Inside the minds of marathon runners, and their best advice for getting started

Once an unthinkable goal, former footballer Scott Pelham has achieved the pinnacle in marathon running — completing six major races, but it didn’t come easy.

Scott Pelham of Hobart has now completed all six of the major marathons in the world after his recent finish in the Tokyo marathon. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

For most people, waking up before sunrise in the middle of winter to go running would be a thought contemplated with dread.

But in Scott Pelham’s mind, he doesn’t have a choice.

After finishing up his football career, the Hobart local turned to running as a means of keeping fit and healthy.

Around 2007, without any prior marathon running experience, he found himself in the Gold Coast, confident he would be able to finish the 42.2km road race with ease.

But in his own words, he “totally mucked it up”.

“I went way too fast, and I remember at 33 kilometres an old guy overtook me,” he said.

“It turned out by looking at the back of his bib he was 78.”

Determined to make amends for his painful faux pas, Mr Pelham threw himself into running, committing to a stringent training regimen and ticking off as many national and international events he could.

And nearly two decades later, back on home soil from competing at the Tokyo Marathon, he has achieved a once unthinkable goal: the Abbotts Six Star Medal.

Introduced in 2016, the medal honours the small handful of runners who have successfully completed the original six Major Marathons – Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

Scott Pelham of Hobart has now completed all six of the major marathons in the world after his recent finish in the Tokyo marathon. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Pelham said after chasing for 11 years, it was “quite emotional” to finally have it around his neck.

“I’ve had back surgery in between, a couple of operations on my ankle, so it’s been a real journey, and sometimes you wonder whether you’re actually going to get there,” he said.

“I was just so happy to get it done.”

The elusive medal represents the pinnacle for marathon runners; a group that is estimated to comprise only 0.01 per cent of the global population.

And given the training regimen that it requires, it’s easy to see why.

Marathon runner Mel Ferrier, who also just returned from Tokyo reporting a “hot” but successful run, said her training typically started three or four months out from the event and consisted of: three runs a week – one continuous, one sprint or hill intervals, and the other just a “long, slow run at the weekend”.

You never run the full marathon in your training program she said, instead getting up to “only” 33 or 35 kilometres.

“The strength work you do to avoid injuries, and then two weeks before race day, you go into taper, which is the best part.”

Marathon training has meant plenty of early starts for Jen Shaw, Mel Ferrier and Kelly Graves.

But what becomes clear is running a marathon is not only dependent on physical capability – no matter how fit, or how well-fuelled you are, something can always go wrong, Ms Ferrier said.

Indeed, running these lengths requires a harmonious ensemble of often highly variable factors: nutrition, sleep, weather and mindset.

“The body is prepped, but it’s more your mind,” fellow runner Kelly Graves said.

“You have to stay positive.”

That’s where a running buddy comes in.

With friend Jen Shaw, Ms Graves and Ms Ferrier have formed a tight-knit training trio, holding each other accountable in the pursuit of the coveted Six Star medal, but also enjoying the social aspect intrinsic to today’s running phenomenon.

Jen Shaw, Mel Ferrier and Kelly Graves show off their medals after completing the Tokyo Marathon.

It was also something Mr Pelham said was critical to his success.

“It’s very difficult to try and do it yourself,” he said.

“I actually have three guys, we’ve all got young families and small businesses and I just find it’s great for my mental health, something away from work to clear your head.”

And despite being an epic feat of the body, the three women reiterated anyone could run a marathon, reap the countless physical rewards and experience the elusive “runner’s high” that for them, was far from mythology.

“We all do it for our mental health, and we’ve met so many amazing people through running,” Ms Graves said.

But in recognising of the base level of fitness required to pursue marathon running, Ms Graves recommended Parkrun as the best place to start.

“It’s a run not a race. And it’s social; 5km just to start, and you just have to keep trying to beat your time, just running a little bit further even if it’s just 100m, each time,” Ms Graves said.

And on the thing running has taught her about life?

“I think anyone can be a runner if they really put their mind to it,” she said.

“We’re not fast, but we get it done and that’s what matters.”

Originally published as Inside the minds of marathon runners, and their best advice for getting started