2018 Tokyo Marathon Preview

Details

Race Start Time: 7:10pm ET

Viewing: The Olympic Channel and online through NBC Sports Gold

Amy will try to make it back to back Abbott World Marathon Major victories for the United States and BTC today at the Tokyo Marathon. At the last major marathon, we were all witnesses to Shalane’s unforgettable, body chilling victory in New York City. Now three and a half months after the New York City Marathon, Amy looks to keep the United States and BTC atop the women’s marathon elite.

Although Amy ran her first marathon in 2011, she has really flourished over the past two years. In 2016, she won the US Olympic Trials and went on to finish 9th at the Rio Olympic Games.  She followed up those performances with possibly the best performance of her career so far at the 2017 World Championships where she won the bronze medal and became the first American to medal in the marathon in 34 years.

Even with all of her recent success, Amy’s marathon PR of 2:27:03 is still from her 2011 debut in Los Angeles (she ran the same time in Chicago in 2014).  Amy enters the race this weekend with the 10th fastest PR in the field, but her recent races and training have definitely proven she is capable of running much faster.  With Tokyo being is an incredibly fast course, what Amy calls “more of a time trial course”, she hopes to re-write her personal record book.  Amy is no stranger to running fast times in Japan.  Just over a year ago, Amy set personal best in the half marathon of 68:27 at the Marugame Half Marathon.  Combine the fast course and deep competition with one of her most consistent buildups and her love of Japan, and Amy is poised for a breakout performance.

For full race details, check out Letsrun.com’s in depth race preview.

For those of you who live in the United States, the Tokyo Marathon is one of the most viewer friendly marathons in the world. It will be broadcast live Saturday (2/24) starting at 7:00 p.m. EST on the Olympic Channel and online through NBC Sports Gold.