Video by Lem Fugitt
This is just a quick update on the Tokyo Marathon – it was a huge success!
I’m not going into details now as I’m pretty tired 🙂 but basically:
I ran with my good friend Tom Kobayashi, without whom I never would have taken up running. He’s been amazing throughout our 16 week training program, and today also for the real thing. We lost each other at one point; I was so happy when we met up again by chance.
Our team, led by the very generous, kind mobile-tech pro Steve Nagata at the UStream controls, pulled off a live-streaming sensation. He was joined in our makeshift studio by Technology trainer Christine. We had 4 teams at various locations around the course (see below), who used the GPS signal that one of my iPhones was broadcasting to locate me. I would then be phoned when I was nearing them so I could look out for them.
I also had my own live video stream, broadcasting non-stop from *Twinkle*s brand new iPhone. Initially attached to my special hat, this fell apart after 1km so I carried it the remaining 41km! This live stream was picked up on Twitter, and by the end I was getting 1000 Twitter replies an hour referring to it, and supporting us …as the pain intensified!
Fuji TV, who’d spotted me the day before when I was recording a video diary, interviewed me before, during and after the race. They even filmed me as I phoned mum and dad having reached the goal! That’ll be broadcast tomorrow morning.
MX Tokyo (TV) will feature the story in their news tomorrow night at 8pm.
There’s an article on the broadcast in the influential IT Media News.
We had a couple of thousand people watching the combined streams by the end. It was all quite overwhelming.
In total, over 13,000 people watched our live videos.
We finished in just over five hours. The rain and cold had taken their toll!
Despite the weather, our mobile live-broadcast teams did a fantastic job of capturing the action.
Team 1:
Pietro Zuco @drzuco Website Flickr
Pepi Valderrama Twitter Webpage
Team 2:
Jonny Li Twitter Website Flickr
Oren the Red Twitter Flickr
Reporter 3
Lem Fugitt Twitter Webpage 1 Webpage 2
Team 4
Nami and Phil Twitter (Nami)
We also had assistance from Glympse and the developer of Tweettalk
…and a lot of other people in one way or another. I’m deeply indebted to you all.
Here’s a little message I recorded a few moments ago:
Joseph
You did an AMAZING job! I have been so inspired by following you through this journey! And am now enjoying weaving through your extensive network of websites and projects. I wonder if you ever make time to sleep!
You really are an inspiration to us all!
Hope you get to rest well when things settle down a little for you and I will be in touch again soon.
Love Love
Hello Sandwich
(Ebony Bizys)
Hello Hello Sandwich,
Thanks so much for your support and comment. Really appreciate it – thanks for the email too!
Joseph —
Congrats on finishing the marathon in good time… 5 hours is nothing to be ashamed of! I did the 10K this year and was very happy to see Hibiya Park at the end of my run, especially when it started snowing as we passed the Imperial Palace grounds! Would love to do the full distance next year…
Don’t think we’ve met yet, but I’m sure we know some of the same folks. Will keep tabs on your blog and podcasts and maybe see you around town sometime!
Take care —
Leslie
Dear Leslie,
Thanks for your message, and congrats on the run! I did the 10km last year and it nearly killed me – took it a lot slower this year!
Indeed, hope to see you around town!