Move Your Mind With ASICS: Two Filipino runners finish strong at the Tokyo Marathon 2024

TOKYO, Japan — Since becoming part of the World Major Marathon series in 2013, the Tokyo Marathon has received over 300,000 applicants every year—with only about 10% chosen and drawn as official participants.

This makes it one of the most coveted international and major marathons in the world.

Last March 3, over 38,000 participants ran the Tokyo Marathon, and of this number, two Filipinos were given the opportunity by ASICS, an official partner of the race.

National athlete and SEA Games medalist Arlan Arbois Jr., and fitness enthusiast, social media influencer and mom Marline Capones were brought by ASICS Philippines to Tokyo—providing them full support throughout their whole journey.

Arbois expressed joy and gratitude for the chance to compete in an international marathon, one that is among the best and most challenging in the world.

He did not disappoint and finished no. 216 overall among male runners, with an official time of 02:32:55. He was also the first Filipino male runner to cross the finish line.

Capones, on the other hand, hit her best PR (personal record) yet with a time of 04:13:57. She joins the roster of Filipina runners to finish strong at the Tokyo Marathon.

“I was the lucky one who got picked from a selection of personalities and I’m grateful to be selected to represent ASICS Philippines,” Capones for her part shared to Philstar.com in an interview.

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Nonetheless, both faced their own sets of challenges albeit the impressive performances.

First off was Tokyo’s cold climate as it was still the tail end of winter. Two days prior to the race, both runners were struggling with below 10°C temperatures during shake-out runs that ASICS organized.

On race day itself, as if to test them further, temperature at starting line was just 1°C. For runners who have only ran on tropical climate, this was something they had to adapt to.

“Wala naman ganitong weather sa Pilipinas,” Capones said. “So I had to get all the race tips I can. Thanks to Jeff Lo and all the others who ran the marathon before. I really had to think about what to wear, before, during and after the race.” 

It was also the