I’ve taken a few tumbles and dealt with a few inflamed tendons. With each challenge, I’ve adapted as quickly as I could while respecting what my body was telling me. I’ve used multiple rolls of kinetic tape (tape that you apply on your body, and it magically supports your muscles and promotes healing) and consumed many bags on Skratch Lab Energy chews. I’ve forced myself to take days off when I felt under the weather, battling bouts of anxiety that if I didn’t train, I would not achieve my goal.
Two weeks ago, after resting from posterior tibial tendonitis, I ran 20 miles at a 10-minute per mile pace. I still can’t believe it. Not only that, but because my usual flat trail was still covered in a thick layer of ice, I had to take to the streets of surrounding towns which consisted of nothing but hills. The run took a little over three hours–I never exercised that long in one session before in my life. Now that I hit the 20-mile milestone, it was time to take care of my body and taper down. It is more important than ever to not get lazy and stay consistent until race day.
Friends, family, and co-workers asked me if I feel ready, and after I ran 20 miles, I feel like I can confidently say yes now. The marathon will certainly be one of the toughest things in my life (second to childbirth–nothing will top that). The odd thing about that run was that the 16-mile mark was the toughest. Once I pushed through the cement-feeling in my legs, you know, where they just felt like moving stumps instead of limbs, the last two mines felt…relatively easy. I joked with many people that by mile 20, everything felt “warm and numb” and that I could keep on going forever. Jokes aside, confidence is one quality I struggle with, and this push to 20 miles elevated me to a sense where I can be proud and confident in my skills. I not only feel more physically capable, but my mind and resolve seem stronger than ever. It’s an odd feeling, but I’m grateful to learn that the journey of marathon training isn’t simply one of the body, but also of the mind and spirit.
Reflecting on my journey thus far, I have a sense of pride and accomplishment. I never thought I’d ever be crazy enough to run 26.2 miles, let along across the other side of the world. The distant seemed impossible, and only for the most elite athletes, but as some say: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Motivation: A Gamer Visiting Japan
One thing that kept me motivated throughout the last four and a half months were YouTube videos and other research to plan the rest of my trip to Japan. One major motivator is Japan’s massive presence and influence on the video game industry. Of course, we have the major player, Nintendo, and I’ve secured tickets to the Nintendo Museum. But with more research, I’ve stumbled upon so much more to discover (and spend money on) as a gamer.
We have various themed cafes such as the Monster Hunter Cafe, Pokémon Cafe, and Final Fantasy Cafe. Each lovingly pays tribute to the franchise with detailed interior design and menu items.
We also have major gaming epicenters in Tokyo, primarily in Akihabara. Also known as Electric Town, there are scores of arcades, gacha machines, and retro stores. I also plan on hitting up the Nintendo Store. While I’ve already visited the one in New York, I’m eager to see the differences, and perhaps snag some items exclusive to that location.
One such discovery that I plan on visiting is Super Potato. This is the flagship store in a chain of Super Potato stores, and it specializes in retro gaming. There are several floors of old consoles, games, and memorabilia. I’m looking forward to scouring the shelves for items that either never made its way to the United States or rare items that I’d otherwise pay an arm and a leg for on eBay.
There are also timed events like pop-up shops. Unfortunately, I will miss the current Silent Hill f one; however, the Creative Museum Tokyo is currently featuring the Great Capcom Exhibition. I hope to make it there to appreciate this developer’s long history and long-standing franchises such as Mega Man, Monster Hunter, Ace Attorney, Street Fighter, and Resident Evil.
With less than four weeks left, I am filled with anticipation and gratitude. Thank you for sharing this journey with me!
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Featured Image Source: Kyoto Marathon
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