For Arlan Arbois, the past 10 months have been a journey of resilience and determination as he took on local and international foot races, facing diverse challenges in each competition.
The 23-year-old reigning Southeast East Asian Games marathon silver medalist has proven that experience is indeed his best friend.
Arbois encountered scorching heat in Cambodia during the biennial meet, where he secured a commendable second-place finish behind Agus Prayogo of Indonesia.
The challenges continued as he tackled the rain-drenched 30th Amazing Thailand Pattaya Marathon in July, overcoming wet and miserable conditions to claim another remarkable second place.
Despite setbacks caused by floods in his hometown of Davao City, Arbois displayed unwavering determination, securing a second-place finish in the Manila leg of the 7-Eleven series. The Tokyo Marathon presented a new set of obstacles, with cold weather and stomach cramps testing his endurance.
Nevertheless, Arbois crossed the finish line in 216th place in the men’s division with an impressive time of 2:32:55, an improvement over his previous performance in Cambodia. Notably, he surpassed his SEA Games clocking of 2:33.27, showcasing his continuous growth and resilience in the face of challenging conditions.
Reflecting on the Tokyo Marathon, Arbois mentioned the initial crowd congestion at the start, where he found himself in the middle of the pack. Despite this, he managed to maintain a steady pace until stomach cramps momentarily slowed him down at the 12 km mark. “Sumama ang pakiramdam ko dahil sa lamig. Pero nakuha ko pa rin. Malakas pa rin ang time ko,” said Arbois, emphasizing his ability to persevere.
Before arriving in Tokyo, Arbois returned to his hometown in San Rafael, Davao City, where he encountered muddy roads due to floods and landslides. Undeterred, he trained amidst challenging conditions, preparing himself for the hurdles that lay ahead.
Upon reaching Tokyo, Arbois was pleasantly surprised by the well-paved roads, clear routes, and excellent race organization. He praised the scenic route, which started at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku and concluded at the Tokyo Station. Marshals guided the runners, and hydration stations ensured participants remained in good shape throughout the race.
The Tokyo Marathon served as a qualification race for the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the men’s category requiring a designated time of 2:05:50 and the women’s division aiming for a time of 2:26:50.
In the women’s category, Filipino athlete Christine Hallasgo finished 55th with a time of 2:50:44, showcasing her determination and endurance.
The men’s race witnessed a remarkable 1-2-3 finish by Kenyan runners, with Benson Kipruto claiming victory in 2:02:16, setting a course record and the fifth fastest time in the world. Despite hitting the entry standard time, organizers have yet to announce official qualifiers for the Paris Olympics marathon.
In the women’s division, Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia secured her first Tokyo Marathon title, breaking the record for the fastest finish time in Japan and the course record at 2:15:55. Rosemary Wanjiru of Kenya (2:16:14) and Amane Shenkule of Ethiopia (2:16:58) secured second and third place, all surpassing the Paris Olympics entry standard time.
Arbois and his fellow competitors at the Tokyo Marathon exemplify the spirit of resilience and determination, overcoming diverse challenges to achieve remarkable performances on the global stage.