It all started with a message that felt more like a dare than an invite.
“You guys should come to Tokyo.”
And just like that - within 48 hours - we were airborne, halfway across the world to run with Brick Run Club, quite possibly the coolest, most effortlessly stylish group of runners in all of Tokyo (and maybe planet Earth, if we’re being honest)
It took 18 hours to get there, but when we landed, it was as if we’d stepped into another dimension - one where vending machines sell hot coffee in cans and everyone moves with quiet precision.
But we weren’t there for the novelty. We were there to run.
Morning came. We ignored the jetlag (well, sort of) and did what we do best: laced up, layered up, and headed out to scout Tokyo on foot. There's something oddly spiritual about running through a city you barely know. Every street corner is a surprise, every traffic light a polite negotiation between chaos and calm. We ran past shrines older than most countries, through parks that seemed to breathe, and under electric skylines that buzzed with sci-fi energy.
Then we met Brick! There was a language barrier, sure. Our Japanese ranged from non-existent to embarrassingly apologetic. But then came Shota, Yosuke, and Ralph - Brick Run Club’s core, fluent in movement and mutual respect. We didn’t need to speak the same language because running was the language. A nod, a pace, a shared exhale at the top of a climb - that’s where connection lives.
We trained together, laughed through the exhaustion, compared gear like total nerds, and somehow, in between strides, became friends.
Now, a word to the wise runner considering Tokyo: go. Just go. But know this - Tokyo is a sensory overload in the best way. There's so much to see - neon alleys, riverside paths, sushi spots tucked into subway stations - that it’s easy to forget you're even exercising. But timing is crucial. Pick your routes carefully and go early, unless your ideal tempo session involves weaving through school kids, cyclists, and businesspeople in perfectly tailored suits.
Our trip was spontaneous, messy, beautiful - and completely worth it. What started as a last-minute whim became a reminder of why we do what we do. Running isn’t just movement. It’s discovery. It’s connection. It’s showing up in places you never thought you’d be and realising you belong there, even for just a few miles.
Tokyo on a Whim: Freetrain x Brick Run Club
It all started with a message that felt more like a dare than an invite.
“You guys should come to Tokyo.”
And just like that - within 48 hours - we were airborne, halfway across the world to run with Brick Run Club, quite possibly the coolest, most effortlessly stylish group of runners in all of Tokyo (and maybe planet Earth, if we’re being honest)
But we weren’t there for the novelty. We were there to run.
Morning came. We ignored the jetlag (well, sort of) and did what we do best: laced up, layered up, and headed out to scout Tokyo on foot. There's something oddly spiritual about running through a city you barely know. Every street corner is a surprise, every traffic light a polite negotiation between chaos and calm. We ran past shrines older than most countries, through parks that seemed to breathe, and under electric skylines that buzzed with sci-fi energy.
Then we met Brick! There was a language barrier, sure. Our Japanese ranged from non-existent to embarrassingly apologetic. But then came Shota, Yosuke, and Ralph - Brick Run Club’s core, fluent in movement and mutual respect. We didn’t need to speak the same language because running was the language. A nod, a pace, a shared exhale at the top of a climb - that’s where connection lives.
We trained together, laughed through the exhaustion, compared gear like total nerds, and somehow, in between strides, became friends.
Now, a word to the wise runner considering Tokyo: go. Just go. But know this - Tokyo is a sensory overload in the best way. There's so much to see - neon alleys, riverside paths, sushi spots tucked into subway stations - that it’s easy to forget you're even exercising. But timing is crucial. Pick your routes carefully and go early, unless your ideal tempo session involves weaving through school kids, cyclists, and businesspeople in perfectly tailored suits.
Our trip was spontaneous, messy, beautiful - and completely worth it. What started as a last-minute whim became a reminder of why we do what we do. Running isn’t just movement. It’s discovery. It’s connection. It’s showing up in places you never thought you’d be and realising you belong there, even for just a few miles.