Bemboka distance runner Keith Law, 60, has broken two long-standing records.
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Law unwittingly broke a 31-year record for distance covered in a recent one-hour endurance run, but he was only using it as a warm up to pursue his age group’s 3km run record.
Law contested the one-hour event last weekend and recorded a distance of 15.702km in the hour, an advance of 1.3km on the record set in 1976.
However, over the weekend, Law has shaved four seconds off the standing ACT 3km record, cracking 10 minutes and 31 seconds.
“It was a complete shock,” Law said. “I’m still recovering from last week’s one hour record!”
“I was heavily bandaged, missed a few training sessions because I was exhausted.”
The ACT record was set 20 years ago and it’s something Law has been chasing for about three years.
“I just ran expecting nothing in return, but then I noticed the time on my last lap,” he said.
“Basically, I realised if I ran the last lap in 78 I could equal the record, but I felt like it was beyond me so I just ran to see how close I could get.
“But in the last sprint I realised I’d miscalculated a few seconds [to my advantage] and the crowd were yelling at me so I couldn’t slow down and that slip up in maths got me the record!
“Who would have thought being poor at maths would lead me to breaking a 20-year record,” Law added with a laugh.
He said it had been an enormous start to the running season, as during training he was just two seconds outside the record.
But racing in the ACT, Law said winds were always a huge factor with runners regularly facing head on gusts.
“I call it resistance training,” Law says.
However, the earlier one-hour timed event was something of a surprise for the runner, who usually only contests set distance events.
“I really didn’t have any tactics, how do you pace yourself when you aren’t sure how far you will run?” Law said with a laugh.
He said he adapted his interval-style training practice during the run.
“And I also had to learn rather quickly how to pull up on the spot once the gun signaled the finish.”
Law said he was blown away to secure two records in as many weeks, but said he still has work to do.
“So now I’m setting my sights on the 5000m record, which was also set in 1997,” he said.
“[Those runs] are generally held after the new year so all my training is going to reflect that distance.”
After Achilles tendon troubles in 2016, Law said it was a massive turn around following the “debacle” that cost him trips to two national titles and countless regular events.
“Thank you to [coach] Bruce Graham for his encouragement and Woods Cafe for their faith in me and sponsoring my shoes.”