Tokyo 2024 “When you set a goal and achieve it, you’ve already won the race” That quote hung on the wall, next to my HS locker room. Every day I would walk past that quote thinking one day, I’m going to be able to say that! I never said it in HS but one day I would. I’ve used that metaphor all throughout my life, getting a job, a promotion, a house, whatever it's been, it’s always one goal after another. In the days leading up to Tokyo, I knew if I finished I would get this special 6 star medal, I only told a few people and that's because they asked. I was nervous and anxious about the race. I wanted to run fast to prove I was worth it, I wanted to finish to make sure I got it, I mean it’s still 26 miles, and that's hard. While it was never my goal, it became the goal for this trip. I was such a wreck before this race, my college roommate Gordon who was running as well, could tell I wasn't myself. It’s race day and I am ready. I don't think most training plans have you skiing 9 out of 10 days before the marathon but most people aren't Alex Chiu. I go out fast. I'm moving, I don't really like running, but I like running fast! I’m 5 miles in and above my pace but something just wasn’t right, I wasn’t having any fun. I had put so much pressure on myself to finish the race that I just wasn’t enjoying it, I was just thinking about getting this medal and that's not fun. 10 miles in, I see a bullet train jet pass above the course, my mindset just changes and I realize I am running the Tokyo marathon! I look around and everyone looks like me, the runners, the crowd, the volunteers, this has never happened before in my life. People in the crowd are yelling in Cantonese, my native tongue, “add oil, add oil”. I’m running as fast as I can, my body is in such sync with my mind, it’s like I am fucking flying. There comes a time in every athlete's life where your physical ability matches your mental capabilities and you are at the peak of your powers. This was the goal, to be running all over the world, at your best with your friends and family around, I didn’t just achieve my goal, I was living my dream. Cont in comment Pic1 @tungstenphotographic