Sometime after our engagement, we decided to take a shot at joining the Tokyo Marathon. Cathy was initially apprehensive about running a marathon back then. Yes, she was a runner. But she didn’t really aspire to run a marathon. So when we both got drawn for the Tokyo Marathon lottery, there was both excitement and fear. With months of research, training, and shopping(!), we chipped away at those fears.

“The Day We Unite” – Tokyo Marathon’s theme fit us perfectly. It was Cathy’s first marathon, our first together… the same year we were to get married 🙂 Looking back at it now after 4 years of marriage, running the marathon together was a lot like how our married life has been. How so?

• We run as a unit. I took care of all hydration and nutrition, while Cathy kept the pace. We see a camera? we pose together! When I cramped at km 40? She took care of me. We look out for each other, just like the last 4 years!
• We coordinate our outfits. lol. We wore the same running vest/long-sleeve/bonnet ensemble for the race! In the morning, she asks me what I think about what she’s wearing to work. And she makes me change my clothes when I make lousy fashion choices. I always get approval when I pack my vacation clothes yo!
• You gotta plan, and follow through with it. Yup, marriages don’t just happen apparently, and you don’t become marathon-ready without planning and hard work! This is easy to say, but I’d be worse at it without Cathy.
• Together we’re stronger – We’ve done so much together in the last 4 years. Things I didn’t really imagine. Now we’re even taking care of a little person. Before Tokyo, my best time was 5:45. Running with Cathy at Tokyo? 5:17! Of course I’m going to brag about our finish time at the end. hahaha.

I could probably write some more, but I don’t want a super long post. Happy 4th anniversary to us, Cathy! And my advice to not-yet-married-couples? Don’t live-in, just run a marathon together if you want a marriage test drive 😛

Back in 2015 I made a cliffhanger post as a lead in for my 2015 Tokyo Marathon post. Then I abandoned this blog. lol. Sorry about that. Life happened, I raced less, lots of wedding preparations happened, heck we have a toddler now, and then I eventually forgot about this. Somehow this post then evolved from a marathon retrospective, to a wedding anniversary post.