Marathonnews.net reports
Josh Cox is one busy man – not only does he average 125-140 miles a week, but he also does it for more than just running fast on race day. Josh currently trains for Comrades Marathon on May 30, and aside from winning the world’s most prestigious ultra marathon, his bigger goal is to raise awareness and money for children in Africa. Despite his tight schedule, Josh took the time to answer our questions – read his very personal, inspiring responses below!
MarathonNews: Josh, you currently train for Comrades Marathon, the world’s largest and most prestigious ultra-marathon, run annually in South Africa since 1921. How does training for such a race differ from your usual routine before a marathon or a 50k? What are your key workouts in this build up?
Josh Cox: Early on, my training was the same as a typical marathon build up. I’m a pretty high mileage guy, so I was hitting 125-140 miles a week. Intervals were done between 4:30-4:45 for miles and 9:15-9:35 for 2 mile repeats. Once Terrence felt my fitness was solid we gravitated towards more volume and getting efficient at 5:20-5:35 pace. I’m not really hitting monster weeks, at least what I consider monster, rather we’re focusing on nailing some big days. For instance, in my largest week, a 176, I had a day where I ran only 13 miles.
We’re really working on keeping the legs fresh. Quality trumps quantity. Better to be a hundred miles undertrained than one mile overtrained. It’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way.
As the 50k American record holder, you definitely know what it’s like to go beyond 26.2 miles. But Comrades is more than twice that distance and includes a number of tough hills. Even the fastest guys are out there for five and a half hours. What are your thoughts about those numbers? Are you humbled by the task?
I’m definitely humbled by the task. The lore of Comrades is unparalleled. Domestically, here in the States, it doesn’t carry the weight it has internationally but mention Comrades to the Europeans, the Australians, the Russians, and you get a knowing nod or a knowing head shake, eyes that come alive or a face that turns to terror. This is no ordinary race.
I’ve heard people try to explain the magnitude of Comrades by drawing comparisons to the NYC or Boston Marathons but that’s not accurate, it’s not even close. To compare the Super Bowl to Comrades doesn’t even do it justice – over there it’s bigger. Truth is, we don’t have any sporting event with 12 hours of continuous National Television coverage, much less a road race. Host a 55 mile race here in the States and you’re lucky to have 240 entrants, this year Comrades will have close to 100 times that number. Like I said, it’s unparalleled.
The 50k was part of the plan, but my foray into ultra running began when I was 22, in the fall of 1997. My exercise physiology professor at Liberty University, Dr. David Horton, talked me into – no, baited me into – running his 50 mile trail race, The Mountain Masochist 50 Miler. At the time, my farthest run was 20 miles and my farthest race was a half marathon. I was a 5th year senior and had exhausted my cross country eligibility – I still had indoor and outdoor track remaining. At the time, I was logging 70-80 miles a week (it had taken me 5 years to build from the 25-35 mile weeks I logged as a high school soccer player). I was confident in my ability, probably overconfident, but I felt strongly that I could win, despite the fact that the newly minted Western States course record holder and the defending champ were in the field. That race is contested on the trails of the Blue Ridge Mountains, some of which is pretty technical. I ran the race, met God out on the trail, and wound up winning and setting a course record (Race report and Video).
As a first timer at Comrades, I know the odds are stacked against me but those odds are no greater than when I jumped into that first 50 miler. This is my first Comrades but it won’t be my last, I’m hoping things come together.
You are running Comrades as a member of Team World Vision, a group of 17 athletes running for charity, including Bart Yasso and Andy Baldwin. How does that add to the experience?
Let me retrace my steps. In November of 2005 my dad was diagnosed with stage four cancer. In the subsequent months, I lived out of a hotel in Houston, Texas, looking after my dad while he was being treated at MD Anderson Cancer Hospital. My dad and I didn’t have the best relationship; we needed that time.
My dad was dealt a great hand: looks, charisma, he had it all. He made millions in business, had a big house, convertible Mercedes, the works… but in the end he had a mountain of regrets. Regrets he shared. When you know someone is on their last lap you hang on their every word. In those Texas hospital rooms and in that San Diego hospice room, I really learned how to listen. For the first time, I wasn’t just waiting for my turn to speak – I heard him, loud and clear. He regretted putting work first, not spending more time with the family, failed relationships with his children and most of all with my mom (they divorced after 34 years). It’s tough to put an old head on young shoulders but those months with my dad did just that. In July of 2006 my dad told me to be faithful with my gifts and relationships, pursue my passions, believe in my dreams, and preach from the heart.
A week later he lost his battle with cancer. I was looking in his eyes and holding his hand when he took his last breath. That sort of thing changes you, it makes you evaluate and take inventory. Everything was turned upside down. I did a lot of soul searching. Does running matter? What difference does it make? Why am I spending my life trying to lower my time on a clock? For what? What’s the end game? A medal? A record? A team?
