Marathon runner felt part of identity 'stolen' after losing national record

Andy Buchanan and Ellie Pashley will lead Australia's marathon charge at the Sydney Marathon on Sunday. This year's event is part of the world's eight major marathons, with over 40,000 participants expected. The race will conclude at the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Buchanan, the 35-year-old runner, was deeply affected when his national record was broken by Haftu Strintzos by just two seconds at the Gold Coast marathon. He expressed feeling as though something essential to his identity had been stolen. Despite finishing 18th in the half marathon the day before, Buchanan's disappointment remained, but he vowed to move on and focus on getting the record back.

Buchanan's record was unbroken for 36 years, a testament to his determination. He suffered a stress reaction in his femur, which led to multiple setbacks, including injuries during training for World Championships and the Valencia Marathon. However, he remains optimistic about his chances in Sydney, as he will be the fastest Australian man in the elite field, alongside world champion Alphonce Simbu.

The women's race features the current world champion, Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir, while Ellie Pashley aims to become the first Australian woman to cross the finish line. Pashley, a former world champion, is eager to return to the sport after the birth of her second child, hoping to prove herself fitter than she was in Ballarat last year.