Winter marathon cold weather gear that every runner should know

—This year the cold season is particularly long. What are your methods for staying warm, Yusuke?

I'll wear a tight-fitting tank top under my Yusuke T-shirt for extra warmth. I'll also bring a thin neck warmer, arm warmers that I can lower when it gets warmer, and gloves.

There will be temperature changes from the start to the finish line in Ikeda , so cold weather gear is essential, especially for slower runners! A marathon is literally a long haul, so wear items that you can easily take off or put on as the temperature and weather change.

I think Yusuke Ikeda feels the same way, but runners who run at universities and such tend to think that they "can't run unless they wear running shorts and a running shirt that allow for easy movement," but nowadays, you can run in a headband, T-shirt, and shorts without any problems (laughs). Also, warm clothing is a necessity.

At the expo the day before the Ikeda race , I get asked a lot, "What should I wear tomorrow?" For beginners and those with slower times, I advise them, "Wear a thin, light jacket like the one I'm wearing now to keep warm. You can see the T-shirt you're wearing underneath, so your race number will be visible, and once you warm up, you can take it off and tie it around your waist while you run."

Yusuke also starts the race wearing a lightweight, windproof, sleeveless poncho, and once he's warmed up, he throws it away in the trash can at the 5km water station.

Page 3: Yusuke passionately explains! How to choose shoes for a marathon.

*ASICS is an official partner of the Tokyo Marathon 2018.