Patrick Makau Explains His Off Day at 2013 Virgin London Marathon
by: LetsRun.com
April 21, 2013
One of the more surprising developments in Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon was that world record holder Patrick Makau could not even stay with the leaders through 10km.
Makau was just five seconds off the lead after 5k but by 10k he was 42 seconds behind.
In hindset not going with the leaders might have been the right thing to do, as at 5k (14:23) they were on 2:01:22 pace, and at 10k (28:56) they were still on 2:02:05 pace.
Makau would go through half-way in 1:04:25 and finish in 11th in 2:14:10.
Not going with the leaders was not a strategic plan for Makau. He just did not feel well during the race. After the race Makau said via his agency (International Athletic Consultancy), “Months of great preparations and hard work (are) gone. That’s (the) marathon. I didn’t feel well this morning, felt ill and the race went without me. It was hard to chase afterwards when I started to feel better. No injury, no excuse, just one bad day for me. Thank you to all and thank you to London Marathon.”
The marathon humbled the entire men’s field on Sunday.
More London: LRC 2013 London Marathon Men’s Race: Marathon Gods 1, Distance Runners 0
*LRC Priscah Jeptoo Finishes First In Women’s London Marathon Marred By Wheelchair Collision
Back to Training for Makau (photo by Michael Steele, Getty Images, part of IAAF Day in the Life Series)