290: Craig Mottram Part 1 | Great Ocean Road, Runaway Sydney Half & races aplenty  

This week’s episode of the Inside Running podcast is proudly sponsored by Gold Coast Marathon.

Run your next PB at the Gold Coast Marathon in 2023.  Fast, flat & scenic. There is an event distance for everyone – from the full marathon to the kids 2 & 4km junior dash.   

Enter now at goldcoastmarathon.com.au

Brad checks into the hospital after last week’s heart episode.

Stewy McSweyn 3rd at Great Manchester Run 10k in 28:35 with Jack Rayner 4th in 28:41. Winner was Eyob Faniel in 28:27, ahead of Marc Scott in 28:31. Hellen Obiri won the women’s race 31:14 backing up from her win at the Boston Marathon, ahead of Olympic Champion Peres Chepchirchir and Calli Thackery.

The Seiko Grand Prix in Yokohama, Japan saw Rose Davies run 8:44.07 in the 3000m for  2nd, with Isobel Batt-Doyle clocking 8:53.81 for 4th. Matt Clarke came close to his personal best in the Steeplechase running 8:26.47 for fourth, while Jack Bruce and Jude Thomas both ran in the 3000m

Great Ocean Road Running Festival kicked off with the 14km Paradise Run won by Andre Waring and Sarah Klein in dominant performances, then Andre defended his double victories from last year winning the 23km Half Marathon as well, ahead of Cameron Smith and Simon Hogan, while Amy Fawcett took the podium in front of Elise Beacom and Ciara Sullivan.

Dion Finocchiarro and Alice Hall were the winners of the 60km Ultramarathon.

Marnie Ponton won the Runaway Sydney Half in a dominant 74:30, clear of Niamh Allen & Tara Prowse in second and third. Ed Goddard won the men’s race in 65:21, ahead of Ben St Lawrence & James Nipperess

City To Casino over 12km in Hobart, Tasmania won by James Hansen & Melanie Daniels.

Brothers Jacob & Riley Cocks take the South Australia 10k Road Champs, both crossing the line in 30:19, with Thomas Dowd third in 31:08.  Brook Hines won the championship title in 35:34 just ahead of Zoe Toland, with Tiana Cetta third.

Night of 10000m PBs on the Parliament Hill Track in North London saw a staggering breadth and depth of performances, including winners Paul Chelimo in 27:12.73 and Mizan Alem Adane in 29:59.03.

Rhonex Kipruto provisionally suspended for abnormalities within his athlete biological passport.

This week’s Listener Questions are sponsored by Gold Coast Marathon, asks how deep into a marathon campaign can you fit in a half marathon and the type of drinks on course. Then Moose is on the Loose over people finding the marathon “too easy”.

Craig Mottram joins Brady and Brad to look back on his well decorated and well storied career, going through the stories behind his official personal bests and his approach to pure racing, touching on how to get the general public engaged with athletics and how his London Marathon signified the end of his professional running career.

He touches on growing up within such a sporting family, how he picked running over triathlon and how early development plays a role before telling the story of his dramatic selection into the Sydney Olympics.

Craig discusses the impact of the coaches he’s had at various stages and some of the significant races such as Short Course Cross Country Championships at Belgium and the bronze medal run at World Championships at Helsinki in the 5000m against Eliud Kipchoge.

Craig recounts the build-up to the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, the roar of the crowd as he raced Augustine Choge and Ben Limo for the 5000m and how he remembers the race. He then talks about the lean years, battling achilles injuries towards the Beijing Olympics and the comeback at 2011 Zatopek, as well as the story of going back to Falls Creek to train and ultimately qualify for his fourth Olympics at London. 

Craig goes into his approach to his mental game, developing and carrying confidence, what he would have changed looking back, longevity in the sport. He muses on how we would fare as an athlete in this current day and how he views the social media landscape, as well as the current state of athletics.

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Opening and Closing Music is Undercover of my Skin by Benny Walker. www.bennywalkermusic.com

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