ATHLETICS: Marathon man (From Oxford Mail)

ATHLETICS: Marathon man

11:00am Thursday 3rd May 2012 in Athletics By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

PAUL Fernandez showed impressive durability to finish second in the Crawley AIM Charity Six-hour Track Race – just six days after running the London Marathon.

The Abingdon Amblers star beat the previous British record to complete 202 laps of the 400m track, amounting to 50.24 miles, inside the six-hour time limit.

However, Fernandez could not match Saturday’s winner, Allen Smalls (Colchester Harriers), who set a new national mark of 216 laps.

Fernandez said: “The weather was relatively kind, but turned worse just after we finished when the 12-hour runners had three hours left.

“I was aiming for at least 50 miles, but was not sure how my legs would hold out just six days after a marathon personal best.

“I also got my feeding strategy wrong in the early ours and was doubting if I would finish during the middle third.

“After a feast of banana, chocolate and coke, I actually managed to speed up in the last hour, where I covered the greatest distance from any of the hours.”

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