At this year's PF Chang Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in Arizona, American distance runner Josh Cox finished the marathon ahead of the rest of the field in 2:17:32 but the warrior in him strode on. Chasing a 23-year-old world record in the 50K (31 miles), he continued on for five more miles, pushing himself harder and with less fuel in the tank. Legs failing and lungs burning, he finally touched the tape at 2:43:45, seven seconds short of the world mark set by Thompson Magawana back in 1988. Exhausted and frustrated — those seven seconds would have written him into a very elite class — he collapsed on to the track at Arizona State University. Contemplating his near miss, the world around him dissolved. The sound of spectators faded away and his heartbeat slowed to a thunderous halt. Death. Life. For the next few minutes, the thrill of victory was on pause.
Death. Josh sat at his father's bedside at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston (Texas) clinging to his hand, knowing that they didn't have much time left. Ever the teacher, Josh's father looked him in the eye and said "Son, be sure to enjoy the journey." For Josh, whose career consisted of going from A to B faster than the other guy, this bit of advice held particular weight.
"It wasn't some cliché," he said. "I knew just what he meant by the look in his eyes and the way he squeezed my hand when he said it."
Cancer finally claimed Josh's father in 2006.
Birth. Asher. That would be the name of Josh and Carrie's first child — not because of its ranking on a list of hot baby names, but because of the deeper meaning it carried for the young couple.
"In Hebrew, Asher means 'a blessing,'" he said. “This was our third pregnancy, so when we found that this one was going the distance we kept saying what a blessing he was. It fit perfectly."
Carrie was due in March.
Armed with the parting wisdom of his father and the prospect of becoming a dad himself, Josh was better able to put those seven seconds in perspective.
"I thought, if I can't be happy now, if I can't be grateful now, I'll never be," he said. "Seven seconds. It's not a lot of time. It's the time it took me to put on my shirt this morning, the time it took me to pour my coffee, the time it's going to take people to read this sentence. I've thought about those seconds, I've dreamt about those seconds. We're talking only .225 seconds per mile faster and I'd be a world record holder. But my dad's words echoed — to enjoy the journey, to be faithful with my gifts, to give all I had. So I stood, thanked God, my wife, and the crowd for their support."
Josh's 50K time, by the way, was good enough for a new American record — one he set on the same course in 2009. And when Asher was born on March 6, Josh's world would change once more.
"When Asher arrived, my heart doubled in size, it was filled with an unexplainable love," he said. "There’s nothing quite like it. I felt like an explorer who has discovered an island with hills of gold and untouched treasure."
So will sleepless nights and diaper duty take the pep out of the step of this distance running dynamo?
"We're only a few weeks in, but so far I'm exhausted! I'm told it gets easier once they can sleep through the night. I'm a pro at the middle of the night diaper change!"
PB
Josh Cox
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 147–156
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Residence: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Website: www.joshcox.com
Family: Wife, Carrie; Son, Asher Legend
Race Highlights: 2011: PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, 1st. 2010: Boston Athletic Association 5K, 1st; Comrades Marathon, 180th; Moeben Ultra 25K, 1st; Malibu Half Marathon, 1st; Zappos.com Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, 1st.
The Boston Marathon is approaching. What is your personal history with that event?
I raced it once in 2001. After leading through 16 miles I battled cramps and finished 14th in 2:16:17. I was the second American to finish.
Was it even on your radar for 2011?
Josh: No, my focus was on making a run at the 50K World Record at PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon, after which I turned my attention to the birth of our first child in March. Periodization is a key component in this sport; it's something that many ultra runners don't practice. It's impossible to maintain peak performance 12 months a year, so planning rest and down time is as important as scheduling the hard sessions.
PERIODIZATION: An organized approach to training that involves progressive cycling of various aspects of a training program during a specific period of time. It is a way of alternating training to peak at certain times without becoming overtrained.
