Go head over heels for running marathons
Bear with me, doubters: the marathon is a thing of beauty. There are probably 42 ways I could try to convince you of this, one for each kilometre of this majestic race, but I’ll just stick to a mere sprint through the reasons.
First has to be Eliud Kipchoge, a Kenyan superstar who didn’t just smash the world record at Berlin this month – he expertly dismantled it in a way no one thought was possible.
But to that list I’d add laughs, grind, and cartwheels.
We use the word ‘‘marathon’’ to describe something that drags on and on – a marathon meeting, for example. You never hear that and think, ‘‘Wow, cool! Wish I’d been there for that!’’
And, in running terms, believe me, there are times when that is exactly what running a marathon feels like – a meeting that you don’t really want to be at that just keeps going, with only a vague idea of where it’s headed, no end in sight, and you’re dying for a drink.
But for most of the marathons I’ve done, there have been more smiles than grimaces. Frankly, at the speed I go, if I’m not enjoying it, I shouldn’t be out there.
Funnily enough, Kipchoge always seems to look like he’s enjoying himself too. I’m sure it’s not just because of the bonuses he pockets after performances like the one at Berlin.
There is a joy that comes with feeling your body working hard, at running freely and swiftly – and Kipchoge and the other elites sure were running swiftly.
Gladys Cherono clocked the fourth fastest women’s time in history, and it was the first time three women had gone under 2h 19m in a race. And Switzerland’s Manuela Schaer smashed the women’s wheelchair world record, too.
Most marathon entrants will slow down the further they get, but Kipchoge got faster before stopping the clock at 2h 01m 39s.
His average 5km time was 14m 24s – that’s straight-out
ridiculous. In New Zealand, the fastest anyone has ever finished a Park-Run, the 5km event held in parks all over the country every Saturday morning since 2012, is 15m 08s.
A couple of weeks ago, my friend Dave and I ran the North Shore Marathon in Auckland.
At the pace Kipchoge ran, he could have done it twice and still had time to wait for us at the finish line (our time was 4h 03m 39s).
To be fair, though, our event was not on the flat, perfect surfaces of Berlin. We climbed North Head twice, and ran on the beach for several kilometres.
And I bet Kipchoge didn’t stop for the loo twice, pause to chat to a couple of people we knew, take photographs, film an Instagram story, and update mates on Facebook like we did.
Oh, and Dave did cartwheels on the beach.
To me, Dave’s cartwheels kind of epitomises what running marathons is about. Sure, I do marathons to challenge myself, sure you need to respect the distance or it will kick you in the butt – but they’re best done when you’re having fun.
Our guest on the Dirt Church Radio podcast this week has that attitude, even though it doesn’t stop him from being one of the best 100 mile mountain racers.
Jeff Browning is known as Bronco Billy, a nickname he got from saying ‘‘yeehaw’’ and ‘‘giddy-up’’ so often out on the trails because he was having so much fun.
When I grow up, I want to be like Bronco Billy. And if I could run a marathon like Eliud or Gladys, that would be good too.
For most of the marathons I’ve done, there have been more smiles than grimaces.
Eugene Bingham and Matt Rayment are hosts of a trail running podcast Dirt Church Radio. Learn more at dirtchurchradio.com or get in touch via email dirtchurchradio@gmail.com