Money wasn’t the answer, worldly success wasn’t the answer, accolades weren’t the answer – my dad had all that and he died a sad man.
He thought he’d have more time to make his life really count but he didn’t. Tomorrow is promised to no man. Tomorrow is a lie.
I nearly retired from running and went to seminary full time; I even took some classes. After some time, I came to realize that running does matter. My world view, one that believes that God has entrusted us all with specific gifts and specific passions for specific purposes to fill specifics roles, prescribes that we use our gifts to serve others. I believe that’s the answer. When you use your gifts to serve mankind, when you pour yourself out in service to another, you leave a lasting legacy, one that will outlive your life, your record, or the shine on any medal.
Who do people build statues of? Who do streets get named after? Servants. Those who have offered their gifts, maybe even their life, in service.
My dad’s illness changed everything for me. What if all my dreams came true? Who would stand to benefit? Would the world be a better place or would I be the sole beneficiary? Tough questions. I made God some promises during that time, promises I’ve dedicated my life to keeping. Being faithful with my gifts and relationships are a huge part of that.
I’ve grown extremely tired of hearing people just talk about their faith. I want to see their faith… I want to see my faith. Faith is something to be lived, not sat around and talked about. I want my walk to back up my talk. I want my deeds to align with my creeds. I want to live out what I believe. I want to serve. Many talk the talk but few walk the walk. Being a Christian isn’t just about going to Sunday School and Bible studies, it’s remembering the poor, remembering the oppressed, helping the widow, being the hands and feet of Christ, these are things we’re called to do. Ghandi said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” The way we be like Christ, way we follow Christ, is to serve as He served.
So to answer your question, yes, partnering with Team World Vision and trying to get 1500 kids sponsored makes all the difference in the world. My wife, Carrie, has sponsored Ruth from Uganda through World Vision for years. They write letters, exchange pictures, and talk about all sorts of things. A few years back, Carrie had the opportunity to visit Ruth in her village. When Ruth met my wife, she took her to her home and into her room. Over Ruth’s bed, taped to the wall, were all the pictures Carrie had sent. Carrie had to hide her tears. You see, for my wife it was just a picture and a letter, but to Ruth my wife was her chance at a better life. For us it’s one less meal out a month, one less round at the bar, for these kids, it’s clean water, education, immunizations, health care, and nutritious food. We have a chance to be a hero, to have our pictures taped to the wall.
World Vision has the world’s largest child sponsorship program, for $35 a month we can give hope to the hopeless, we can give a child a chance. All you have to do is go to http://TheUltimateCause.org I’m meeting one of my sponsored children from South Africa the day before the race and she’ll be at the finish line too. Talk about motivation! After the race we’re visiting the kids sponsored through our campaign in villages in South Africa and Kenya. No matter what happens out on the course, I know meeting these children will be the best part of the trip. And that’s saying something because we’re staying over to catch some World Cup games!
Aside from raising money for children in Africa, what is your competitive goal for the race?
Ever since Dr. Horton told me about Comrades in college I’ve wanted to win it. I was going to run it after 2012 but Ryan encouraged me to go for it now. One of Steven Covey’s Seven Habits, (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) is, “begin with the end in mind.” I ran the 50k last January with Comrades in mind, I ran Cal International – a rolling course – with Comrades in mind. I’ve been pointing to this race ever since I crossed the line of the 50 mile race in 1997. I’m going over to South Africa to try and win the race. I’m going over there to unleash heaven on that course. Will it happen? We’ll see.
You live and train in Mammoth Lakes, CA, where you share the roads with other top American runners like Deena Kastor, Meb Keflezighi and Ryan Hall at the Mammoth Track Club. To a large extent, the much touted resurgence of American distance running is coming from this small place in the Californian mountains. What do you think are the factors that have led to the success of Mammoth based athletes?
Group training, brilliant coaching, a long-term approach, and a training locale that enables us to run repeats at 9000ft. and do faster sessions at 4500ft. all within 40 minutes of each other. Success breeds success. The confidence builds, the momentum mounts; you see one guy do it, and you think you can do it too.
You ran a marathon PR (2:13:51) at California International Marathon in December, so there is no doubt you still got the speed for the “shorter” distance. Looking ahead, what are your plans after Comrades? A fall marathon?
I’m leaning towards running some shorter races this fall to hone my speed, then, if things work out, go back to PF Chang’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Arizona and take another crack at the 50k. Lord willing, if weather permits and I have a good day, I’m confident I can make a run at the world record.
Josh, thanks for taking the time and all the best for Comrades!
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