Hitting the wall: Craig Mottram, Falls Creek, Victoria, December 2006. photography: getty images. Yeah, althoughpeople [in M more thananything. of trackandfieldismisunderstood, – that’s notactuallytrue.Thesport I deserved,butwasmisunderstood I didn’t gettherespectIfelt year, Isaidit botheredmethat I’m goodatit,thensobeit.Last attention tomebecauseofthefact – Ilovetogoandrun.Ifthatbrings forthatsimplereason or anythinglikethat.Ilove from themediaorpublic I’m notonetotrygetattention as you should be? D Championships in Osaka in August. And now he’s after gold at the World “Buster” finally bested the Africans. Championships at Helsinki, a bronze at the 2005 World year’s and After a silver in the 5000m at last was a stunning declaration of intent. win,” he said at the time. The victory thrilling upset. “This is my greatest Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, for a world record-holder, the legendary swept past the 5000m and 10,000m gruelling year, Craig Mottram In what was the final race of his we haven’t even begun yet.” in pain-endurance, chasing African rivals and his gran’s boozy birthday bash o you think you’re as famous isunderstood in Ath Middle-distance king “When most runners start When I’m starting to hurt, ens las to hurt, they pull the pin. of a th T th h e momen e final s th t le

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information. And it’s great[when stuff whenthey’re fedthe I’m notsure.People understand or oftheathletesnotperforming, Whether that’s thefaultofmedia that, theyweren’t quiteaware. competition issohigh.Priorto seen howdifficult itis.Thelevelof Commonwealth Games andthey’ve more becausethey’ve seenthe now]understandit Bekele inAthens. away from Kenenisa Take off: CRAIG MOTTRAM

Mottram kicks

heard attheMCG. loudest noisethatanybody’s ever said itwasthebestatmosphere, the spoken toalotofpeopleandthey that wasthebestatmosphere.I’ve in theregoingoff theirheads,and to seeit.Therewere80,000people Commonwealth Games. Theygot think itwasthegreatestraceof second in[the5000m],theystill that happens].Even thoughIcame reveals his tactics for success, Alpha Male – you just can’t make yourself go maybe 50m and then that was it a while. And I went with him for pretty bad. I’d been at the front and I had no fight left. I was hurting straight, he pulled up next to me He was all over me. Down the back on his face at the end... He’s cantering along with a grin you can do. [kick] in the last 200. There’s nothing for the last mile, and he was able to He was just too good. I ran 3.57, 3.58 because they all would have kept up. been racing three of them (Kenyans), that had been the case, I would have than with three laps to go.” But if if I’d have gone with 500 to go, rather million times and thought, “Maybe I’ve run over this in my head a in that sort of shape. Believe me, There was no way I could beat him done to beat him? There’s nothing you could have (Choge), but he just ran unbelievable. be the one to beat, Augustine ( little f–kers is too good, you know and healthy, and [then] one of the I’m as ready as I could be, I’m fit Games. I’ve done everything I can, frustrating, like the Commonwealth head-on. But sometimes it can be challenge and we have to take it the sport so much is that it’s a huge A big part of the reason that I enjoy A What’s it like challenging the laughs frican runners? ). We knew he was going to FEBRUARY 2007

