Runner Stories | Karen "Kay" Mirano

Karen joined WeKenRun with a goal of achieving a comfortable 6:00 min/km pace. However, her journey would lead her to far greater accomplishments. With impressive personal bests including a 5k in 23:00, a 10k in 48:24, a half marathon in 1:51:11, and a marathon in 3:48:54, Karen felt ready to tackle her first international marathon – the Tokyo Marathon.

Tokyo Tested, Tokyo Triumphed!

This Tokyo Marathon was a special one for me. It was not only my first international race, but also my fourth marathon. I'm known for diligently following Coach Ken's training plans, whether we're aiming for a faster half marathon or a marathon.

However, this training block felt different. Coming off a disappointing result at my previous marathon just 3 months prior, it was tough to stay motivated. Maybe I fixated too much on a specific time goal and pushed myself before I was truly ready.

Learning from the Last Lap: Heading into Tokyo, I adopted a new mindset: conservative and enjoy the ride! This meant prioritizing leg conservation even as late as kilometer 41. The pressure to run a sub-4 was strong, but I found myself silencing the self-doubt by embracing the incredible Tokyo atmosphere.

This shift in focus paid off! While I wasn't chasing a personal record, I found myself stopping for photos and soaking in the experience – something I rarely do during a race. It was a reminder that running is more than just times – it's about the journey and the community.

Tokyo may not have been the time goal I envisioned, but it was a triumph of resilience and a lesson in enjoying the process.