Polk County's Mott sets personal record in marathons in Germany
Jon Mott, one of Polk county’s most talented runners, competed in one of the most competitive marathons in the world, the Berlin Marathon, on September 25. Just getting to the race was no minor task.
“I was traveling overseas for the first time in my life, and I don’t like flying,” Mott said. “The thought of flying over an ocean honestly had me terrified.”
Mott arrived in Berlin a few days early to get himself adjusted to the 6-hour time difference and let his body recover from the potential jetlag.
“Fortunately, I didn’t have any issues with either, at least that’s what I thought,” he said. “The first few days I felt great. And the weather was amazing. Lows were in the 50s and highs in the 60s.
“But the day prior to the race, I could tell something was off with my body. I could feel a sickness coming. It wasn’t anything bad, but it did have me worrying, especially since I only slept three hours the night prior to the race. I kept waking up from cold sweats. A fever was brewing, but there was no way was I going to let a sickness keep me from running.
Race morning, Mott was in the elite athlete tent with all the pros. He recognized Eliud Kipchoge, the runner who eventually went on to set the world record in winning the race.
“Finally, I was able to head to the starting line and begin mentally preparing myself for what was ahead,” Mott said. “Somehow, I found myself right up on the starting line. I asked others if they wanted to get ahead of me, but no one wanted the position. So, I happily accepted it.
“Right from the start a huge pack formed. It was the biggest pack of runners I’ve ever been a part of in a race. It was nice to be able to have others to run with, since I pretty much never get the opportunity. Unfortunately, this only lasted a couple kilometers, as I felt the pace was too inconsistent for me. So, I decided to drop back and run my own race. I went through the halfway split in 1:09:23. I was wanting to be closer to 1:09 flat, but I was still happy with my position.
“There was an instant increase in my pace, and I was feeling great. Each kilometer I was rolling past runners. I don’t think a single runner passed me in the second half of the race. I knew it was going to be a good day, but I didn’t know how fast I would run. My pace increased even more the last 5K.”
The finish line was at the Bradenburg Gate.
“I cruised in and enjoyed the amazing crowds,” he said. “I crossed the finish line, and my legs were completely done. Then, all of a sudden, the sickness that had been brewing hit me almost instantly. I even had to spend some time with the medics before they let me leave. But I was satisfied.
His finish was 2:17:20, a personal best by 10 seconds. He ran the second half of the race faster than the first half, in 1:07:57.
“Training for a marathon in the Florida summer can really throw off your confidence,” Mott said. “One thing that gave me confidence was my mileage. I had peaked at around 160 miles per week, leading up to Berlin.
“I have no idea what I’ll do next. The Olympic Trials aren’t until 2024. I’ve accomplished a lot in my running career. I’m also getting close to that age where the decline can start happening. But my passion for this sport is higher than ever. I will find what's best for me and work harder than ever to reach those new goals.”
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County's Mott sets personal record in marathons in Germany
