South African marathoners, Gert Thys, Hendrick Ramaala, and Ian Syster, have the credentials and experience to deliver at least one medal from the world’s oldest marathon course, which will be used on 22nd and 29 August for the 2004 Athens Olympics.
History has it that the messenger Pheidippides was given the task of running from the battle plains of Marathon to the city of Athens to announce victory over the Persians. Pheidippides, then fell to the ground and died of exhaustion, and hence began the fascination with the marathon and the gruelling nature of the Athens course.
Over the years, researchers have attempted to retrace his route. In 1896 the marathon was the feature event of the first modern Olympics held in Athens, which to the joy of the hosts was won by Greek Spyros Louis. This 40km marathon became the signature event of the Olympics, with the increase to the now standard 42km coming in the 1908 London Olympics.
The classic marathon route was re-established 22 years ago to become an annual event each November, with a two kilometre loop around the Tomb of the Athenians making up the distance shortfall. The 2:11 course record by Britain’s Bill Adcock was achieved with a freak strong easterly wind pushing runners up and over the climbs. More typically the finish is conquered in over 2 hours 15 minutes reflecting the 230m climb and gruelling weather conditions.
Despite the world’s best line-up, improving the record is still a tall order, although there are factors that will assist the 115 men and 93 women currently in the starting list.
Previously a twisting, narrow, rough-tarred route with the typical ribs, waves and potholes that come from heavily trafficked roads in sweltering heat, the 2004 Olympic version is a smooth flowing dual carriageway that has lost both the sharp twists and turns and the dramatic vertical climbs of the old route.
The completion of the route is seen as one of the major achievements by the organisers. The vast task was dogged by contractual problems and the race to finish was so tight that the tarmac surface was still being rolled out during the final IAAF course measurement two weeks ago.
The wider, smoother surface increases the potential of faster times, but the course, the weather conditions, and the nature of a championship are such that a tactical race is on the cards, and this could work in the South Africans’ favour.
The men’s entry list shows over 30 athletes with both a personal best (PB) and qualifying best (QB) of under two hours 10 minutes.
Leading the list is Kenyan Paul Korir with 2:04:56, followed by French ‘imports’ Benoit Zwierzchiewski and Driss El-Himar both with QB’s of 2:06, then 11 athletes including Gert Thys in the 2:07 bracket and another 11, including both Syster and Ramaala in the 2:08’s. Kenya, Ethiopia, Spain, Japan and South Africa have a major advantage in that all their athletes have QB’s and PB’s under 2:10, opening the door to the use of team tactics.
Although the marathon is perceived as an individual event, the reduction of the world record has come through pacemakers. Team strategies similar to those used in cycling have been a feature of recent major championships. In particular, the Spanish have exploited this to great effect on the road. For South Africa, this is the key to a marathon medal.
The race will be run with the peak and ebb of tactical efforts which destroys the consistency of effort and rhythm that takes athletes to their a pre-determined optimum time for the course. Individual exploits, surges and attempts to claim pole position will see medal potentials burn in the Mediterranean heat.
The course begins with a deceptive gradual downhill that will see the pack racing outside their finish potential and it is here that the South African race must be moulded. A more conservative approach in the company and confidence of a team pack, will take them through to the crest of the hill at 31,3km from where they will be required to plummet the remaining 10km in less than 28 minutes. This means getting close to or under the current South Africa record time, and even with the assistance of the mineshaft drop to the Panathinaiko Stadium, this will only be possible if they have conserved enough energy at the top of the climb. – Sapa