What do you think of the Boston Marathon in comparison to other high-profile marathons?
Josh: Boston has a rich history and tradition — it's the world's oldest annual marathon and runners have raced there since 1897. For the masses, this is their Olympic Games. Getting a BQ — a Boston Qualifier — is the goal of goals for most folks.
From an expert perspective, what do you expect in the men's pro race this year?
Josh: Well, you have Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot — "Cheruiyot the Younger" — returning to Beantown after his astonishing 2:05:52 course record last year. In my mind, that performance was like witnessing a perfect game in baseball. We'll see if he's able to defend the title and make another run at history. His main challenger could be countryman Geoffrey Mutai. This guy is a beast. I had the pleasure of calling his race in Rotterdam for Universal Sports last year where he was runner-up in 2:04:55. Then there's the usual strong East African contingent with Evans Cheruiyot, Tadese Tola, Gilbert Yegon, Houston course record holder Bekana Daba, Seoul course record holder Sylvester Teimet and the 2010 NYC Marathon Champ, Gebre Gebremariam.
Something to keep in mind at Boston is that there are no pacers. This isn't a time trial race, the likes of which you'll see in Rotterdam, London, Berlin, and Chicago. Boston is a championship-style race, the kind you'd see at the World Championships or Olympic Games. All the guys toeing the line will be racing past Fenway and blitzing into Beantown, so you never know what you're going to get once that gun fires in Hopkinton. Many times when you get a great collection of athletes it become a chess match, with each guy waiting on the other to make a move. It's a rare athlete that can succeed in both styles of racing. My buddy, American Ryan Hall, is one such athlete. He'll be looking to follow up his Boston American Best that he posted here last year. I'll obviously be pulling for him and for my Mammoth Track Club teammate, Alistair Cragg who just set the Irish half marathon record in New York — he's debuting here.
Tell us about the PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll AZ — what were your expectations going in?
Josh: I ran there in 2009, and although I set the 50K American Record, things didn't go as planned. This year, the focus was on breaking the world mark. I broke the race into three sections: the first 16 miles, the last 10 of the marathon, and the last 5 to the 50K finish. The race was kind enough to bring in Josphat Boit, a Kenyan runner from Arkansas, to serve as a pacer through 15–17 miles. My hope was to run with him, win the marathon, then go after the record.
Were you miffed about missing the WR? Record's been around a while!
Josh: Titles are forever, records are on loan, so winning the marathon was great. After crossing the line at 50K, falling on the track, and realizing I'd fallen short, I stared at the sky and was lost in thought as my wife chatted with the on-track announcer. And although there was the disappointment of not breaking the record, I was able to have joy. Running the second fastest time in history isn't a bad day — we had bad days in Houston during (my father's) chemo. This day wasn't even in the same zip code. Getting paid to do what you love is a dream come true. I am humbled to have so much support, both from sponsors and fans. Those seconds serve as my motivator, one second for every day of the week. I'll be back smarter and faster in 2013.
What's next in 2011?
Josh: Our schedule is TBD, but the plan is to focus on speed, and run a half marathon personal best this fall in my prep for the Olympic Trials.
You're known for doing a lot of charitable work, including with Team World Vision. How do you find the time to do so much?
Josh: Too often people are looking for what others can do for them, if they'd just flip the script they'd get so much more in return. I want to help the helpless, serve my sponsors, serve my friends, serve my community, and be faithful with the gifts and platform I've been granted.
You're a bit of a crossover phenom, having found success in marathon and ultra-marathon events. What is the biggest difference in the training? How does your nutrition prep change?
