Still Running (weakly). Issue 20

PAST – inspiration – We’re deep into autumn marathon season, and after world records for the women in Berlin and the men in Chicago, one wonders what drama New York can serve up. Not records in this case, as the course is minutes slower than those others. There are the rises onto the bridges and a surprisingly lumpy finish around Central Park.

I took a bite out of the Big Apple in 1989 to celebrate my friend, Rod’s, 40th birthday. That trip had its dramas, as I succumbed to food poisoning two days before the race, and Rod stood a tad too near the aerobics warmup session at the start on Staten Island, and had his hot chocolate knocked all down his front by one participant’s rather overexuberant arm-thrust.

With both got round – me with my dicky tummy and Rod with his sticky one.

PRESENT – perspiration – British women’s marathon running, in particular, is looking in rude health this year. Charlotte Purdue ran 2:22:17 in Berlin, a personal best by more than a minute, putting her second on the UK all-time list behind only Paula Radcliffe. Rose Harvey then ran 2:23:21 in Chicago, a personal best by nearly four minutes. Finally, Calli Thackery clocked 2:22:11 in her debut at the distance in a low-key marathon in New York, with her “gun time” (for record purposes) equalling Purdue’s 2:22:17.

These ladies are well out ahead of their British competition as they look to catch the selectors’ attention in advance of the Olympic Games marathon in Paris next year, but, with the “once every four years” draw of those games, who knows who else is waiting in the wings to stake their claim?

FUTURE – suggestion – The nights are drawing in, and you may find it difficult to run in the light on workdays. Don’t let it get you down. Personally, I enjoy running in the dark, whichever end of the day it happens. As long as you keep in mind all of the safety aspects, there is something quite liberating about getting around under your own steam, about moving when others may be stuck in traffic, and about keeping warm and not caring about the weather when others are struggling with umbrellas or bundled up against the elements.

And if you go especially early or late, you may also get the sense that the world is all yours! A feeling admittedly born of a certain smugness.