Costley returns to old stomping ground

Three-time Christchurch marathon winner Phil Costley admits he’s a sucker for punishment.

The 45-year-old has won numerous mountain running, cross country and marathon titles during a successful career.

Many of Costley’s former rivals have called it a day competitively, but he shows no signs of slowing down.

‘‘Everyone I ran with is long gone. None of them are running now,’’ Costley said.

‘‘I look at the guys I’m running with now and it’s not even the generation after me. It’s the generation after the generation after me.’’

Former Christchurch resident Costley, who is a maths teacher at Nelson College, will again be at the start line on Sunday for the 42.2km event — 16 years after winning his first marathon in the city in 1999.

Costley’s other Christchurch marathon victories have been in 2004 and 2013.

He was unable to defend his title last year after completing the Rotorua marathon only a few weeks before.

Costley competed in Rotorua this year on April 30, finishing second in 2.29.30.

With the race back in the central city again for the first time since the 2011 earthquake, he said it was a strong lure to return.

Sunday’s marathon will start and end at Cathedral Square.

‘‘It’s one of the events, I like to support. I got a lot out of running around the streets of Christchurch and it’s a great event to put something back into.’’

Costley has ticked off 28 marathons, tasting victory in 14.

He has twice featured in the London marathon, among 400,000 other runners.

Another highlight was competing in the marathon at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur [17th place finish] and the 2002 version in Manchester [18th].

The 1999 Christchurch marathon was one of the first Costley had run. The twisting riverside course was similar to the one used for the 1974 Commonwealth Games, finshing at the Town Hall.

With about 10km to go, Costley began to ‘‘run out of juice’’, but managed to hold off fast-finishing Ashburton veteran Allan Sinclair, winning by 33secs in 2.22.09.

‘‘It was a great event. It was one of those cold mornings you get down there.’’

His victory in 2004 was much more comfortable. After just 400m, he was out in front and was never troubled, winning by an emphatic eight minute margin in 2.19.58.

His last title in 2013 was all but gifted to him when pre-race favourite, Sam Wreford of Timaru, pulled out after about 28km, due to a stomach bug.

At 43 years of age, he became the oldest men’s winner of the Christchurch marathon.

Costley won in 2.35.00 – just the second time he has been over the 2hour, 30 minute mark for a marathon.

In 2001, he also won the Christchurch half marathon in a then national record of 1.02.41. On Sunday, he has a simple strategy.

‘‘I always say, get yourself to the 30km mark in the best shape you can, then the race starts. It’s a race of attrition and whoever can run the last 12km the best generally comes out the best.’’

Costley’s build-up has consisted of running the 10km distance from home to work and back again, each day.

‘‘You can clock up 140km a week, but it’s not really quality. You’re not building any endurance, strength or speed. You’re just keeping your muscles going.’’

With last year’s Christchurch winner Wreford not featuring due to injury issues, the title is wide open. Australian-based Japanese runner Hiro Tanimoto is tipped as a leading contender.

The Kiwi charge is likely to come from Aucklanders, Josh Maisey and Tony Payne, Costley and Tauranga’s Ben Ruthe.

Former Commonwealth Games cyclist Gavin Stevens, is going for the 59-year-old age-group world record of 2.34.23 in the men’s marathon.

By Friday afternoon, 4800 entries had been received with more than 5000 expected to compete in the event overall.

The marathon and half marathon winners will each take away $3000. Their races start at 8.30am.