It’s typical for runners to move up in distance as they age. Thirty-year-old Mark Carroll, the latest in a long line of great Irish milers, said yesterday that he’s moving up to the marathon, and he’s chosen next month’s New York Marathon to make his debut.
Two years ago, Carroll earned both an Olympic berth and a Wanamaker Mile trophy at the Millrose Games. Now, the 1995 Providence grad – who holds the Irish records for the 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meters – is biting off arguably the greatest challenge of his career.
Countrywoman Sonia O’Sullivan announced last week that the Nov. 3 race would be her first competitive marathon. And like O’Sullivan, Carroll isn’t coming just to wet his feet, but to compete for a championship.
“The marathon has always held some curiosity for me. I’ve been to the New York Marathon three, four times as a spectator, and the size of the race [and] . . . the energy I feel in the city has captured my imagination,” Carroll said. “I see New York as a great place to make my debut.”
There is precedent for success. U.S. 10K ace Deena Drossin made a stunning debut at last year’s race. And Carroll points to Britain’s Geoff Smith – a fellow Providence grad – and New Zealand’s Rod Dixon for encouragement.
Dixon was an Olympic bronze medalist at 1,500 meters, but moved up and used his kick to pass Smith at the 26-mile mark for a 2:08.59 win in ’83. Carroll won’t predict a victory or an assault on John Treacy’s Irish record of 2:09.18; he just promises that – despite arthroscopic knee surgery in December – he’ll compete.
“You line up to win,” Carroll said. “I won’t run in the second group; that’s not my way. If I’m not in it to win in my head, I’ll just switch off. I need to feel it’s possible to win. If that takes me to 2:07, 2:10, whatever, if I compete I’ll be happy.”
Carroll and coach Jim Harvey have taken a more 10K, half-marathon training approach. Instead of doing 150 slow miles a week, they’re training 115 hard miles, and still getting in track work, albeit slower and longer, with less recovery time.
Tomorrow, Carroll will run Greta’s Great Gallop, a half-marathon that finishes at Tavern on the Green; but he’ll keep going past the finish and try to simulate the marathon pace .