David Costi takes Chicago Marathon
1. What are your current PB’s?
My current PBs are: 5k 19.59, 10k 41.45, Half Marathon 1.30.31 and Marathon 3.18.30.
2. When did you start running and what got you into running?
I started running in 2012 at age 42, having never run at all before in my life. I was on a holiday in Darwin in perfect dry season weather watching others run along the Nightcliff esplanade path and thought I might give it a go. In that week I did 3 easy runs followed each time by by a jump in the pool and coffee. I felt great afterwards and from there I was hooked. On my return home I went on to do City Bay 2012, Barossa Half 2013 and Adelaide Marathon 2013.
3. What’s a standard training week for you? What’s your favourite session/workout?
A standard training week at the moment is around 80-90km with one rest day. Typical week: Mon - easy 8-10k, Tues - Adelaide Harriers speed session (usually 8x1km on the 5 + 6km warm up and 3km warm down), Wed - easy 10-15k + strength session, Thurs - Harriers city loop (14km) Fri - rest, Sat - Adelaide Harriers session (usually 9km worth of work + 6km warm up and 3km warm down) Sun - long run (90mins - 120mins), commonly up Brownhill Creek and often with Chris Hargreaves. My favourite session is the Adelaide Harriers broken 1k repeats (500 on, 200 jog, 300 on).
4. What made you choose Chicago Marathon?
I chose Chicago because it was the first major I managed to qualify for. I ran the qualifying time at Gold Coast 2019 and was entered for the 2020 race, however that was cancelled due to COVID. Many people have given great reviews of this race on a very flat course so pumped to finally get around to doing it.
5. What are you aiming for? And what is the race plan?
I'm aiming for a new PB, so anything under 3.18. My plan is to go out at the pace of a 3.15 finish time (in the 4.30s per km).
6. What is your fondest running memory?
My fondest running memory is the Adelaide Harriers group trip to Berlin Marathon 2023. We had a small contigent head over from the club and it was a great bunch of people to share the journey with.
7. What’s been your favourite race to date and why?
My favourite race to date is the Boston Marathon. Partly because of the history (it's been run every year since 1897) and the kudos of needing to qualify rather than anyone can get a ticket. But it’s more than that, it’s the yellow school bus ride out into the countryside where you start, the cowbells, the scream tunnel, the transition from country town hills to the city finish on Boylston Street.