15 CRAIG MOTTRAM

Odd one out: Mottram sandwiched between you’re completely in sync with your two Kenyans during the body – you know what’s happening Commonweath Games 5000m. but it doesn’t hurt. It’s more, “S–t, I’m starting to shut down now.” You run out of puff. That’s why you see people pulling faces – they’re trying to get more out of themselves, not because it’s hurting so bad. You’re trying to get yourself to go faster but you can’t because your body’s reacted the other way. Who is your non-sporting hero? My brother (Neil), who plays basketball. A few years ago he dislocated his knee and tore all the ligaments around it. It took him three years to get back from that, but he got back. To see him get back and see him win the NBL championship with Tigers and then getting a Commonwealth Games gold medal was fantastic. It was a good Commonwealth Games for the Mottrams, then? Yes. My granny’s 80th birthday was on the Sunday after my 1500 final any more. When I straightened up fit as close to you; they let you go past under 13 minutes and started (on the Saturday night). The whole to do the home straight, he was well them easier – it lets you know that thinking about that more than trying family had flown out from England. clear – it was over at that stage. they’re hurting. When they’re done, to win the race – and that probably Neil was really happy because he My legs started to go and I couldn’t that’s it; they don’t fight back. They cost me the win. That race moved me got everything that he wanted and quite hold my form properly. I had don’t show it on their faces; they just to the top three in the world that year dreamt of, and I was disappointed to really concentrate on running keep going, but not at the same pace. on time. I’ve got it on my computer; and upset (Mottram fell over with through the line, because I knew How do you go on despite the pain? I’ve watched it a million times. 1½ laps remaining in the 1500m every camera would be on me in It’s what I’m training for. I kind of There’s a camera on us from the final in Melbourne) and had been that place, on my face to see what enjoy it, because I know I’m at the infield with 500 to go, and we drinking all day. my reaction would be. limits of what I’m supposed to be were hammering. That was when You got pissed? There’s no hiding place, is there? able to do. And then I think maybe I thought, “S–t, I can run. I’m I didn’t hit it too hard. I went out No. The track is very open; you’re I can take it that little bit further, actually good.” That was good, mate. with a couple of mates. When I got on your own. People like to see the and keep challenging myself. When What are your goals? back to my house, they were sitting emotion of it, anyway – they like to most runners go out for a run and To get better. I’ve got the World there with a big slab of beer waiting see the raw emotion of what happens start to hurt, they think, “Ah, that’s Championships in August, in for me. We tried to find something to people in those situations. But it, pull the pin; I’ve done my exercise Osaka, Japan. I got a bronze in the funny about it, although there wasn’t I was amazed when I came over the much. The next day my arse was on line and saw the time. I was sort of the front page of every paper in the stunned, to be honest. I was a little country. It was a very strange time. bit disappointed not to win, but “My coach said, ‘Just crush I didn’t really know how to take it all. I was involved in probably one of We went to my granny’s birthday and the greatest races in Australian track him; try and destroy him.’” actually had a really good day. That and field history. helped me move on a little bit. How do you feel about the Africans for the day.” But when I’m starting last one, and I want to go better. Tell us something about yourself running in teams against you? to hurt, we haven’t even begun the I honestly say that – a lot of people that will surprise people. It’s a sign of respect; they know if session yet. The session doesn’t say it’s realistic. The race in Helsinki I talk to myself. I mutter away, it was one-on-one I’d be very hard start until you’re at that sustained (in 2005) wasn’t perfect for me; there talking crap, singing a stupid song. to beat. The thing that’s difficult to punishment level. That’s when you are areas in which I think I could And I’ve got a cat called Roy. deal with is they don’t really care start to get the benefit. improve and that’s what we’re which one of them it is. They all When did you realise you’d made it? training on every day. rotate turns pretty equally, and the I always believed that I was going What’s the most pain you’ve strongest one, the one who’s feeling to make it. Most athletes that get ever been in? the best, will try to win the race. medals at top championships always When we do hill reps, in training. [But] that doesn’t bother me. believe in themselves. In They’re the ones I dread the most Do you get the impression that even in 2004, when I ran against Heile because they hurt for such a long though they look like they’re doing Gebrselassie and did 12.55, that was time. We do three-minute hill it easy, they’re actually hurting? a fantastic race. My coach said, “Go reps and they’re uncomfortable They hurt differently, though. When after it, just follow Heile and if at any from 30 seconds into them. I start to get pretty tired, I breathe point in the last 600m you feel like There’s no respite from it – it’s heavy and grunt and groan a little bit; you want to attack, just f–ing crush just getting worse and worse and those guys don’t make any noise, and him, try and destroy him.” With worse the whole way up. You’re they’re so light on their feet, you can’t 600 to go I was feeling really good, really uncomfortable. Off-track: even hear them. But you can tell that because I could see the finish line. I don’t feel much when I’m racing; Mottram’s mullet they’re getting tired. They don’t quite I got a bit excited that I might run there are so many factors going on, makes a run for it. words: ivan smith. photography: fiona hamilton (running); michael klein (smiling). (running); fiona hamilton smith. photography: ivan words:

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