2024 Osaka MarathonThe reason I’m here for this Osaka Marathon is entirely thanks to my dear wife, who finally won a spot to run in this popular race. Osaka Marathon is incredibly sought after, even in Japan; even locals have to enter a lottery to participate. I’ve applied three times, and somehow, each time I’ve been lucky enough to get in – a 100% success rate! My wife, on the other hand, had applied twice before but hadn’t been selected. But this time, she finally got in! So, she had to run, and here we are.Before coming here, we checked the weather forecast, which said Osaka would stay cold but sunny during the day, except for the marathon day itself, with an 85% chance of rain. And, it would be the coldest day, with temperatures around 4 to 8°C. We were definitely on edge, hoping for the best.The day before the race, I was silently praying to the heavens for a miracle: “Please don’t rain.” But, predictably, nature ignored my plea, following the weather report to a T – that’s Japan for you 🇯🇵.Time to gear up! I usually don’t wear long pants to run, but this time I did. I layered a compression shirt, a T-shirt, and a windbreaker, and I carried two heat packs. Thankfully, our goddess from the North Five Group, ‘Junru,’ lent us her special warm clothes to keep us protected up to the starting line.Since I’ve already run the Osaka Marathon twice, I planned to stick with my dear wife for the whole race, aiming to cross the finish line together. I should have started in the B block but went with her to the D block.The starting gun fired…We started off excitedly, moving forward in the cold, rainy weather. It was tough to warm up under these conditions, especially since I was slowing down to capture photos and look after my wife. My hands were freezing, as they were the only part not covered, and the heat packs barely made a difference.Even though the weather was rough, the support along the course was endless. The Japanese are truly passionate; some held flags, others cheered with signs, some offered snacks, and bands were playing along the way. I even spotted people waving Taiwan flags! Shouts of encouragement in Japanese – “ganbatte, ganbatte!” – echoed through the streets, making me feel the strong Japan-Taiwan friendship.No matter how brutal the weather, we were determined to keep going to the end.The Osaka Marathon course is entirely in the city, making it relatively easy, with only two bridges. However, the weather was harsh, with constant rain, temperatures around 6 to 7°C, and gusts of wind. It felt like a brutal cold front had hit. During previous runs, I knew it would be cold, but there hadn’t been rain. This time, the rain made it especially unbearable.The spirit of running a marathon is all about perseverance, so we pushed through each 5K, 10K, 15K, and the halfway mark. The aid stations had basic supplies until we reached the 30K mark, where things got interesting with fried chicken, sushi, cake, and snacks – everything but beer! (Maybe I should set up a private beer stand next time!)Many people on the course were in cosplay, and even Japanese actress Haruka Maeda was running – it was inspiring!Finally, we passed 35K. I was managing, but suddenly, likely due to the cold, I experienced my first-ever neck cramp while running. The pain was sharp, and each step’s impact amplified it. I slowed down, massaging my neck constantly, and even my knees began to ache. For the next 500 meters, I alternated between walking and running, massaging my neck, then pushed forward with a pace I could bear.At 40K, then 41K, as we neared the finish line, the cheering became louder and more intense. The adrenaline kicked in, and despite the pain, I sprinted toward the finish!Crossing the finish line:You want to cry tears of joy!You want to shout with excitement!You want to raise your fists high!You want to kiss the ground!You want to thank every supporter along the way!You feel like you’re the hero of the finish line!You feel confidence firmly in your grasp!You feel like you’re making your own history!You feel a deep sense of humility!And you feel grateful to yourself!I believe only those who have run a marathon can truly understand and appreciate this feeling.Thank you to everyone who has been with me on this marathon journey, thank you to marathons, and thank you to my mitochondria! Every finish makes me stronger.