Crossing an international marathon off my bucket list had been a dream of mine for years. The thought of traveling to a new country and exploring its neighborhoods, culture, and streets on foot fascinated me. Because of my schedule and what my body can safely handle without injury, I cap myself at one marathon a year. As I was researching options for this year’s spring race, I happened to be scrolling through Instagram when I stumbled upon the Nagoya Women’s Marathon in Japan. The moment I saw it, I knew I had to sign up.
Having traveled to Japan twice before, I already loved the country and admired its deep-rooted running culture—a scene that feels quite distinct from what we have back home in Canada. Nagoya’s race stood out even more because it is an all-women’s marathon held on March 8, International Women’s Day. I thought to myself: what better way to celebrate being women and staying healthy than taking a short trip to Japan with my mom? I booked our plane tickets and kicked off another block of training.
By late February, it was time to board our flight. I chose to arrive a week early to give my body time to adjust to the weather and time zone, which turned out to be the right call. We spent those pre-race days exploring a few cities, and I fit in my final taper runs along the way. I logged miles on the iconic Imperial Palace loop in Tokyo, ran alongside the river in Kanazawa, and did a final shakeout run through Nagoya. The weather hovered around a crisp 8–10°C. The day before the race, we visited the expo at a massive dome stadium—the very venue where the marathon would finish—to pick up my bib. Naturally, I picked up plenty of merchandise, along with a few Japanese energy gels to try out.
Race Day
Pre-race
Getting to the start line was smooth and seamless. I joined thousands of female runners on a 30-minute train ride to the stadium, where race staff directed us into the runner zone to queue up. The weather was around 6°C—brilliantly sunny, but brutal with wind. I stood freezing in line, but the sheer excitement of being there carried me through the gusts. I kept thinking how fortunate I was to have this opportunity. Before I knew it, our corral moved forward, and the race began.
During the race
My primary goal was simply to enjoy the experience and finish in one piece, saving my legs so I could keep traveling afterward. I had originally aimed for a sub-4:30 finish, but given the travel fatigue and time zone shift, I threw strict time targets out the window and decided to run by feel.
I wore my New Balance Elite v4 carbon-plated shoes, which I had tested a few times during training. They performed remarkably well—offering just the right balance of stability and comfort without feeling overly aggressive. I ended up with zero blisters or black toes.
I took the first kilometer very conservatively at 6:42 min/km due to the thick crowd. Early on, I accidentally dropped my gloves and had to double back against the flow of runners to search for them; with the freezing winds, continuing without gloves wasn’t an option! After that minor hiccup, I found a comfortable rhythm, keeping my pace around 6:00–6:15 min/km and occasionally dipping under 6:00 min/km on the downhills.
The flat, well-paved course makes it a great venue for anyone looking to set a personal best, despite a few windy sections. What impressed me most was the community support: the local spectators cheered non-stop from start to finish without a single quiet stretch. Many set up their own unofficial aid stations offering local foods and drinks. The official stations were equally impressive, featuring a full spread of snacks like red bean pancakes, candies, rice wine, and even noodles and chips around the 35km mark. It felt like running through a food festival, and I made a point to stop and sample items along the way.
Because I kept a manageable pace and was thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere, I never hit the proverbial “wall.” Around kilometers 40 to 42, my right quad began to cramp slightly, so I took a few salt tablets and pushed through to the finish line.
Entering the stadium for the final stretch was emotional. Running alongside roughly 20,000 women—including many older runners who were out there purely for the joy of movement—was deeply inspiring. For many of them, it wasn’t about a personal best; it was about moving together and celebrating the day. I crossed the line with a official chip time of 4:23:34, achieving a new personal best while having a genuinely great time. While I could have pushed for a faster time, I have no regrets about pacing myself to soak in every detail.
Post-race
A unique tradition at the Nagoya Women’s Marathon happens right after the finish line: men dressed in tuxedos present each finisher with their gifts. While previous years featured Tiffany & Co. jewelry, this year’s gift was a luxury Baccarat crystal glass, alongside a finisher shirt, towel, and umbrella that I still use daily.
After collecting my gear, I reconnected with my family and went out for a celebratory meal.
Final Thoughts
For anyone looking for a memorable international race experience, I highly recommend adding the Nagoya Women’s Marathon to your bucket list. For runners traveling with mixed-gender groups, there are also half-marathon and 10k options held on the same day open to all runners.
Writing this recap brought back every detail as if it happened yesterday. As for my next goal, I am planning to head back to Japan to run the Osaka Marathon—and I look forward to sharing that experience next!
