Tokyo and tech through the eyes of a split pea

Tokyo Running Routes

My one year anniversary of joining corporate Japan is quickly approaching, and after spending some time last week during vacation reflecting on the past year, I have concluded that one important activity has been missing: continuous exercise. Residents of Tokyo can probably sympathize with the difficulty of enjoying “natural”, “outdoor” exercises such as jogging and cycling. The safest route is inside a gym, but treadmills can only be so gratifying (not to mention the costs!) So far the Akasaka imperial grounds have been sufficient; an upgrade would be the Imperial Castle grounds. I would be curious to know however what routes marathoners take for their training. Where are the safe, scenic routes of at least 1/2 marathon length without having to spend 1/2 a day going to and fro?

As an aside, I managed to find results from a 4 mile race I participated in a little over 4 years ago. It’s the first (…and only…) official record of any run I’ve been in. I wonder if I can even match my time…