Blake gets feet back on ground

But Eric Blake's record wasn't set on rolling hills or asphalt. He ran the 26.2 miles in 2 hours 21 minutes 40 seconds. And he did it on a treadmill with no grade.

The Lebanon, Conn., native said he doubts he'll run another marathon on a treadmill. He prefers to road race, and will run his first Tucson Marathon today with hopes of qualifying for the 2008 Olympic trials by clocking under 2:22:00.

"I saw the course profile and thought it could be a fast course because it's mostly downhill," said Blake, 27. "I can run well on downhill courses."

The Tucson Marathon begins at 7:30 a.m. today at Cody Loop Road in Oracle. The finish line is at Oracle Road and El Conquistador Way. About 1,500 marathon runners will participate, many trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon. About 2,300 will run the half marathon. Sixty relay teams will compete. No prize money is awarded.

Blake learned about the treadmill marathon through Michael Wardian of Arlington, Va., who had set the previous treadmill world record at 2:23:58.

"When I saw there was a record for it, I figured I could break it," Blake said. "I figured I wanted to get it before it was out of reach, like 2:10."

Blake ran the marathon in June on a calibrated treadmill with an official timer at Malibu Fitness in Farmington, Conn. Blake is an assistant coach for the men's and women's cross country teams at Central Connecticut State in New Britain, where he competed on the cross country and track teams. He ran his record race in front of two dozen spectators in his first treadmill marathon.

"It was just a one-time-and-see-if-I-could-do-it thing," he said. "It's kind of obscure."

Blake said his record will probably stand for another year or so — and he doesn't plan to attempt another treadmill marathon.

"A road marathon is the actual marathon," said Blake, who is also a former Connecticut high school state cross country champion. "The whole atmosphere is much better. (It beats running) in place. Treadmill running is more for training."

Blake ran his personal record of 2:21:24 on a downhill course in Scranton, Pa., which qualified him for the 2004 Olympic Trials. He also has run marathons in New York and Austin, Texas. He placed 33rd in 2:22:00 at the 2004 Trials.

He's also succeeded in mountain running, finishing 11th overall and second for the six-member U.S. team at the World Mountain Running Trophy in September in Bursa, Turkey. He ran seven miles up a 9 percent to 10 percent grade on Mount Olympos, Uludag.

"They're pretty tough," Blake said of the eight mountain races he has competed in. "You're running straight up. My motivation is I've had some success at that."

Another contender in today's race is 30-year-old Isaac Barnes of Williamsport, Ohio. He's run 23 marathons and hopes to run 2:22 or faster in his first full Tucson Marathon. He won the 2000 Tucson Half Marathon in 1:08.51. His best marathon time is 2:25:00.

"The half marathon was fast," said Barnes, who will be trying to qualify for the Olympic Trials. "The full will be a question mark. It's really hard to run downhill that long. I'm a little bit worried I'm not in top shape, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm glad there's someone else (Blake) trying for a time in my range."

• Where/when: Starting time for marathon and marathon relay: 7:30 a.m. at Cody Loop Road in Oracle, two miles south of Mount Lemmon Highway. Starting time for Bobbi Olson Half-Marathon: 7 a.m. at the junction of Oracle Road and Arizona 77