Athletics Australia – News – Glasgow 2014

Although they might have different approaches to their pre-race preparation, Australian marathoners Jess Trengove and Michael Shelley agree on one thing – both will be ready to handle whatever the Glasgow weather throws at them when they run at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.

Glasgow has been unseasonably warm in recent weeks, which led journalists at the official Australian athletics team media conference on Wednesday to ask the pair about how they would handle the potential heat.

“To be honest, we’ve discussed it and we realise that what the forecast says today could be completely different on race day so we’ve just been preparing for whatever is thrown at us on race day,” said Trengove.  “We’ve both had experience of races in hot and cold conditions which I guess puts us in good stead for being ready for anything on race day. 

“I’m imagining it could be, at this stage, around the 20’s which could be really nice, but if it’s a bit hotter we’ll be hydrated and ready to go,” the South Australian added.  “If it’s a bit cooler we’ve both experienced those conditions too, so I think we’re just focusing on the process from day-to-day to get the training done and make sure we follow our nutrition and hydration plans.  I think I won’t be phased by whatever conditions we get on the day and I’ve certainly heard similar things come out of Michael’s mouth.  So far, I’ve been really impressed by Glasgow’s weather.  It’s quite similar to Australia.”

Queenslander Shelley agreed that the conditions in Glasgow reminded him of Australia.

“It’s definitely like what Gold Coast is at the moment,” Shelley said.  “So outside at the moment I’m just thankful for a little bit of coolness and as Jess said we’ll focus on going into the race with a couple of plans, so if it’s hot we’ll change tactic, if it’s cold you just go with your Plan A.  We just hope to get it done in training and that it’ll be alright on race day.”

When asked about their thoughts on the Glasgow course however, the Australian pair said they differed in their approach to learning the marathon route.

“It’s a two-lap course and we’ve been given maps and that sort of thing but that’s about as far as I look at courses,” Shelley said.  “I try to avoid them as it takes some of the actual enjoyment out of seeing the course if you did do a tour, because if you are hurting at a spot you think ‘oh, that’s not a really good spot to be feeling bad at.’  I generally try, especially with lap courses, to enjoy the first lap and then get onto the second part of the race and switch on and focus for that half.”

Trengove indicated that by contrast she planned to tour the course to make sure she got her bearings.

“My approach is a little bit different,” she said.  “I have a terrible sense of direction and I just get a little bit scared that I’ll not quite have my bearings out there.  So I like to have a bit of a look at the map and the course in general and then in terms of visualising race day I like to have a picture of, in particular, the start and finish area and I guess just the general gist. So we’ll be heading to Glasgow during today to check out that area a little bit more, and to just have a little bit of a look at the surface that we’ll be running on as well.”

When asked if she had ever got lost in a marathon before, Trengove laughed.

“Plenty of time in cross country but fortunately not in the marathon.  In these major championships there is a line to follow so it would be pretty disappointing to run off the line.”

The pair revealed that the Australian marathon team had received a surprise boost through the presentation to each member of a special book from some of Australia’s marathon greats in a special ceremony with Australian distance running legend and Australian team Chef de Mission Steve Moneghetti.

“We had a really special day yesterday actually,” Trengove said.  “Steve presented each of the Australian marathoners with a book that our team coach arranged that had messages from some really significant marathoners in Australia’s history, with Steve, Deek (Robert de Castella), Jackie Fairweather and Lisa Ondieki. 

“It was a bit of an emotional moment for us all, and to read their messages. It will really help us to get every little bit out of ourselves on race day.  Whether my best run translates to a medal for me or just a really solid hit-out for Australia, if I cross that line having given it my all, I’ll be very happy. “

The men’s and women’s marathon opens the athletics competition on Sunday 27 July.

 Athletics Australia – News