Aiming high for 2028 Olympics, Ben Flanagan eyes Canadian title over record time in marathon debut

Ben Flanagan watched the Chicago Marathon last weekend with greater focus and attention to detail than previous years, primarily for research purposes long-term, but also in preparation for his Toronto Waterfront debut on Sunday morning.

“A lot of guys I’ve competed against ran well, which is intimidating and exciting," said the native of Kitchener, Ont. "I feel they are a few steps ahead of me because I’m so new to this.

“Guys with similar resumés to me are enjoying a lot of [marathon] success, so it is encouraging.”

One of them, Alex Masai of Kenya, trains with HOKA Northern Arizona Elite. He posted a personal-best time of two hours four minutes 37 seconds for third place in Chicago. Back in March, Masai finished sixth at the New York City Half Marathon, one spot and 14 seconds ahead of Flanagan.

The Canadian, who ran on the track in the 5,000 metres in his 2024 Olympic debut, came out of New York thinking 2:08 or 2:09 for his first marathon, but Flanagan’s priorities for this weekend shifted after a shorter and less-than-perfect build while recovering from a partially torn labrum in his left hip joint.

“I had a slice of humble pie through the spring and summer,” Flanagan told CBC Sports this week from his home in Cape Cod, Mass. “2:08 is already hard but it’s a lot harder when your [marathon] build gets interrupted [by injury], or it’s not long enough.

“The time [on Sunday] means a lot less to me than it did months ago. I’m not in an Olympic or world championship year having to hit [a qualifying standard]. The goal for this marathon is for it to be the worst one [of my career]. I would consider it a success by winning the Canadian championship.”

Justin Kent, Thomas Broatch and Trevor Hofbauer are the Canadian elite