Ben Flanagan closely observed the Chicago Marathon last weekend with a keen eye, focusing on details for future research and to prepare for his debut at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon this Sunday. Reflecting on his competitors’ success, Flanagan acknowledged feeling slightly behind due to his relative newness to the marathon scene.
Among his accomplished peers is Alex Masai of Kenya, part of HOKA Northern Arizona Elite, who recently achieved a personal best time of 2:04:37 in Chicago. Despite initial aspirations for a 2:08 or 2:09 marathon time, Flanagan adjusted his expectations due to an injury-interrupted training period.
Now, Flanagan’s primary goal for the upcoming race is to secure the Canadian championship title, rather than focusing solely on achieving a specific time. The past Toronto Waterfront Marathon champions have finished within the 2:11-2:16 range.
Coach Jon Green emphasizes the importance of Flanagan enjoying his marathon debut experience and being competitive in the final 10 kilometers of the race. Flanagan, a former Canadian half marathon record holder, has dedicated significant effort to understanding the nuances of marathon running during his recent training.
Despite facing challenges, including illness during his training, Flanagan remains optimistic and ready to tackle the demanding race. While some notable competitors will be absent from the event, others like Andrew Alexander and Phil Parrot-Migas could pose a strong challenge to Flanagan’s pursuit of the Canadian title.
Looking ahead, Flanagan aims to continue improving and eventually target faster marathon times in future Olympic cycles. In the women’s marathon, elite athletes Dayna Pidhoresky and Rachel Hannah are expected to deliver competitive performances at the Toronto Waterfront event.
