Ekiden — inspiring a mindset

“More than in an individual race, the work of a lot of other people is involved — your teammates, your supporters, everyone else. That pushes you to go beyond what you’re capable of.” — Ai Ikemoto, Pro runner.

The tasuki passes from one runner to the next, but a team flows as a single unit. One good run inspires the next, inspires the team, inspires the community. Performance ripples outwards — a shockwave of positivity. Bravado or bluster are not welcome in Ekiden running. These women — among Japan’s best athletes — share the responsibility of performing for the good of the team, not for themselves. And yet, as individuals, the experience and sense of owning their place in the team gives them a personal platform beyond running.

Less than 1 minute

Mar 08, 2024

“Ekidens are a competition between schools, or between prefectures, and they can give the people there courage and motivation. When there’s a disaster, or some other kind of societal problem, through our running we can give them strength and send a message of hope.”

“As a team, the most important factor in how you run an Ekiden is the flow. Right from the start, being in the lead, getting into a good flow, that’s what carries you closer to the win.”

“The fastest people will probably get chosen, of course, but to be an Ekiden runner you need strength, stability, the skills to perform no matter what the situation.”

“I think there are two basic patterns. There are athletes who go for the big Ekidens and have that as their goal. At the same time, I think there are others who experience the phenomenon of exceeding their own ability in the Ekiden, and use that experience to aim higher and grow.”