RE: 'The Road to Beijing': 3 hour marathoner wants to make British Olympic Marathon team in 2008

I was questioning whether a true insightful film would feature 1 guy and his ego, or a few guys doing the 10 year stint with a geniune chance, and was definately favouring the latter.

the producers could take any non running guy in his 20s, and get him to stick the miles in and see vast improvements, still doesnt mean he will get near th elevel required (as you have pointed out).

Have you thought about the marathon yourself James? I'd give you much better odds than Alex!

To all those who doubt a breakthrough. Ever heard of Ian Thomson, Commonwealth and European marathon champion?? Look him up and see the breakthrough he made!!!

I don't think the guy will do it, but hell who knows cos no one knew Thomson before he did it.

I'm not thinking it's about insight. It's entertainment. X-factor is more popular than Open University TV.

er, yes, and thats the point - Thompson was a 14 min 5k runner before turning to Marathons. So obviously had ability and years of background. Its not like he was joe jogger doing 17 mins.

Yes, but it also much much harder to improve once you get to 2:30. I would be very surprised if he could get to 2:15 regardless of how much time he has to get there.

Very interesting and good luck to him but I question the likelihood of somebody who can barely run 5K at Marathon target pace being able to run a 2:15 marathon.

If he was a 32min 10K runner or a low 15min 5k runner then I would be interested in following his progress. I do aggree that with his current 5k ability, he needs to spend a year or two improving his 1500m to 5k range before skipping that and expecting to magically find the speed required by doing 15-20mile runs.

The only way he's gonna break 2:15 if he gets some coaching off Wiju.

He obviously believes in himself for a reason. Just because someone has been running for 20 does not make them the best at what they do(especially if we have never heard of them), but it may suggest they have nothing else to do. If the will and determination is there i dont see why not. Alex Vero appears fortunate enough to have the right background and resouces available to him, giving him the perfect platform and opportunity to prove himself so good luck to him. There is a fine line between training at the optimum level and being injured, so luck will play a part in whether he will achieve his goal in such a short space of time.

From looking at his 5km times this guy has no chance of getting down to a 2:15 Marathon. Looking at his training and his half marathon time however I would not count out that he runs a 2:30 in Paris. I like his attitude towards his goals and many more talented ‘Athletes’ could learn a thing or two from this. If he fails which he most probably will, I take my hat off to him for trying.

"It is not the critic that counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt

So we have a few opinions.. What is the overal feeling about whether this guy will hit his goal of 2:15? Lets ignore the fact that 2:15 may not get you on the plane to Beijing but which category do you reckon he fits into:

on overall time:

1)2:40 +

2)2:30 to 2:40

3)2:25 to 2:30

4)2:20 to 2:25

5)2:15 to 2:20

6)2:15 -

My guess is number 2 for 2008 but if he sticks at it he could get down in the 2:20 range...

I think he is underestimating the time frame and overestimating his talent level. I say he has a top range of around 2:20 to 2:25

But regardless I still admire the guy for giving it a go and will be the first to swallow my words if he beats my expectations

maybe he should get some training advice from Tracy Morris, she mad a similiarly huge improvement!

although hes got about as much chance as that guy in AW the other week purporting to be going for sub 4 mile at 40 despite not running much.

time and attitude are only two of the many needed attributes to running quickly...otherwise anyone could do it

i think he would be lucky to break 2 40

I think the whole Tracy Morris thing was over the top. She ran for Wales as a school girl so its not really as if she went from Jogger to Olympian over night!

Also a bloke running 2.15 to qualify and a girl running 2.33 to qualify is not on the same level. When you think that if you run 2.33 to qualify for the womens marathon you are 17 minutes outside the womens world record and if you run 2.15 to qualify its only 10 minutes. The standard for women is much softer. A bloke has to be inside 2 miles to the finish of the mens world record and a women almost 3 miles.

Em... I would say group (1) 2:44 at the outside. There is no way that you can increase your mileage to what he has done so quickly and still expect to perform… it might explain his poor performances in the recent 5km and 20miler. He has set himself a way too ambitious target and is heading for a big fall in Paris. Ouch!

I'm not surprised how much debate this has generated but lets be serious here. This Adidas inspired 'nothing is impossible' tag line is delusional. Some things are impossible no matter how hard you try. I've been to the alex's website and it surprises me to see how many people have told him it's a realistic goal. One guy advised 'train hard, don't drink, don't smoke and eat pasta, and you will do it". I think all the well wishers in the world cannot make you avoid the facts forever.

Firstly the timescale is way off. Progresison like that will not happen in such a short time. Secondly although he is not useless as a runner, I have serious doubts that he has the ability to ever break anywhere near 2.15.

Its looking likely that from the intermediate targets that he has included that it's not going to happen. I'd like to see a clearer breakdown of the training he has done. Here is what was mentioned on the site;

