FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Second chance at Gold Coast glory for Kenyan-trained Kiwi
When you want to be the best at something, you surround yourself with the
best. That was New Zealand-born Zane Robertson's thinking when he and twin
brother Jake shunned US athletics scholarships and moved to Kenya at age 17
to immerse themselves in the culture that produces the world's best
runners.
Dubbed 'Elvis' by the Kenyans for once dying his hair black, the
29-year-old New Zealand 10,000m national record holder and Glasgow 2014
Commonwealth Games 5,000m bronze medallist has chosen to make his marathon
debut at the Gold Coast Marathon on 7 July.
After a groin injury ruled him out of his first marathon at the Gold Coast
2018 Commonwealth Games, Robertson is hungry to make amends on the same
flat and fast course.
"Missing out last year when I was in crazy shape was devastating. I watched
the race from Kenya and couldn't stop thinking about how I could have won,"
Robertson said.
"By coming to the Gold Coast Marathon, I feel I can replace that loss of
mine."
Robertson, who has a half marathon PB of 59:47, is not letting last year's
disappointment faze him in the lead up to his first attempt at 42.195km.
"The mind is such a powerful thing in sport, especially in long distance
races," he said.
"If you don't believe in yourself, you've already lost. I always feel
confident; if I don't, I won't race."
Robertson is upbeat about his potential in this year's event, despite
toeing the line alongside a stellar line up in the men's marathon including
2013 champion and 2018 Boston Marathon winner Yuki Kawauchi (JPN) and
three-time Gold Coast Marathon champion and race record holder Kenneth
Mungara (KEN).
"First and foremost, I always target the win. I want to run as fast as the
pacemakers allow and once they step off the road anything can be possible.
Perhaps a new Oceania record?" Robertson said.
Robertson and his brother have now spent over a decade in Kenya and
Ethiopia learning what makes the best runners tick and while the jury is
out on whether it is nature or nurture, he's confident the lessons learnt
both on and off the track will stand him in good stead for a fast marathon
time.
"I've learnt to live a runner's life - which means to have discipline when
you're training, and to relax and recover when you're not," he said.
Twin brother Jake placed third on debut at last year's Lake Biwa Marathon
in Japan in an impressive 2:08:26, a time 16s faster than Mungara's Gold
Coast Marathon race record of 2:08:42 set in 2015.
But despite his brother seemingly throwing down the gauntlet, Zane remains
assured the pair have moved past sibling rivalry.
"We realised that this world is so much bigger than that and the challenge
is not with each other but against ourselves to be better than we were
yesterday," he said.
It's hard to tell if it's Robertson's own confident, determined and
fuss-free attitude to running or the Kenyan culture which has shaped him
into the runner he is today, but one thing is for certain, he will be one
to watch come the first Sunday in July.
The full elite field for the 2019 Gold Coast Marathon will be announced on
Global Running Day on Wednesday 5 June.
The Gold Coast Marathon, to be held on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July, is an
IAAF Gold Label Road Race and the pinnacle of road running events in
Australia. During its 40-year history, the Gold Coast Marathon has
distinguished itself as one of the most prestigious marathons in the world
and is host to several championships, including the Oceania Area Marathon
Championships, for which Robertson will contend.
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