Frew, a Dunedin builder, is using this Sunday's marathon as part of his build-up for the Challenge Wanaka full ironman next February.
He is one of about 200 runners contesting the 42.2km from the Albatross Colony on Otago Peninsula to Watson Park, Port Chalmers, on Sunday.
Finishing the Boston Marathon just in time to avoid the bombing four years ago, Frew (50) has not lost his enthusiasm for running events in the United States.
But family commitments kept him away from any serious running until last year, when he returned to the US to contest the Los Angeles half-marathon, finishing 116th in a field of 8000.
He said it was a tough course and very hot, being 20degC at 6am. What added to the challenge was the fact the course was not released to competitors until around three weeks before race day.
''That was a challenge in itself, as it was really hard to prepare for,''he said.
Frew got the urge to target the Los Angeles event a year earlier when he competed in the Mudgee Marathon, near the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.
''That was the toughest event I've ever done. I was virtually on my hands and knees at the finish.''
Following the Los Angeles event last year, Frew found he was still searching for enthusiasm, so committed to the Challenge Wanaka half ironman in February this year but realised that first he had to learn to swim.
''That was a real learning curve for me.''
Swimming was not one of his favourite pastimes but he managed to finish the half ironman in Wanaka and now wants to go the whole distance.
Success has not been a stranger to Frew in recent months as he prepares for Challenge Wanaka. He finished second in the men's 50 age-group at the recent South Island half-marathon championships on the Lake Hood course near Ashburton.
''I was crook that day and doubted that I would finish.''
He completed the course in 1hr 32min 47sec.
But the result and recovery gave Frew encouragement to enter the Dunedin Marathon and stay focused on his Challenge Wanaka goals.
Frew plans to back the Dunedin Marathon up with the Cromwell half-marathon at Labour Weekend and Ashburton's Bridge to Bridge half-marathon at the beginning of December to sharpen his running skills for Challenge Wanaka.
As for Sunday's marathon, Frew is planning a time of around 3hr 10min and for a top placing in his age-group.
After he gets Challenge Wanaka from his system in February, Frew plans to get back into competitive running next year and target an ultra distance at the Naseby Water Race.
His two-year plan is to return to the United States and contest the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke, Virginia, in April, 2019.
''I was sent an invitation to run that event after Boston . So I've had an eye on it since.''
-By Wayne Parsons
