Tokyo Marathon 2011

Not sure who to lend your support to? Not to worry, Time Out Tokyo has our eye on the following loose and limber people.

Felix Limo
This 30-year-old Kenyan runner has four marathon wins to his name, most recently the London Marathon in 2006, where he recorded a time of two hours, six seconds, 39 milliseconds. Shave a mere three seconds off that, Felix, and you could have yourself a world record. We'll be rooting for you in Tokyo.

Masakazu Fujiwara
Fujiwara is the only Japanese man to have won the Tokyo Marathon, having achieved a time of two hours, 12 seconds, 19 milliseconds in last year's event. Born in Hyogo Prefecture, he's not exactly on home soil here in Tokyo, but he'll certainly have national support behind him.

Arata Fujiwara
No relation to the 2010 winner, Arata Fujiwara is the other big hope for Japanese fans of the Tokyo Marathon, having finished mere milliseconds behind Masakazu Fujiwara in 2010 (two hours, 12 seconds, 34 milliseconds). The 29-year-old winner of the Ottawa Marathon 2010 will want to add a home win to his medal cabinet. Could this be his year?

Tatiana Aryasova
31-year-old Russian athlete, Tatiana Aryasova, will be looking to increase on her personal best — first place in the 2010 Dublin Marathon (two hours, 26 minutes, nine milliseconds). She's not the fastest woman on the track, but she's one of only two who have previously won, and we think that winning nous may be the key.

Tatiana Petrova
The fastest foreign woman over 42 kilometres in this year's Tokyo Marathon, the 27-year-old Russian took fourth place in the 2009 Dubai Marathon with a time of two hours, 25 seconds, 53 milliseconds. At a relatively young age, we reckon she still has the form to top that. One to watch out for.

Kiyoko Shimahara
Shimahara, a 34-year-old native of Yamaguchi Prefecture, has two marathon wins to her name; Honolulu (2008), and Sapporo (2009). Her times are good (personal best: two hours, 25 seconds, 10 milliseconds) and the level of local support could be enough to carry her over the finish line early.

Noriko Higuchi
25-year-old Noriko Higuchi has yet to compete in a full marathon, though her half-marathon times are promising. We doubt she'll win, but as one of only a handful of young debutants to have been invited personally by the Tokyo Marathon organisers, we suspect she's worth noting for the future.

Kenji Kimihara
One runner whose future is unlikely to include marathon wins is 69-year-old Kenji Kimihara, though we doubt he's got room for many more accolades. A true athletic legend, Kimihara competed in the Tokyo Olympics (1964), the Mexico Olympics (1968) and the Munich Olympics (1972). Between the years 1963 and 1973, he notched up seven marathon wins.

Masazumi Soejima
Similarly worthy of praise is this 40-year-old wheelchair athlete, with an extraordinary four marathon titles to his name since 2007, and a second place position in the 2010 New York marathon. If there's a man who deserves a win on home turf, it's this fellow. But is age against him? We have a feeling he may be at the peak of his powers.

Time Out Tokyo Marathon guide

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