It's that time of the year, most road races are coming to a close with the Christmas races around the country give us a last chance to post a best time for 2015. Spare a thought also for the East of Ireland Marathon Club who will be running back to back marathons this weekend.
It's sometimes difficult to gauge our time. Even trying to compare your time for the Cork Marathon to the Dublin Marathon, the difference in terrain and race day conditions can easily add 5 or 10 minutes here or there. With that in mind, I was found myself stumbling on a Wikipedia article showing the top celebrity marathon times and to be fair, I found myself wondering just who I was better than. The competitive side soon kicks in and you'll be saying "Surely I can beat them" before you reach the end of the list.
10. George W. Bush - Houston Marathon 1993 - 03:44:52
George W. Bush ran in the Houston Marathon at age 46 in 1993, finishing with the time of 3 hours, 44 minutes, 52 seconds.
9. Flea - Los Angeles Marathon 2012 - 03:41:49
The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist is one of the most surprising additions to our list. He ran the Los Angeles Marathon in 2011 in 3:50 then took 9 minutes off the next year with a great 3:41 marathon.
8. Gordon Ramsay - London Marathon 2004 - 03:30:37
Chef Ramsay had participated in more than 15 marathons, three ultra-marathons, three half-Ironmans, as well as the world's toughest ironman competition in Hawaii. What's more, he clocked an impressive 4:26:21 during the 2012 London Marathon. His marathon PB came in 2004 with a great 3:30 marathon.
7. Caroline Wozniacki - New York City Marathon 2014 - 03:26:33
Top ladies Tennis star, Wozniacki was very much mortal during her marathon debut in the 2014 New York City Marathon. "I thought I was gonna die," she said upon completing the race. Despite the lack of preparation and experience however, Wozniacki clocked an impressive 3:26:33, more than enough to qualify for the exclusive Boston Marathon.
6. Björn Ulvaeus - Stockholm Marathon 1980 - 03:23:54
Trumping both the rock icon and the pop idols is Bjorn Ulvaeus, who you’ll know as the non-beardy guy in ABBA. In 1980, when ABBA were the biggest music act on the planet he ran his local Stockholm marathon in a very impressive 3:23