marathon – Artifex.News https://artifex.news Stay Connected. Stay Informed. Sun, 15 Mar 2026 13:14:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://artifex.news/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/cropped-cropped-app-logo-32x32.png marathon – Artifex.News https://artifex.news 32 32 Gopi chasing Asian Games glory and National record https://artifex.news/article70746524-ece/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 13:14:00 +0000 https://artifex.news/article70746524-ece/ Read More “Gopi chasing Asian Games glory and National record” »

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Gopi after completing the Valencia Marathon where he came within a whisker of breaking the National record
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Olympian Gopi Thonakal now has a singular obsession — break the long-standing National record in marathon.

Shivnath Singh’s Jalandhar Mark of 2:12.00 has stood the test of time for 48 years and continues to elude the elite marathon runners in the country.

The 37-year-old Gopi came agonisingly close to breaking the record when he clocked 2:12.23 at the Valencia Marathon in December 2025. He was on course but cramps by the 36km mark slowed him down and he missed setting a National record by a whisker.

“If not for the cramps in my calves, I would have broken the National record in Valencia. I was disappointed. But it (national record) has kept me motivated and my dream is to break it before I retire,’’ said Gopi from his training base in Udhagamandalam.

Gopi got another opportunity in the New Delhi Marathon in February this year but finished second (2:13.12) behind Kartik Karkera (2:13.10). Gopi, Kartik and Man Singh punched their tickets for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by achieving the Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) qualifying mark (2:15.04).

“Qualifying for the Asian Games was my main objective at the New Delhi marathon. The fact that three of us qualified from the same race showed how competitive it was. The intense rivalry among the three of us has been mutually beneficial, pushing us to perform better. It is good to have company in a major event, as we can work as a team and pose a serious challenge to runners from Japan and China,” said Gopi, a former Asian champion in the event.

Having qualified for the Asian Games, Gopi wants to break the National record there. “I reckon I have to do something below 2:09 for a podium finish if the race is pretty fast. But sometimes the race may be slow and finish in 2:15. I feel I am capable of doing a sub 2:10. My body is in good shape and I am training hard. It would be nice if I get a chance to compete in one or two marathons before the Asian Games,’’ said Gopi, who participated in the Rio Olympics.

Published – March 15, 2026 06:42 pm IST



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]]> This British Man Nears Milestone Of Becoming First To Run Entire Length of Africa https://artifex.news/russ-cook-this-british-man-nears-milestone-of-becoming-first-to-run-entire-length-of-africa-5363839/ Wed, 03 Apr 2024 02:24:28 +0000 https://artifex.news/russ-cook-this-british-man-nears-milestone-of-becoming-first-to-run-entire-length-of-africa-5363839/ Read More “This British Man Nears Milestone Of Becoming First To Run Entire Length of Africa” »

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Russell Cook is due to finish the challenge on 7 April.

Ultramarathon runner Russ Cook, also known as “Hardest Geezer,” is about to achieve a remarkable feat: running the entire length of Africa. This ambitious journey, dubbed Project Africa, will see him become the first person to ever complete such a trek. Cook began his adventure on 22 April, 2023 at the southern tip of South Africa and is expected to reach the finish line in Bizerte, Tunisia, on April 7th. Project Africa is an epic undertaking, spanning nearly 9,000 miles and taking him across a staggering 16 African countries.

Yesterday, he posted on Twitter that he was on the verge of completing his continent-spanning marathon in approximately five days.

“5 days to go. The last 347 days running through Africa have no doubt been the toughest of my life, but such an immense honour,” he tweeted.

According to BBC, Mr Cook had originally planned to complete 360 marathons in 240 days.After complications with his visas, health scares, geopolitical issues and an armed robbery, he was forced to change his route, extending the challenge.

Cook’s passion for extreme running was sparked by a friend. Since then, he’s tackled challenges like running across Asia and even a beer-fueled marathon. Project Africa isn’t just about the distance; Cook is also raising money for charities. The challenge is in aid of The Running Charity and has raised 427000 pounds (Rs 4,47,62324) so far.

Despite facing visa issues, health problems, and even robbery, Cook’s determination hasn’t wavered. His journey has taken him through deserts, rainforests, and mountains, pushing him to his limits. A celebratory party with a performance by British punk band Soft Play awaits him at the finish line. This is one ultramarathon that will be remembered.

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