TRAINING OUTLINE FOR PARIS MARATHON

With the help of my coaches I have identified a number of areas to improve on. Firstly is to continue with the speed work on a Tuesday evening after taking Monday as a rest day. These session include 10 x 800, 16 x 400 and mile repetitions. I was running a track session on a Thursday but after two hard training sessions on a Wednesday I was not performing how I would have wanted. On a Wednesday I have incorporated two medium long runs/slower tempo runs of 15 and 12/13 mile. The first one is at a pace that is fast but which can be sustained on my own over the distance without being to exhausted (at present around 6:30 per mile) the second session of the day is a 12/13 mile run with the Serpentine Running Club over a route that takes in most of central London's landmarks, I run this at a slightly faster pace of 6:18 per mile) Although this is a very tough session it gets me good at running with tired legs and boosting my endurance. Thursday is either a second track session but I have to listen to my body or a lighter recovery run of around 6 miles. Friday if I do have a half marathon on the Sunday is a long run of up to 30 at a 7min mile pace. As the distance comes down closer to the Marathon I want to be able to sustain comfortably a 22.5 mile run at 6:10 per mile. On the last Friday of ever month I try to run in the Serpentine 5km and use this as an extra speed session in place of the Thursday session but I have in the past run both on consecutive days. Saturdays are either another recovery day (am 6 miles recovery) if I have a half marathon or 20 mile race or if a shorter 10km distance I will train with Karen Hancock's hill session group in Greenwich Park. Of all the sessions this is both my favourite and least favourite. It hurts like Hell during it but afterward you feel amazing and it really does build strength. Sunday session are races but used as fast paced tempo runs - doing the times that I want on my own is just too exhausting but running alongside others in a race environment can produce great results. If I do not have a race scheduled or am doing a 10km I will change the long run on Friday to a 15 miler and then run 22.5 miles after the race. My rest day includes a massage and a swim/sauna and no running. 4 times a week I will try to visit the gym to build on my core strength and sometimes cycle on the bike for a relaxed 20mins. I try to cut out all the unnecessary runs during the week like a 5 miles steady as I believe that it has very little benefit and only adds to the fatigue. Quantity fused with quality.

Well, if he is doing this level of training each then fair play to him. It's fairly intense and would lead to breakdown in plenty of the guys I know (myself included).

I'm sure many of us who have never had the chance to go at our training 'full-time' are curious to see what we are capable of if we put everything into it. Perhaps thats why the idea has been met by such revulsion from some of the posters on here. They seem to feel he is getting a chance he doesn't deserve or somthing. Lets be honest though. Anyone can say their goals is the Olympics and ask for help. That a long way from being given cash to pursue a flight of fancy.

I think the fact that elite running requires such hard work and commitment is blinding him to the fact that sub 2.15 and Olympic selection requires somthing additional (considerable natural ability). But good luck mate and enjoy the ride.

I think you've hit the nail on the head -

I've been to the alex's website and it surprises me to see how many people have told him it's a realistic goal. One guy advised 'train hard, don't drink, don't smoke and eat pasta, and you will do it". I think all the well wishers in the world cannot make you avoid the facts forever.

Theres enough guys in the UK who are in the 2.18 to 2.25 range who know damn well it takes a lot more than a few sycophants telling them "go on mate, you'll do it" to make it to that level.

training seems a bit haphazard - 28 miles one day then 6 the next? Plus all this in 6 days a week?

well said phil

good luck to him, but the bottom line is a sizeable amount of talent is required to run times of that standard

I wanted to take this opportunity to respond to a number of comments made by athletes and fellow runners with regards to the “Road to Beijing” project. A number of you seem deeply offended that an “average Joe” could have aspiration to be an Olympic standard Marathon runner, how this is offensive is way beyond me.

My aim has always been to make a documentary about Marathon running and to show how hard it is to get to the top of the profession but with a little bit of talent you can go a very long way. To achieve this end I need to run a 2:30 marathon to gain the necessary investment to make the documentary and for people to take me seriously. In a sport where first timers and world record holders line up together I want to explore the dedication, desire and talent needed to get to the top, the massive decline in top marathon runners in the country, the emergence of the African nations and how far the average guy can get with a bit of talent intertwined in the narrative and to give some perspective of the gap between average runner and elite.

The area that this sport is so lacking is the way in which it is marketed. I can see how upset some of you who have been training for years and receive no recognition for your achievements feel cheated by what I am doing. Through the documentary I hope to highlight the dedication of year on year training that past and present athletes have put into reaching their aims and the sacrifices needed.

A number of people have commented that what I am trying to accomplish is bad for running and especially for my Running Club (Serpentine RC). I find this absurd, how small minded can you be. If it inspires just one more person to lace up their shoes and get out the door then I have achieved what I set out to do. If it gives a wake up call to those runners with far more talent then me to strive for higher target then great but to say that the project is bad for running, come on, grow up! What is it about human nature when someone tries to accomplish something that is deemed impossible people feel the need to belittle? Is it jealousy or is it just bitterness at having failed yourself?

I would very much like to hear from a number of you in the future with your views on marathon running.

I dont think anyone says (or should say) what you are doing is 'bad' for running - just maybe the way you have stated '2.30 this race, 2.20 6 months later, 2.15 London '08' shows incredible naivity abotu hard the sport is once the initial improvements have been made. I think the concern is that non-runners will think this can be done in this time scale, and therefore our current guys are ropey as they havent done this (unrealistic) thing.

theres plenty of guys out there who already run sub 2.30. why not take the investment and make th efilm about one of them, who at least have a fair chance of actually making it?

I think it bothers some people that you are seeking funding to star in your own film, which seems self-promoting, rather than concentrating the film on a genuine contender who may actually achieve this incredibly hard achievement? I think you need to remember that the vast majority of distance guys are quiet, modest types who may secretly habour ambitions such as yours but don't go around publicising them because of the high chance of failure. I think maybe where you have 'offended' anyone is in your bold assertion that maybe you can do this, when theres plenty of guys doing all they can and are significantly faster than you at the moment, but know that they'll never get anywhere near 2.15.

I wish you luck with your running, you've obviously improved a lot since you started and 75 mins is a solid performance for a half given your background. I hope you continue to train and improve when the cameras stop rolling.