We gave Chris a week to recover from his record breaking performance in the Yorkshire Marathon on 20 October to ask him about his race.
When and why did you enter Yorkshire Marathon?
Bournemouth Marathon was a qualifying event for the English Marathon Masters held in York this year. The Marathon Masters is a bit like Age Group Triathlon where you compete against others in your same age bracket. I qualified by finishing in the top 5 of my age group at the Bournemouth Marathon in October last year.
What was your training like running up to marathon day?
My training started about 14 weeks out with mileage going from about 70 a week up to 110 and a couple of tune up races such as the Swindon Half. (He won that one)
After London how did you keep motivated?
I don’t try and maintain form between marathons, preferring a Ricky Hatton style approach of eating and drinking too much for a month or 2 after the big race…
What were conditions like on the day of the Yorkshire Marathon?
The temperature and weather were good for York although the wind got up to about 15 mph.
What did you have for breakfast on marathon day?
Oats, yoghurt and fruit is my preferred marathon day breakfast with some beetroot juice.
Describe the course?
York starts and finishes at the University. The course takes you around the city centre briefly before heading out into the countryside. It was more exposed and rural than I was expecting. More like the Wimborne 20 than the London Marathon.
Are Yorkshire hills different to Dorset hills?
The course was more undulating than hilly, nothing too steep!
Would you run Yorkshire Marathon again?
I enjoyed it but to be honest it’s a bit of a long drive!
What was your high point of the day?
Without being too graphic I had a few stomach issues so I was pleased to hang on and get my new PB! I came 8th overall and 2nd in the England V35 category.
What did you do to celebrate beating your WAC marathon club record?
I went for a swim (ok, hot tub) back at the hotel with the kids and had a few beers! I’m going to have a have a few more weeks off before I start thinking about how on earth I’m going to run sub 2:25 at the London Marathon!?
