A veteran marathon runner’s view: this year’s event a great occasion
A cold start it may have been, but it turned into a beautiful day for the staging of the fourth annual Air New Zealand Hawke’s Bay International Marathon.
This Ironman-owned event this year had a new sponsor and therefore finishing point. It meant some major course changes this year.
The first three years of this event’s life finished at Seleni Winery on Maraekakaho Road but this year’s marathon event started at West Quay Ahuriri and all distances finished at Elephant Hill Winery in Haumoana.
This change was very positive, with the last 10km of the marathon having a picturesque sea view, running from the Clive bridge through Haumoana. If you had the energy to look that is. Some residents on Farndon Road may have thought otherwise as we made our way from the Chesterhope bridge back towards Clive.
A bit of a chilly start to the day.
The Half had a completely new course starting by Karamu High School, then heading through to Havelock North along Te Mata road to the Tuki Tuki river bank track on the west side and out to the Black bridge and on to the finish.
The 10 km event was mostly on the trail from the Christian Camp along the east bank of the Tuki Tuki before heading to Haumoana and the finish line.
This event is gaining in popularity each year. This year around 6000 were expected across all the distances. The marathon attracted 656 entrants, with the half attracting over 2600 and the 10 km about 1850. Even the kids fun run brought 170 to the start line.
Today’s event was Tony’s 33rd marathon.
Interestingly, 66 percent of all participants were female. The Marathon attracted about 60 percent male, the half however was the other way around as 64 percent of the field being female. The 10km brought the woman out in droves as they made up 74 percent of the field.
This event must be good for the Bay’s cashflow as 70percent% of entrants were visitors from outside of HB. There was a contingent from overseas as well, meaning accommodation must have been scarce and the bars and restaurants full.
The good weather conditions meant an impressive winner’s time in the Men’s Marathon of 2 hrs 27.33 posted by Wellington Scottish runner Daniel Jones. The women’s winner with a time of 2hrs 51.06 was Waikato University Maths Lecturer and accomplished Ultra Marathon runner Cecilia Flori.
Today’s runners were blessed with a classic Hawke’s Bay autumn day.
The Half also produced an equally impressive time from Auckland triathlete Jack Moody of 1hr 07.21. The woman’s race was taken out by Sarah Gardner in 1hr 18.43.
The 10km event was won by accomplished athletes Ted Taylor (36.34 minutes) and Laura Smidt (39.20 minutes).
On a personal note for me this was Marathon number 33. They seem to be getting harder with age, funny that. My time of 3 hrs 52, I was reasonably happy with, but more importantly it will be a good lead up to the Cairns Ironman in three weeks.
All in all, a raging success I would have to say. Hopefully they can sort out the parking situation at the finish where we had to walk 2km to our cars when the poor old legs didn’t want to go any further.
