In a city steeped in tradition but buzzing with innovation, the Tokyo : Speed : Race turned the streets surrounding Japan’s National Stadium into a proving ground for both elite athletes and everyday runners chasing personal bests.
This fusion of cutting-edge shoe tech, record-breaking speed, and democratic participation wasn’t just a race—it was a statement. And with multiple national, continental, and even world all-time marks falling, the message was heard loud and clear: Tokyo is ready for the world, and the world is faster than ever.
Fast Course, Faster Feet
Billed as a showcase of speed, the Tokyo : Speed : Race lived up to its name. The flat, closed-loop course—a fast 1K circuit beside the soon-to-be World Championships venue—was engineered for record attempts.
With pacing lights, perfect spring conditions, and ASICS‘ latest racing super shoes making their official debut, everything was in place for something special.
And the athletes delivered.
Kenya’s Caroline Nyaga scorched the women’s 5K in 14:19, vaulting her to joint-third on the world all-time road 5K list.
The only faster women in history? Fellow Kenyans Beatrice Chebet and Agnes Ngetich.
For Nyaga, it was an emotional triumph, just one week after an eighth-place finish in the 5000m at the Diamond League in Xiamen. “I was not expecting to run such a time,” she said tearfully post-race. “I am so happy. I have even cried because of this achievement.”
Italy’s Nadia Battocletti wasn’t far behind in significance—her 14:32 effort didn’t just secure second place, it also broke the European record, previously held by Norway’s Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal (14:39, 2022).
On the men’s side, Uganda’s 19-year-old Harbert Kibet dropped jaws with a commanding 13:00 victory in the 5K, ten seconds ahead of Djibouti’s Mohamed Ismail, who himself broke his national record in 13:10. Kibet’s blistering run marked him as a name to watch—especially as Uganda continues to expand its reputation beyond Joshua Cheptegei’s orbit.
Distance Drama: 10K Deliverables
The 10K races delivered their own mix of drama and dominance. Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer, the world half marathon fourth-place finisher, took the men’s title in 27:10.
But it wasn’t straightforward—Kenya’s Vincent Kibet Langat appeared to misjudge the course, continuing straight rather than taking the final bend, opening the door for Yimer to pounce and sprint to victory.
Behind them, the depth was remarkable: Americans, Australians, and Africans packed the top 10, with USA’s Abbabiya Simbassa setting a North American record of 27:32, and Australia’s Sam Clifford breaking the national record in 27:34.
On the women’s side, Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek continued the East African dominance with a 30:22 win. Behind her, a wave of national records followed: Djibouti’s Samiyah Hassan Nour (30:40), Australia’s Isobel Batt-Doyle (30:44), and France’s Mekdes Woldu (31:01) all rewrote their respective record books.
The Platform: ASICS, Innovation, and Inclusivity
The Tokyo : Speed : Race wasn’t just about elite competition. ASICS leveraged the event as a launchpad for its latest racing shoes, designed with what it calls a “human-centric” approach.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all model, the new line includes different designs tailored to distinct running styles, part of a broader trend toward individualized performance footwear seen across brands like Nike, Adidas, and Puma in recent years.
Yasuhito Hirota, ASICS CEO, said: “We believe we have given the runners the best chance to experience new levels of speed, harnessing the power of ASICS’ latest product innovations.”
But more than the gear or the glittering performances, it was the event’s inclusive design that stood out. Alongside the 120 elite athletes, over 2,700 amateur runners took part in 5K races, relays, family runs, and even a deaf race experience in partnership with The Deaflympics.
The ethos of the event—speed for all—aligned with ASICS’ founding principle of promoting a sound mind in a sound body.
Tokyo’s Test Run for the World Stage
This was more than a one-off showcase. With the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 looming in September, the event doubled as a dry run for logistics, crowd control, and course planning. The stakes? High. The symbolism? Clear. Tokyo wants to be known not just as an Olympic city, but a global running capital.
By closing streets in the heart of the city for this celebration of speed, Tokyo embraced a growing global trend: urban races as cultural showcases. As cities like Valencia, Boston, and Berlin increasingly tie identity to elite road racing, Tokyo is making its claim—backed by blistering times and bold innovation.
