Dubai

Simon Murphy can surely teach a thing or two about how you don’t need to run or be built like the Kenyans or Ethiopians to make a mark at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, which this year will be held on January 24. The Briton is 47 and possesses a few pounds more than an athlete attempting to run 10kms should. However, he more than makes up for it with determination and a fierce will to overcome the odds, which in his case, is a loathing of running. The Director of a Dubai-based trading company tells XPRESS how he aims to meet his pet hate head-on in an interview ahead of the event. Excerpts…

What is your running background?

It’s limited. For reasons that I am still trying to fathom, I ran in the race last year and it hurt. I had volunteered as part of a promotion on local radio (Dubai Eye 103.8) which included regular organised training sessions. Although this gave you a structured training regime, it had its draw backs. Firstly I trained with a group of ladies which highlighted; as if it was needed any highlighting, just how unfit I was. Secondly, I had numerous sessions that looked like me running surrounded by a dozen fit motivated; and slightly intimidating women in a scene reminiscent of the Sasha Baron Cohen Film ‘The Dictator’. What limited street credentials I had left quickly evaporated, so this time it’s me against the world.

How have you been training for the big day?

To train I have simply worked backwards and tried to set up a regular regime that should peak perfectly at 7am on Friday, Jan 24 - somehow I feel this may be slightly optimistic!! There's an apparent build up of all the things I hate; and a simultaneous slow down of all the things I love! Gym sessions and early mornings start to outnumber brunches and late nights as the calendar clicks over to 2014.

What are your goals for the race?

Initially my only goal was to finish; and without seeming too sycophantic, that will always be the case. But as it gets closer you are bound to start thinking about times and targets and I would love to break 1 hour. It's tricky as there are so many people that are entered, the first two or three kilometers are almost impossible to navigate your way through the crowds, and so before you know it, 15 minutes have gone and you have made little progress. This time I have a master plan! get there early; start strong and get away from the herd; then try not to collapse - a fool-proof plan even if I do say so myself!

Will you be running for any charity/cause or do you have your own personal reasons?

I tried to get my son over from the UK to run with me; but the timing is not ideal. He has suffered from epilepsy for about 5 years and had a really rough time of it without ever complaining, so if I was to support any charity it would be of his choosing - we had some t-shirts made, so maybe I will wear one of them.

From my perspective I am extremely fortunate in the life experiences that I have had; the places I have visited and the wonderful people who have been in my life. Sometimes, they may not have stayed around for as long as I would have liked, but I still cherish the good memories that they have crafted; so when I was recently asked about a ‘bucket list’ of things I wanted to do or places to visit before I died, I found it really difficult to come up with anything. I grew up in Liverpool and my Dad was a little old school, so I was never allowed to grow my hair long and this was all I could come up with as a remaining life goal. Six months later, and after looking like a middle aged fat block in a wig for a while, I realized that perhaps my dad was right after all. So I looked at a few things that I hated doing but wanted to tick off. I hate running. I find it boring; pointless and often painful. I find it mentally challenging and hear voices in my head begging me to stop. It is not fun. The six foot tall pictures of grinning joggers in leafy lanes are false advertising on a gargantuan scale - an international Nike conspiracy! But I had decided that I needed to face a few demons; slay a few dragons and defiantly lose a few pounds - and so what is life without a challenge; and I decided to run.

What are you looking forward to most - and the least?

As I mentioned, I have run this before and the day is a great atmosphere and generally very positive; the sense of achievement - though short lived - is strong and is the main motivation. The training is hard, lonely and boring but essential and that takes a toll - a necessary evil.

What words of advice would you give to any first-time runners at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon/10km?

Advice? Relax and enjoy it. By the time the gun sounds it's too late. Your training days are done; your diet management is over, so forget it, relax and enjoy the day. Enjoy the personal achievement; enjoy the accolade; wear your medal on the metro home - wear it all day, wear it when you go to Spinneys and let people point at you. Be proud - you deserve it!

Finally, what do you like most about the day itself?

The day itself is funny - it's cold at six in the morning in January in Dubai, and almost surreal. In the haze there are hundreds and hundreds of people milling around and then gravitating to one place-almost cult like. There is a feeling of a common goal and a shared achievement - it hurts no doubt but it's worth it at least once in a while.