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On October 2, Mbarak Hussein claimed the title of 2005 USA Marathon
Champion with a relatively easy win in difficult conditions at the
Twin Cities Marathon, breaking the tape in 2:18:28, over two minutes
clear of runner-up Ben Rosario.
The
victory came as no surprise. In March 2004, Hussein, then a month
shy of his 39th birthday and a Kenyan citizen residing in Albuquerque,
ran a personal best 2:08:10 at the Dong-A Marathon in Seoul, moving
up one spot from his fourth-place finish in 2003. Hussein, who graduated
from Lubbock Christian University and who had lived in the U.S.
for the greater part of the last 18 years, quietly became a US citizen
in October 2004. He then returned to South Korea in November and
ran 2:09:55 at the Joonang Seoul International Marathon, which earned
him third place and gave him the third-fastest marathon time among
American men in 2004. Hussein rounded out the year by again finishing
third in a major marathon, this time at Honolulu (2:14:00), a race
he has won three times (1998, 2001 and 2002); his 2004 finish was
the highest ever by an American in the event.
Hussein turned 40 on April 4 of this year and predictably started
tearing up the masters division in stateside road races. In a string
of 40-and-over spring and summer triumphs, Hussein ran 1:17:12 for
25K at the Fifth Third River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, Michigan,
good for fifth overall; 29:41 at the Peachtree 10K, placing him
17th overall; eighth at the Falmouth Road Race (33:22 for seven
miles), where he was the first American; and 1:03:23 at the Philadelphia
Distance Run, landing him ninth in the men's field and establishing
him as the Twin Cities favorite.
Hussein,
the younger brother of Boston Marathon legend Ibrahim Hussein (a
three-time winner of the race and its first African champion), has
two top-five finishes of his own in Beantown — a fifth in 2001 and
a fourth in 2002. Other notable performances in recent years include
2002 wins at America's Finest City Half-Marathon (1:03:00) and the
inaugural Joonang Seoul International Marathon in 2002 (2:09:46).
He has a personal best of 1:01:27 for the half-marathon.
Hussein, formerly a middle distance specialist, was an NJCAA champion
in cross country as well as in both the 800 and the 1,500 meters
for South Plains Junior College; later, he also won national titles
in the 800 and 1,500 while at Lubbock Christian, an NAIA school.
MensRacing.com spoke with Hussein about his 2006 aspirations and
plans as he relaxed at home in Albuquerque.
MensRacing.com:
Going into Twin Cities, most pundits had picked you to win. Did
you consider yourself the favorite?
Mbarak Hussein:
I knew I was one of them, but I wasn't overconfident. I knew there
were some young, upcoming guys to watch for.
MR:
Did you control the race from the beginning?
MH: In the beginning, I wanted it to be slow, and to
just be with the leaders. And it was conservative from the start
because of the weather. It was windy. But the pace was still slower
than I thought it would be. After running about 5:30 pace for the
first three miles, we all seemed to realize it was too slow and
picked it up to 5:05 or so.
MR:
You broke away at around 19 miles. Did you make a definitive move
or was it a matter of attrition?
MH: I didn't really push the pace, it was more that the
others fell off as we went up the hill while I maintained. When
I looked around, James [Carney] was still with me but then he fell
back. I thought he might be taking it easy on the uphill and that
he or someone might come back on the flat, but he didn't, so I said
to myself, 'I'm just going to keep running these same 5:05, 5:07
miles.'
MR:
The slow first 5K aside, would you describe your entire race as
conservative? Could you have run considerably faster?
MH: I think I could have run faster. Overall it was a
little more conservative than I thought it would be. Everyone was
eyeing each other. In championship races, people tend to go for
the win rather than run for time. Had we pushed right from the start
several of us might have run a little faster. I was thinking at
the start that given the weather 2:12 would be needed for the win,
or maybe closer to 2:14.
MR:
Have you thought about going after the masters world record in the
marathon [2:08:47 by Andres Espinoza]?
MH: Actually that has been a goal of mine and I am still
hoping to reach it. I keep thinking about it. Hopefully next year,
given the right course and the right training, I will have a shot.
MR:
What about making US national teams — World Championships,
Olympics?
MH: It is also a goal to make the next World Marathon
Championship team, I would love to do that. These are the things
that keep me competitive. At my age, I need things to keep myself
[focused and motivated]. So making the Worlds team is something
I always keep in mind.
MR:
When and where will your next marathon be?
MH: Honolulu, in December. This will be 10 Honolulu Marathons
in a row for me, and it's a tradition for me to finish the year
with this race. I always look forward to going back.
MR:
Anything else serious planned for 2005?
MH: No, nothing at shorter distances. Maybe something
here in town mainly as a training run.
MR:
Despite being 40, do you see yourself primarily as racing open competitors?
MH: Oh yeah, definitely. Although I am always going for
the masters win, of course, I go to compete as an open runner with
all the guys. I try to hang in tough. In the marathon, I feel I
have a better chance than in 5K or 10K races.
MR:
Has your training changed as you've become a little older?
MH: At this stage, I think I train a little smarter than
before. I understand my body a little better than ever now. I do
almost the same routine every year, but sometimes mix up the mileage
and the intensity, trading one for the other. Over the years I have
learned a lot. I have found what works for me and what doesn't work.
I don't really do major weekly mileage — my highest is about
110, usually 90-100. I tend to do a little more quality.
MR:
How many marathons have you run?
MH: I think about 25.
MR:
What's the purpose of the Q-Ray Ionized Bracelet on your wrist?
MH: That is supposed to balance what the Chinese call
yin and yang, and provide healing and curative powers. I wear it
every time I run.
MR:
What is your brother Ibrahim up to these days?
MH: He's now working with the Kenyan federation as an
official. So he's still very much in touch with running at the national
level.
MR:
Did Ibrahim's success and reputation in Boston give you a special
yearning to compete there yourself?
MH: Yes. When he was running Boston, my running had not
really even gotten started; I got into it a little late. I thought
it was something I really wanted to emulate when I grew up, so I
was grateful for the chance to compete and run well there in 2001
and 2002.
MR:
How long have you been based in the US? Since college?
MH: Yes, since 1987. I have been here most of the time.
I was home for two straight years at one point, but otherwise have
been back and forth, but really have lived here continuously.
MR:
Did you face any obstacles in seeking US citizenship?
MH: Actually my process was easy. I have been a legal
resident with a green card since 1998. You need to be a five-year
resident before applying for citizenship. I had fulfilled that,
so I didn't have a problem.
MR:
Do you have any training partners?
MH: I train with a group here in Albuquerque — we
have a lot of people coming through town, especially in the winter.
A lot of Kenyans come and we get along together. I know all the
trails locally so I get people together and we meet every morning.
It's fun and it helps me a lot.
MR:
Are you self-coached?
MH: Yes, I organize and do all my training myself —
with the help of the group, of course.
(Interview
posted 10/19/2005.)
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