After two relatively successful marathons over two months
and at this juncture, it made sense that my ego and the confidence in how to
finally run a marathon properly would encourage me to accept the offer to run
the Sunshine Coast Marathon and a third marathon in 3 months.
It didn’t matter to me that some quality runners had
reportedly signed up. It wasn’t about podiums for me; it was about chasing that
sub 2hr30min marathon and rounding out the most surreal year of running results
that I’ve had (modest for some,
unthinkable for me). If a spot on the dais came too, that would only be icing.
So when I heard on the morning of the race that a Kenyan (ANDREW
KIMANTHI) had just signed up, the only words that went through my head was the
mantra I’d adopted since Gold Coast; “DON’T GO OUT WITH THE KENYANS”.
I made my resolve.
Similar to Brisbane, my lead-up had been
none-too-spectacular, with a few hard runs, not a lot of good form, and a
lack-lustre 10mile (16km) race the Sunday prior.
True to my vow, when the gun went I shot off and ran
smoothly and strongly. I ran so well in fact, that at it wasn’t until over 2kms
into the race that ‘the kenyan’ caught me. I hadn’t just gone out with the
Kenyan, I’d left him for dead!
With my mantra in shreds, I knew it was going to
be a tough day at the office now.
As Kimanthi swept past me he motioned for me to pace him on,
showing much more confidence in my early ability as he should have! “No, I’m a
2:30 guy…too slow!” I managed to say, not sure if he’d get the message,
regardless we gave each other a ‘thumbs up’ and he pushed on.
Some 5 more kilometers down the road the third place runner
caught up as well, a very established
runner Stephen Dinneen caught up and ran
with me. “How you going mate?” he asked, probably knowing what was in store for
me. “Pretty good” I lied, “You push on mate!” I insisted, but to Stephen’s
credit he hung back, offering to pace me. After a further 10kms together he let
me know that his coach had strictly warned him to take this race easier.
EASIER?!!! It hadn’t dawned on me just how ‘hard-core’ Stephen was, but I soon
realised as we cruised headlong towards a half split that would see me sitting
on course to break the 2hours 30min! 
Of course the perfect ending to this story would involve the
two of us stoically working together for the remaining hour and a half and
crossing the line in glory.
This clearly didn’t happen, and whilst the Third Act of this
story is hardly Shakespearean in scale of its tragedy, it did play out a little
differently. First of all, Stephen ran on (reluctantly) not long after, the
pace was way too slow for him, and I couldn’t promise that I wouldn’t fall
apart and potentially DNF when the dreaded 30km ‘wall’ came. I wished him luck,
and with Kimanthi we set about encouraging each other as we passed each other
at each turn-a-round.
And, I slowed…..clearly the fatigue had finally set in, and
the idea of running a sub 2hour 30min marathon faded very quickly. Suddenly the
idea of holding onto 3rd place was the only way I could manage to
motivate myself to finish. I ran on, and on, and on, through gritted teeth and
slumped across the line to my slowest marathon time of (2hours 39minutes and
16seconds) but also 3rd place. Kimanthi and Stephen powered on to
amazing times in their own regards (2:20 and 2:28 respectively) and I was
stoked to see them and chat to them both post-race.
It was all done, and although I was sore in my clearly tired
legs, I hadn’t fared too poorly.
Until a few days later, as I type this, with almost constant
nausea, a quarantine-able outbreak of cold-sores, surging headaches and chronic
tiredness. I guess sometimes we pay a price to the running gods for the ability
to feel such amazing emotions, and my bill has been long over-due.
Needless to say, I am very firmly in recovery…..and the idea
of running another marathon is at least a
few more months away. 
Till then, keep running!...in moderation…and always with a
smile!
Clay Dawson
InTraining Sponsored Athlete and Glutton for Punishment
(GALLERY BELOW)
