The marathon man

January 15, 2010 - 6:59 PM by David

Among the hundreds of runners in last week’s Tiberias Marathon, was a 32-year-old visitor from Australia – Tristan Miller.

Miller was on the second week of his year-long quest to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks. Yes, crazy idea, but if anyone can do it, it might be Miller.

Catching up with him a couple days before the marathon at the Jaffa Youth Hostel where he was staying, Miller was getting used to the summer temperatures close to 27 centigrade, after flying in from Zurich where he ran his first marathon in nearly 0 degree temperature.

“So, far I love Israel. It’s so lively here in Tel Aviv, and the people have been so friendly and interested in what I’m doing,” he said.

Miller, who sold his home to finance his journey, which he’s making with his longtime friend Darren, hopes to raise money for UNICEF from people who contribute funds to his Web site - and he’s hoping for a few adventures on the way.

Talking to him a couple days after the marathon – which he finished in a respectable 3:52, Miller said that he suffered in the heat, but that the views on the route, which focused on the Kinneret were breathtaking – not a great thing when you’re running a marathon.

“It was much more beatiful than I expected,” he said. “I was running for a while next to a guy called Avraham, and he was giving me the history of the area and what happened with the Golan Heights and Syria – what it was like in the area in the past and how it changed. It was really interesting. That’s why I’m here, to hear stories, and learn from everyone whatever they have to offer.”

Miller was headed to Jerusalem for some sightseeing after enjoying a beer-drinking night out on his last night in Tel Aviv, and before heading to his next marathon stop in Mumbai.

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