Aussie record-holder Sam Clifford's ‘real' Olympic dream begins at Sydney Marathon

7NEWS

2 days ago

The Sydney Marathon's debut as a world major marks the start of a new era for Australian distance running, but the landmark event shapes as one-and-done at the distance for 10km national record-holder Sam Clifford.
At least that's the plan for the next few years as part of his long-term goal to make — and, more importantly, compete well at — the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
The 23-year-old from Tasmania catapulted himself into calculations for higher honours with an astonishing 10km time of 27:34 in May.
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Clifford, having improved plenty in the six months prior, smashed Jack Rayner's previous record by nine seconds in the Tokyo Speed Race geared around Asics' newest supershoes.
The performance was followed by mixing it with some of Australia's big-name runners in half-marathons in Launceston (1:02:00) and on the Gold Coast (1:01:49).
Clifford stepped back to 10km racing during his training block last week to win the Harbour 10 (29:33) that took in some of the same streets forming the Sydney Marathon course.
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Knowing he's got the 'buffer' from running two minutes faster in Tokyo, Clifford kicked away with 1500m to go to train himself in the art of winning a race — something he's used to in one sense, but still working on as he reaches new heights.
'It was pretty crazy,' he tells 7NEWS.com.au.
'I wanted to practise making a move at a certain point that I had already pre-planned. I stuck to my game plan there .. the closer it got to the finish line, it played more into my hands.
'On that particular day (the time to win) was 29:33 but there could be other days where there's more competition or a better runner on the day. It's very good that I've got that range.'
The Sydney Marathon on August 31 will be a different beast.
A 'why not?' attitude is fuelling Clifford's first crack at the historic 42.195km distance, hyped up by the addition of the legend Eliud Kipchoge to the entry list.
'I'm going to be on the same start line as the greatest marathon runner arguably of all time and that's a big drawcard,' he says.
For a man working part-time jobs while making his way in the world of elite running, the hope of finishing as the top Australian — and the $30,000 prize that comes with that title — is an even bigger attraction.
Just considering that as a possibility is a far cry from a few years ago, when Clifford thought 'the idea of being an Olympian was probably more of a cool idea' than 'reality' at a time he was being held back by his own drinking habits.
Having turned himself around and risen through the ranks faster than he expected, he's now got a future to look forward to.
'It's shifted my mindset into always trying to improve, which is good, I think, for the long term,' Clifford says.
'I've got some goals that I'm really passionate about and I have a reason why, and a few reasons why. So long as I have my 'why', that'll keep me going until 2032 and maybe even beyond.'
Clifford's 'pretty clear pathway' stretches out beyond the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics to the goal of running the 10,000m (track) and marathon double in Brisbane four years later.
And that's where his marathon debut in Sydney next month comes into play.
'It's probably one of the hardest doubles to do because it's the furthest distance you can run as an Olympian,' Clifford says.
'If I have the foundation of having already done a marathon and getting it out of the way early, at least it gives me a target and a marker in the sand.
'It's more enticing for me there, and it makes more sense to do it now and get it out of the way then not touch it for a while.'
'Then I can focus from the ground up. That means I can do a lot of shorter races just so I'm better prepared for when it comes round to LA and Brisbane.'
A three-year run to LA 2028 is less daunting when, like the Sydney Marathon, it acts as a stepping stone to the ultimate goal for Brisbane 2032.
'It's all good to be an Olympian but I also want to be competitive as well,' Clifford says.
'And I need to prove myself that if I'm going to go to the Olympics I want to be competitive.
'It's the same mindset I'm going into with Sydney. I want to be competitive.
'I'm pretty confident in my training and I'm pretty confident in my abilities now to really test that, because at the moment it's, you know, what have I got to lose?'