Our running champion, David Kenyon tell us about the road to New York!
When he isn’t designing software defined radios, MAC Ltd’s Director David Kenyon can often be found running around the Science Park training for his next event; usually a marathon or further. After great success last year at the Berlin marathon David has qualified to take part in the Abbott Age Group World Championships that are to be held as part of the New York City Marathon in November 2025.
The Road to Qualification
Commenting on his invitation to take part David said, “when
I ran my first marathon in 2006, the thought of finishing in under 3 hours
seemed like an impossible dream, the idea that I would find myself competing
with the best age group runners in the world didn’t even cross my mind. But
having been given this opportunity, I couldn’t pass it up. So, New York here I
come.”
Preparation
Anyone who has ever run a marathon will know that the race
at the end is the easy bit, the months of preparation are where the real
hardship lies. Compared to the previous 37 marathons and ultra-marathons that
David has completed the fact that at New York he will be competing against
others, rather than just against the clock adds a new dimension. So, whilst he
is well aware that finishing in the top positions is unlikely, he nevertheless
wants to do the best he can, meaning that his training will have to step up a
notch or two.
Looking Ahead to New York
Preparation for the race has already started and this weekend saw his first warm-up event of the year, the Brighton half-marathon. In almost perfect conditions for running and a mostly flat course, David was happy to finish in exactly one hour and twenty-eight minutes. This time placed him 390th out of nearly 9000 finishers and 3rd in his age category. After a short break his training will resume with a focus on distance and hills as he prepares for the 7-Valleys Ultra, a 66-mile trek across the Lake District. We wish David all the best of luck in his training and race preparation!
