A five-time Olympian, Kenyan-American distance runner Bernard Lagat, now 44, is well-known in running circles worldwide, for his track performances at the 1,500m, 3,000m and 5,000m distances. 

An Impressive Running Career

The Sydney 2002 Olympics was his first track competition and since then, the runner has competed at every Olympics before becoming the oldest US Olympic runner in history. He has an impressive 13 medals in World Championships and Olympics, including five golds.

Photo: Runner’s Tribe

Foray Into Marathons

Since retiring from track competition in 2016, Lagat, who has never been one to quell his running ambitions, has started a new phase of his career, by making his mark in Marathon running.

He has since grown to love his long runs. Explained Lagat, “Running is a stress reliever. I love a long run at any pace, just myself with nature, alone and getting lots of thinking done with no distractions. 

And continued Lagat, “If you don’t like being alone, or need the motivation, it is to run in the company of others. It is a refreshing feeling to be out there sharing laughter and stories with your friends while running.”

Taking On The Gold Coast Marathon

Now, after making his marathon debut at the New York City Marathon last year, Lagat is eagerly anticipating running the 42.195km distance again, this time being at the Gold Coast Marathon 2019.

Said Lagat, “I chose the Gold Coast Marathon because of the date and course. A marathon in July gives me the perfect amount of time to prepare. It’s tough finding a Marathon in the middle of summer in the United States, so we are grateful that it’s winter in Australia. It’s becoming more popular due to the successes of the past runners, as well.”

Gold Coast Marathon will be taking place on 6 and 7 July and will attract 28,000 runners of all ages and abilities from over 50 countries across the event’s eight races.

Wants To Try A Flat Course

He added, “Also, I heard that the Gold Coast Marathon course is flat; after New York, I wanted to try a flat course and go for a faster time. I want to make sure that I gain experience on different types of courses.”

For many runners, the New York race is well-known for being a scenic yet hilly course; this is because runners are required to cross several “deceptively hilly” bridges along the route.

Said Lagat, “I knew that New York was a tough course and I wanted to debut with that because it was a true test if I could run a marathon. I was going into that knowing that it’s one of the toughest courses but I needed to show myself that I could run a successful marathon.”

Hitting The Wall

Lagat also admitted that his experience in New York was far from easy and there was one stage where he had questioned himself.

Said Lagat, “One of the most important things I learnt from running the New York Marathon was the experience of hotting the wall. A lot of people warned me about it and told me to watch out for it, but nothing quite teaches you like living through that experience.”

He relished the challenge, though, and he faced it head-on.

Continued Lagat, “When I hit the wall in New York, I panicked a bit, questioned myself if I could finish but then quickly told myself to calm down and focus on one mile at a time.”

He added, “Instead of letting negative thoughts enter my head, I looked to the supporting crowd and took in as much energy as I could from them. You see, on the track, you don’t really have time to hear the crowd or think too much. But in the marathon, you have lots of time to think and look around. I had never been in a situation like that before, and the only thing I could do was to rely on the fans to help me.”

He eventually finished the New York Marathon in 2h 17min 20sec.

Switched Up His Training Programme

Now, to prepare for Gold Coast, Lagat has capitalised on his experience and switched up his training so that he does not hit the wall again.

He said, “Part of my hitting the wall was that my legs were not prepared for pounding on pavement for 42.195km. I have to balance my training on soft surfaces to prevent injuries but also get my legs used to the hard blacktop during the Marathon.”

Continued Lagat, “So for Gold Coast, I have switched more of the long training runs onto pavement. During the race, I don’t want to get caught in no-man’s land again.”

Photo: RunnerSpace.com

A Marathon Vs. A Fast Track Race

Training for a Marathon is completely different to training for a track race, Lagat added, too.

He explained, “For the Marathon, you have to learn how your body can adequately handle the training of increased mileage needed. When I was running 1,500m or 5,000m, I trained fewer miles but at a faster pace and with greater intensity.”

Also continued Lagat, “But for the Marathon, I have to make sure I am well-rested and hydrated before my long runs. I also have to organise for someone to come along and hand me my hydration. Sometimes this means altering my training to a time when someone is available to help me. For the track, I did not have to worry about any of that.”

Aims To Run A Personal Best

Naturally, Lagat is also hoping to improve on his timing from New York.

He said “When training for this Marathon, I am constantly thinking about lowering my personal best. Recently my younger brother, Nathan, ran a family record of 2h 12min 05sec in China and I want to challenge my brother’s timing by running 2h 12min or better.”