Ben Flanagan closely observed the recent Chicago Marathon, paying more attention to details than in previous years, as part of his long-term research and preparation for his upcoming debut at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Reflecting on his competitors’ strong performances, particularly Alex Masai of Kenya who achieved a personal best time of 2:04:37 in Chicago, Flanagan acknowledged feeling a bit behind due to his relative newness to the marathon scene.
Having initially aimed for a 2:08 or 2:09 finish in his first marathon post his track career, Flanagan recalibrated his goals due to a truncated training period caused by a hip injury. He emphasized that his focus for the upcoming race is to win the Canadian championship rather than chasing a specific time.
Known Canadian champions like Justin Kent, Thomas Broatch, and Trevor Hofbauer have set the bar in the 2:11-2:16 range at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in recent years. Flanagan’s coach, Jon Green, emphasized the importance of Flanagan enjoying his debut marathon experience and staying competitive in the final stages of the race.
Flanagan’s training journey leading up to the marathon involved significant mileage increases and a focus on race pace. Understanding the nuances of marathon running, including fueling strategies, has been a key aspect of his preparation. Despite facing challenges like illness towards the end of his training, Flanagan expressed readiness for the race ahead.
With some notable competitors sidelined due to health issues, runners like Andrew Alexander and Phil Parrot-Migas are poised to challenge Flanagan for the Canadian title. Flanagan acknowledged the growing competitiveness in the Canadian marathon scene and expressed aspirations to eventually target faster times in future Olympic cycles.
In the women’s race, seasoned athletes like Dayna Pidhoresky and Rachel Hannah are expected to showcase their talents. Pidhoresky, a Vancouver Marathon winner, and Hannah, a consistent performer in the 2:34 range, are among the elite female runners to watch on race day.
As Flanagan gears up for his marathon debut, he remains focused on the competitive aspect and aims to establish himself among the top runners in future Olympic events.