Kiwi Kids Books

I have a good friend who lives in Scotland. We became friends when Rachel and I spent two years across there working in a boarding school.
When I was there Liam was initialy far from a runner, however, over time he has started to get out a little more and has completed a few marathons. I had the privilege of running a half marathon and then the 2006 Edinburgh Marathon with him.
Recently he has just completed the Dublin Marathon and this article appeared in the NZ Herald about his effort.

Harvey’s valiant effort fails once more

Friday 31st October 2008
by: Mehs Buryban

Despite a valient middle section of the Dublin Marathon Scottish runner Liam Harvey failed for the second time to break the elusive 3 hour 45min barrier.
The 3 hour 45min barrier has been a thorn in the side of the Scotsman for sometime since running supremo Shem Banbury set the benchmark on the hilly Edinburgh course in 2005. Since that day Harvey has made it his life mission to beat that incredible time and his latest failure must put doubt in his mind whether that elusive goal is out of his reach.

Harvey told the local media he chose the Dublin Marathon due to the fact it is considered one of the fastest in the word. This is partly due to the ‘Irish Mile’ used to measure the race, which conveniently makes the race 6km shorter than the Edinburgh equivalent. Uniquely, the race is run on a Monday for the sole reason that this adds a point of difference from other races around the world. Like the advertising says ‘There’s no race like the Dublin Marathon…… because we run ours on a Monday!!!

Harvey’s pre race training had gone to plan using a unique training strategy involving only three training areas, the hills of Dunbar, the Belhaven Hill staircase and the couch in his lounge. Diet had been an issue in his previous attempt at the record and a change from his staple diet of vindaloo curry to the more protein friendly chicken korma 3 months out was supposed to add a kick to his finishing burst. Sadly as we will see later this proved to be his downfall.

Harvey followed his race plan impeccably, clocking up a steady first 10km. Following the cautious opening Harvey upped the pace around the 15km mark, even passing a man running as his favourite fictional character Barney the Dinosaur. This seemed to boost Harvey’s confidence and he quickly passed a man carrying a 12ft canoe and then clan of overweight female Irish truck drivers. For the first time in his life Harvey was in a sporting zone. At this stage the Holy Grail of 3 hour 45min seemed like a doddle and in a moment of madness Harvey stopped at the local Indian and ordered a vindaloo takeaway.

This proved to be his downfall as it seemed to undo all the sacrifice of the previous 3 months and caused his stomach to ‘let go’ with only 10km to go. Sadly, Harvey could only watch as firstly he was passed by Barney, then canoe man and then twenty female Irish truck drivers. Finally as he lay on the Irish tarmac, cursing his dodgy vindaloo that elusive time clicked passed. The mind was willing but the body was dead.
His Vindaloo had given him the runs, but not the ones he was after. Unfortunately Harvey’s tripod training regime, while excellent in developing the larger muscle groups had failed to strength the one set of muscles he need at this time…his sphincter muscles.
Fortunately, Harvey was able to stagger to the finish line and complete the Dublin Marathon in a commendable, but ultimately disappointing, 3 hours and 53 minutes.

While many people in the local media believe this was Harvey’s finest chance at the record, this journalist will certainly not be writing him off. Despite losing the Padder Tennis Championships and failing to beat Banbury at golf despite 2 years of trying; running is a sport which rewards dedication and hard work. Both of these Harvey has in abundance.
My only bit of advice is that if you see a man struggling up the hills of Dunbar looking desperately in need of assistance offer him a drink and not a curry.