Q & A: Mark Richardson

Mark Richardson. Photo / supersportimages.com

Mark Richardson is famous for being one of New Zealand's most disciplined opening batsmen - now he has turned that self-control to long-distance running.

The 39-year-old plans to run four of Total Sport's marathons plus the Auckland Marathon and the Xterra Auckland trail running series.

How long have you had this obsession with running and where did it begin?
It was about three years ago. A mate asked me to do the North Shore City Coastal Classic and that was 34km. I went into it totally under-prepared and it just murdered me. It was one of the first times in my sporting career where I thought I wasn't going to make it. I was throwing up on the beach and it was awful. The next year I made sure that I would do it properly with a year of training and before I knew it I was seeing the benefit of the running - I was losing weight, I'd beefed up a bit from my cricket days, and I just felt better. I got the bug and now I am addicted.

How do you find the time to train?
What I love about running is I can do it any time and it fits into my life pretty easily. I'd love to do the Speights Coast to Coast one day but I don't have time to train for an ironman. I train hard a couple of times per week [1 hour 10 minutes at a good rate]. I am fair heaving by the end of it. And then I run two hours-plus on the weekend and I love those runs because they are a bit easier.

How are the demands of running similar to cricket?
The best parallel with cricket is discipline. I don't go out with the goal of running as fast as I can. I try to pace myself to the time I want to run. I am not talking about selling yourself short but keeping at a level that is about 80 per cent of my maximum. It is a mental battle and it was the same in cricket. I tried to bat time and with control at about 80 per cent. New Zealand Cricket is struggling with that at the moment - we don't pace our innings. For me the key to batting was being patient and the end of the innings was the finish line.

Why have you chosen to run so many marathons in such a short space of time?
I haven't done five marathons yet [laughs]. It is a new challenge and that is why it's exciting. I have loved the Xterra series and I am improving my places. The terrain is challenging and it really gets my competitive spirit going. I did the Auckland Marathon and The Dual and now it is time to see how much further I can take it. While five marathons is a lot, if I prepare well I should be alright.

Many top sportsmen carry on their fitness in other disciplines after their careers - why is that?
Most people who play high-level sport reach a point where they have had enough and the desire is gone. That is how it was for me. It wasn't fun anymore. But getting back into the running where it was up to me what I put in, that was really refreshing. One of the nice things about running is if I have a bad race, it doesn't matter. I can just walk away knowing that I have had a lot of fun and the next time I will try and go better.

Cricket career

38
Tests

2776
Total runs scored

44.77
Batting average

19
50s

4
100s

Running results

3.09.58
2010 Auckland Marathon time (42km)

4.12.11
2011 The Dual 42km trail run time

3.44.54
2011 T42 42km trail run time