Josh: Longer long runs, a bit more miles, and we're working different zones in training. Racing is all about getting efficient at race pace. The idea isn't to be Superman on any given day, but to have consistency over an entire build-up. Typically, I'll average over 130 miles per week with the high weeks in the 150s. The 50K is challenging because it's about conserving glycogen, staying efficient, and keeping the pace under control early. In the marathon the race begins at 20 miles. You hit the 20-mile mark in the 50K and there's still 11 more to go, so the real racing starts after the marathon is finished. Ultras are largely an act of will rather than skill. From a nutrition standpoint, you just need more fuel. We're no different than a car filling up during a long trip. I learned quite a bit in Arizona, it was only my second 50K. Running 31 miles and racing 31 miles at 5:15 pace are two different animals from a fueling perspective. I relied heavily on
Ironman PERFORM™ sports drink by PowerBar
® and
PowerBar® Energy Gels mixed in eight ounces of water. In hindsight, I should have had one or two more Gels along the way.
So, in general, how do PowerBar Gels fit into your training and competition days? Do you have any favorite flavors?
Josh: On race days, I use
vanilla Gels the first half and
double latte Gels the second half. The PowerBar
® C2MAX dual source energy blend in the Gels allows for greater carbohydrate assimilation and has the same electrolytes as the
Ironman PERFORM drink, so it's great. During training I follow a similar regimen.
PowerBar® Performance Energy bars contain sodium and complex carbs. Can you explain how these are important on race day or big training days?
Josh: I have been using PowerBar
® products for nearly twenty years; I trust them because they work. They've fueled every record and race since college. After I won and set a course record my first ultra, the Mountain Masochist 50 Miler, I raved about the gels. At that point, I was still two years away from my first PowerBar product as a sponsored athlete.
PowerBar® Energy Bites have been added to the PowerBar roster of performance goodies. What's your take on these new fuel-filled morsels?
Josh: If I get that hungry feeling between workouts, this is what I grab. I find the resealable bag perfect for me — you can eat a few and seal them up. I love 'em! Maybe a bit too much...
Which other records can we expect you to take a run at in the coming months and years?
Josh: Obviously, I'd like to break the 50K world record. At some point I'll likely head over to Japan to make a run at the 100K U.S. and world records. I'd like to set the U.S. mark for 50 miles.
Have you changed anything in the last year or so with regards to your strength training?
Josh: I am privileged to be part of the Mammoth Track Club
www.mammothtrackclub.com which includes a host of phenomenal athletes. We have afternoon sessions at the gym six days a week. Coach is always introducing new things. I never thought I'd toss the medicine ball so much!
Forget running for a second... what other sports does Josh Cox excel at?
Josh: For most of my young life, my dream was to play professional soccer. I still love the game. If there is ever a marathon/snowboarding combined competition, I'll be world champ.
Random change of pace: What is your favorite show?
Josh: We read more than we watch TV but I love live sports. I'm a huge MLB and NFL fan. My bro-in-law is a scout with the Eagles so he keeps me informed on all the inner workings. I think it's fascinating. I love HBO's Hard Knocks — that's real reality TV.
How did you guys arrive at the name Legend for a middle name?
Josh: Legend was my part. I love the power of story and the written word. Over time there's nothing more powerful. Men die but the written word is immortal. I love the idea of legend, a story passed down from one generation to the next, a myth, an epic tale of an epic life. When Carrie and I first started dating I shared with her a story I had written about the power of myth and legend so it's always had a special place for us.
Do you have visions of running with Asher someday?
Josh: I plan on introducing him to soccer and teaching him how to punt a football — nice tight spirals. Punters have the best job; if anyone touches them it's 15 yards. He'll punt in high school, get college paid for and have a nice, long, NFL career without having to pound his legs and lungs into oblivion on the roads. Seriously, I'd love to run with him but there's no pressure. Running is fun — I'll make sure he knows that.
How much longer are we going to have the privilege of seeing you compete?
Josh: I set personal bests in the marathon in December 2009 and the 50k in January. My body feels great, the best it has ever felt. In endurance sports, time is your friend — provided the body holds up. I'm as passionate as ever about this sport, as long as the passion remains and progress is being made, I'll be racing.
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