Josh Cox wins Rocket City Marathon

Here's what his facebook status has to say about it.

"That was fun! 72/73 @ the half, same pace through 30k (18.6) then 5 minute pace to the finish. Good workout and win: 2:21:22 Ice bath time!"

is he training for a major race?

PF Chang's RNR Arizona

Odd. They had him listed as Friday night's clinic speaker but didn't even mention him as being in the race. I wonder if he made some kind of last-minute decision.

Another facebook comment from last night:

"Warming up the first 6-10 miles or so then running a tempo on the back half of the course!"

facebook guy wrote:

Another facebook comment from last night:

"Warming up the first 6-10 miles or so then running a tempo on the back half of the course!"

Awesome. Cox is the best darn marathon as a workout guy in the world... the only problems for him seem to arise when he is in a race where he's actually supposed to be "racing." He did run well at the 04 Trials though, I'll give him that.

I always loved his alter ego "J.C." I wonder when he'll run next.

Yeah, his 2:13 wasn't a bad run either!

First of all he just dipped under 2:14. It was almost a decade ago. Trent Briney has run 2:12++ since the 2:13++ for Cox.

he jocks cox!!!!

huntsville wrote:

Yeah, his 2:13 wasn't a bad run either!

True, but those days are long gone. These days he apparently focuses on training through marathons and raving about how easy it feels to run 2:20-2:22. Maybe he should move up to the ultras... with his beauty and charm, I'm sure he could rival Dean-o as the next 'face of running.' He could even work some evangelical religious theme into the pitch. With a little ambition, he could make a killing.

2004 - Cox finishes 7th at the Trials

2005 - Dad is diagnosed with cancer

2006 - Cox leaves the sport and spends half the year at MD Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston, TX. (Dad dies)

2007 - Cox returns to the sport in time to get a qualifier and race the Trials where he gets injured.

Time will tell if Cox has another great one left.

Trent Briney is better than Josh Cox and both are 100% finished at the elite level.

2004 - Cox finishes 7th at the Trials

2004--Briney finishes 4th at the Trials

ADVANTAGE BRINEY

2005 - Cox Dad is diagnosed with cancer

2005 - Briney is taken out with serious achilles injury

PUSH FROM A PERFORMANCE POINT OF VIEW

2006 - Cox leaves the sport and spends half the year at MD Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston, TX. (Dad dies)

2006 - Briney is operated on and misses sport for a year

PUSH

2007 - Cox returns to the sport in time to get a qualifier and race the Trials where he gets injured.

2007 - Briney returns to sport to run the Trials--Although he is a shadow of himself he finishes the race.

ADVANTAGE BRINEY

2008--Cox runs a low key marathon in 2:21

2008--Briney finishes 6th in US Championships in 2:19

ADVANTAGE BRINEY

PR Cox is 2:13 plus

Briney 2:12 plus

ADVANTAGE BRINEY

AGE

ADVANTAGE BRINEY

Final Score over the last 5 years.

Briney 5

Cox 0

Push 2

In addition Briney has a lifetime PR faster than Cox in both the 5k and 10k.

I love trent, but no one has mentioned that his 2:12 was a questionably short course.

How did a healthy Josh Cox finish on that short course? Keep in mind that was Josh's best finish in his 3 Olympic Trials performance.

Josh Cox as a runner has NOT been as successful as Trent Briney and Trent Briney is known as a one hit wonder.

how did this become a battle between Cox and Briney?

They ar both great tunners, and let's all hope they can get back ot where they once were, short courses or not.

If loads of guys are turning in 2:12-2:14 marathon times it will only help the state of U.S. distance running. I dont care who is running 2:12-2:14, its better than 2:20-2:22

role models wrote:

I dont care who is running 2:12-2:14

Well it won't be Cox.

sounds like someone has it out for Cox

Nope, I don't even have it in for Cox. He is mighty talented and accomplished, but he's well past his prime and isn't going to approach his best times, for whatever reason.