Oliver Reilly’s Six Star Journey
Oliver’s 6 World Marathon Majors:
London 2021 2:48:40
Boston 2022 2:51:48
Chicago 2022 2:44:50
Berlin 2023 2:42:06
Tokyo 2024 2:40:14
New York 2024 3:06:36
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle
It all started for Oliver in late 2020. An annual rejection email pops in for London Marathon 2021, oh well pop your name in the hat with 10 others sad souls and one of you can get the Greenock Glenpark Harriers club place. Oliver’s name was pulled out if the hat in late 2020 and there began a journey that would see him set his eyes on all six of the world marathon majors. Anyone who has watched Oliver’s dedication since that moment will see that habits are indeed a powerful and breed opportunities to be excellent.
Oliver’s 2.48 in London was a huge PB at the time and allowed him to qualify for Boston the following year. He backed up his London run with a 2.51 in Boston, on a much more challenging course, then set his eyes on Chicago in the same year. Oliver’s 2.44 in Chicago was real testament to his progress, and solidified his ambition to not only complete all 6, but maybe break the 3 hour mark for each as well!
2023 allowed Oliver another go at London, where he ran 2.50 as a wee warm up for the big one in Berlin later that year. Another PB followed in Berlin with 2.42, and we were down to two to go! The last two can be the trickiest to guarantee entry, so no risks were taken and Oliver invested in the Sports Tours package for both of them. First came Tokyo in March 2024, a phenomenal experience backed up with an incredible PB of 2.40.14. The kimono-clad Oliver returned home to a hero’s welcome knowing that he was now a stone’s throw away from completing the journey. The Big Apple awaited in late 2024….what could go wrong!
Well, running isn’t as simple as Oliver had made it look for the last 4 years. Some say it never goes to plan, and some only occasionally. The autumn of 2024 was to be Oliver’s stumbling block as injury ravaged his training in the final 6 weeks before his transatlantic journey. Just prior to that, he had ran a 5k PB of 16.41 and had finished 3rd at the Harrier’s 4km club race. The form was there, but the body doesn’t always play ball. However, the trip was booked, the ankle was strapped and Oliver headed stateside with 4 weeks of essentially no running.
The sub 3 ambition for all six marathons was still in the head, and from the gun in Staten Island, Oliver headed across the Narrows Bridge and into Brooklyn at pace. He hit halfway in around 1.26, good time in the bank at that stage. The route leaves Brooklyn and heads over the Queensboro Bridge and into Manhattan, heading north towards a quick loop in The Bronx.
The route then heads south on 5th Avenue and into Central Park for the finale. It was on this stretch that the difficult miles hit, and Oliver’s target had to change to just getting over the line unscathed. Oliver finished in an amazing time of 3.06.36, given the build-up and injury, this could be considered his hardest effort of the lot. The six star finisher’s medal was waiting for him at the end. The first Greenock Glenpark Harrier to achieve this. One of less than 20,000 in the world to do it. A phenomenal achievement.
You might ask what is next for Oliver? When you have put so much time, effort and money into achieving the 6 stars. Well, an hour after he crossed the line, marathon major number 7 was announced…. Looks like Oliver will have to head down under to continue the journey in Sydney! However, with rumours that this is the first step towards 9 majors, maybe it’s time for a break. Or maybe it’s time to get ready for Manchester 2025!
