Curtis relishes Marathon victory

KUDOS to Clico Marathon 2005 winner Curtis Cox who reclaimed the title for Trinidad and Tobago following 11 consecutive years of defeat. When Curtis extended his lead in the race by 200m in the vicinity of Laventille, he told himself: “They can’t ketch me now!” This had to be his year, he assured. It was the first time that all his co-workers at Colfire (Colonial Fire and General Insurance Co Ltd), Chaguanas branch, had turned out to see him run and they expressed conviction that he would win. And only the night before did his ex-girlfriend, Maria, compound his hopes via a vision that he would cup the title.
 
“And then I had the support of the crowd. They were cheering ‘Ah we boy!’ and all that gave me confidence and impetus to win the race. I said this is for myself and the country and once the people were there encouraging me I had to keep on,” Curtis said. Curtis was ecstatic! Why? Well not only did he dethrone Pamenos Ballentyne, but he wanted badly to bring home a victory for TT. “I feel good. Last year I came second and people were passing me in the street, now they are stopping me and congratulating me.”

In a time of 2:24:21, two minutes slower than his time last year, Curtis completed the 26k marathon that began in Chaguanas and ended in Port-of-Spain. His win, however, was no “cool running.” At the 30th mile he started getting stomach cramps that lasted a few minutes. He slowed his pace only to allow his competitors to reach within an arm’s length of him. “I was thinking maybe I didn’t drink enough water and I didn’t get any Gatorade. But it could have been a psychological thing, thinking about it,” said the fast-talker. The self-proclaimed introvert and “humble” Tobago-boy who attained his first Clico victory after participating in the event for 15 years had two words for his long-time admirer, Pamenos — “Hard luck!” “The better man won at the end of the day,” said the 37-year-old, now resident in Curepe.

Curtis was born in Mason Hall, Tobago. His single parent teenage mother, at the time was unable to take care of her baby. “My father was already married. It was tough.” So, from his boyhood up, Curtis spent with his uncle. At school (Curtis attended Scarbor-ough Junior Secondary and Signal Hill Comprehensive) he played table tennis and wind ball cricket, “and my classmates never saw me run and it was a shock to them when they saw me on TV.” Actually, it was his aunt’s regular jogging routine that influenced Curtis’ decision to compete in long distance running. “I used to accompany her on mornings jogging in my ‘watchie kongs’ just to keep fit and I  realised that I was running and not getting tired and so I decided to enter the Guinness Half Marathon in Tobago in 1986.”

He placed 23rd, and it was some two weeks later that he journeyed to Trinidad to participate in the then Mirror Trinidad Marathon. “I did a lot of walking in that marathon. It was hard for me and I said I wouldn’t do it again.” He did return, the following year and ran the entire marathon. Impressed by his improved performance, he persisted in the competition and made it to tenth place. “My goal was and still is to take part in an Olympics.” His sights are on the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. “So, I was using Trinidad as my launching pad for the United States (of America). But it turned out that I got a job and I’m now a filing clerk at Colfire.”

One of his biggest wins to date is the Winnipeg Marathon 2000 in Canada. More than 7,500 people participated and Curtis ran a time of 2:30:53. In 1995 he was named “Road Runner of the Year” by the National Amateur Athletic Association. He is very dedicated to personal training, leaving home around 3.30 in the morning for the Paramin Hills and on evenings after work, he heads to the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium. He covers some 160 miles per week with long runs on Sundays. His hill runs, he said, strengthen the hamstring and quadricep muscles. He no longer uses “watchie kongs,” but invests in more durable training gear. “I use two shoes to train and every three months I have to change them because you’re doing mileage on the road and it wears out.” He is helped along by Simplex Runner’s Club, Gunness Persad with running tips and massage and general advice by friends Dana Seetahal and Suzanne Francois.

Preparation for and cool-down after each event in which he participates calls for a Swedish massage “to get the toxins out because during a long run lactic acid builds up in the system. The massage also relaxes the system.” He said it is a joy to compete in an event he loves. He said: “I get to see places and meet people. I am more self-confident, knowing I could do things if I put my mind to it, to persevere. And I’m also putting Trinidad and Tobago on the map. I’m like a role model for the youth. I feel good when children reach me and tell me they are happy for me.”