Mar Vista Man Wins Catalina Marathon but 5Ks Are More His Speed

Kevin Purcell says he’s used to running 5Ks and 10Ks, but marathons aren’t really his thing. When he won the Catalina Marathon on March 12, it was only his fourth long distance race. The 35-year-old Mar Vista resident spoke with Mar Vista Patch a week after winning the 34th Catalina Marathon in 2:50:20. He confessed that he hadn't run his first marathon until the California International Marathon in Sacramento in 2007, and that he didn't really have much of a strategy going into the race.

Mar Vista Patch: You ran your first marathon at 31. What made you suddenly decide to take on long distance running?

Kevin Purcell: Probably the fact that I’m getting older. Even though I’ve been doing competitive running since I was 12, it’s the first question everyone always asks: ‘Have you run a marathon?’ And as a competitive runner I didn’t want to just run a marathon and try and get through it, I wanted to run one and see if I could get a good time. I wanted to try it while I was still young enough.

Patch: And you wanted to enter the Catalina Marathon this year?

Purcell: Actually, the Catalina Marathon is the culmination of the Buffalo Run Half Marathon and the Rose Bowl Half Marathon. I’d already run those because I like short races and I like racing on trails. My times were so good that I actually qualified for a free entry into the Catalina Marathon.

Patch: So what was your strategy going into the marathon?

Purcell: I just wanted to get through it and not kill myself. I really wasn’t sure how bad it was going to be. It’s a really hilly marathon and it usually takes around three hours to complete and I thought it was doable for me. I was really just interested in winning the trail championship. My plan was just to go out and stay with whoever was running first. And I guess it worked. In the end there was only 30 seconds between first and second place.

Patch: What was the toughest part of the race?

Purcell: The last three miles. It’s a crazy downhill run. It finishes the same way as the half marathon in Catalina and my plan was to conserve as much energy as possible and go hard and fast down the hill. But [John Tribbia of Boulder, CO, who came in second place] got too close for comfort. Apparently he had the same strategy as me. We ended up in a huge battle.

Patch: So how did it feel to win?

Purcell: It was great. There was an amazing crowd down there and it was a beautiful day. But I was really sore following the race. That downhill run really took it out of me.

Patch: What are the best and worst things about running?

Purcell: The painful, horrible aspect is the racing itself. I’m still running faster than I ever have before but it’s a constant struggle of training and pushing myself. But the great thing is, the more you put into it the greater personal satisfaction. It’s a great sense of accomplishment to win a race.

Patch: Where do you train?

Purcell: I have a team of friends and we have a running group. It’s like a social hour. We go running every day. We usually meet around Ocean Boulevard or San Vicente Boulevard in Santa Monica and run down to the beach or to Temescal Canyon or Will Rogers Park. I love trails, it’s why I like to do trail racing.

Patch: Is that why you didn’t run the L.A. Marathon?

Purcell: Actually, I ran the L.A. Marathon last year, but I prefer trail racing. Also, there’s no way I could have run the marathon this year, a week after the Catalina Race.

Patch: Did you watch Sunday’s marathon?

Purcell:  Yes. I even went out on San Vicente Boulevard with some friends and we ran alongside the leaders for a bit, as they were finishing. The winner [Markos Geneti], I’m not surprised he won. Even though this was his debut marathon he’s been a really good runner for a long time. When I first saw him doing 4:30 miles it became clear he knew what he was doing.

Patch: What’s next for you?

Purcell: I’m switching gears a bit. I’m going to be focusing on 5Ks and 10Ks. I like doing races where I’m not hurting for such a long time afterwards!

Patch: Finally, tell us a little bit about living in Mar Vista.

Purcell: I’ve been here about five years now. I work as an analyst for the city of Santa Monica and I love that I’m really close to work. The location here is great, it’s in the middle of everything. I live a couple of blocks away from the dog park, my friends are all in this area and my high school coach who I run with also lives here. It’s perfect.