Tokyo 2020 marathon will be held in the city of Sapporo, northern island of Japan, on August 7 and 8.
In 2019, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) controversially changed the marathon venue from Japan's capital, Tokyo to northern city of Sapporo due to concern over heat. The sudden change by the committee with the game just 9 months away (prior to postponement) was a painful decision for both the organizers and the general public where much preparation had already taken place.
Now with the race just days away, there are concerns over the record-braking heat in Sapporo. Just las month, Sapporo recorded hottest day in 21 years, whilst city's average temperature for July was the highest on record.
Both the men's and women's race is scheduled for 7am local time and the temperature is expected to be 25 to 26 degrees Celsius, says Ken Ishii, president and marathon coach of the Sapporo Excel Athlete Club.
Commemorative plate has been set every 5km of the Olympic marathon course Source: Ken Ishii
"Nevertheless, I don't think it will be a fast-paced, record breaking type of race"
With dehydration expected in the last loop, Ken excepts there to be upsets, favoring athletes who are more tolerant to the heat.
Mai Fujisawa is an ultrarunner that specializes in 100km run, who finished sixth overall in the women's race at the 2019 Sydney Marathon. Mai was one of the runners invited to the Olympic test run held in May.
She says that the course in general is flat, and easy to run.
"Without the heat, it will be a fast course"
The Olympic marathon course starts and finishes at Odori Park, in the heart of Sapporo, where the famous Snow Festival is held in February every year. The course contains three loops, one of about 20 kilometres and two laps of about 10 kilometers.
Mai says, the third loop will be a key, where athletes will begin their race plan to speed up and take over.
"Especially the zig zag point inside the Hokkaido University " says Ken.
"Because you cannot see the runners in front of you, it will be a crucial point to spurt and pull away"
Due to the rising number of COVID-19 infection, people have been asked to "refrain" from spectating the marathon and race-walk events. However, as it is not a ban, Ken believes that there will still be groups of people spectating, though loud cheering may not occur.
Ken and Mai will be paying particular attention to the world record holder, Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya), as well as Suguru Osako (Japan), who was the Japanese record holder until February this year, and Mao Ichiyama(Japan), who won the test event held in May.
Six runners from Australia will compete in the marathon.
Lisa Weightman, who will be 42 years old and competing in her fourth Olympics, will join marathon legends Steve Moneghetti, Lisa Ondieki, Rob de Castella and Benita Willis as the eighth Australian to compete in four Olympics in track and field. Other athletes include Brett Robinson and Liam Adams, who will be competing in their second Olympics.
The Olympic women's marathon will be held on Saturday the 7th and the men's marathon on Sunday the 8th, both starting at 8:00 a.m. Australian Eastern Time.
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