Taranaki Daily News Half-Marathon 2008
Brian's Report
Most sane people were at home in the warm on Sunday morning and no doubt looked out of the window to see the rain pelting down and thought about those crazy people walking in that. I think it was the worst weather I've seen for that event and there have been quite a few bad days over the years.
For the first time in years the runners exceeded the walkers by about 100 and due to the bad weather they started the race outside the kindergarten and finished outside the Bellringer Pavilion. Having over 800 people going down the final slope and around the cricket pitch would have turned the whole area into a quagmire.
Actually I think they should start and finish the race in these positions every year as you all know what a pain it is trying to get in front of the old ladies etc getting out of the park at the start and after 21km the last thing you want is to walk the last 100m on grass.
Anyway, I was asked to help Denis Hastie judging the 'creepers' as he is too nice to reprimand those infringing, so what does that make me? There were 13 club members taking part and reading through the list of walkers from our club in the paper I saw that Rachel was the 13th one with her race number being 1313. I said to Denis that I hoped she wasn't superstitious.
Rachel only had the RWC singlet on up top (made me feel cold just looking at her) as did Phil whereas most had at least thermals & or waterproofs. At the gun Rachel shot into the lead as the pack disappeared around the corner into Liardet St as Denis & I headed for my car.
It was good to see the individual battles going on amongst the first 30 walkers. Mike although in the front row at the start must have got hemmed in because he was way back initially but slowly made his way through the pack to set off after Phil who was in third place.
Nick much to our surprise was walking alongside Denise Stewart-Jacks and holding his own for many kms. Of even greater surprise was to see Tanya (or Tracy as she is known by some) only about 15kms behind them. Valda was next with a friend and then Marlene followed by Ann and a couple of other people whom I didn't know.
Denise around 7km put in a spurt to shake off Nick but as she only opened up about a 10m gap he slowly closed back up to walk alongside her again and at one stage Tanya was just behind them but they must have stepped up the pace because she dropped back again.
Behind them Valda's friend(Bridget) dropped back to join Marlene and company whereas Ann having been out of walking for some while with injury, showed her lack of fitness and had fallen back and walked alone for probably the next 10km. Then later on in the race when she got her second wind was starting to catch and pass people and was going strong when we last saw her.
Around 7km Marlene had shaken off her group and was around 15m behind Valda who was walking smoothly and that's how it was by the time we got to Hurworth Hall.
Denis & I took off to see how Denise's threesome was getting on and saw that she had at last shrugged off Nick and was going like the clappers. Nick was still walking very strongly though and no doubt hoping to wear her down. Tanya was now only 10m behind him and looked very determined but could still muster a smile and joke with us.
Around the 13km at Baker Road, Marlene had closed the gap to pass Valda and set off after Tanya & Nick who were about 2mins ahead. Rachel, Vanessa Mike & Phil were long gone and unfortunately we never saw what happened to their battles. However much to our surprise along Carrington St we saw that Tanya had passed Nick and was just a few metres behind Rachel who was now wearing a thermal and that lovely style of hers was gone and by the look on her white drawn face was walking on memory.
I found at later that all her family have had the bot and she was sick all the night before herself and around the BP garage the effects of that plus the cold got too much for her. Tanya passed Rachel just into Victoria Rd and Marlene was now just 50secs behind Nick when we took off to the finish line to get some photos of our finishers.
I was fortunate enough to get a parking spot right by the main gates and in time to get my shot of Denise wearing a big smile as she headed for the gates. Then came Tanya who wasn't exactly doing cartwheels but by the big grin on her face wanted to. Next came Rachel with a face like a ghost she was so spent. Nick wasn't too far behind and looked so strong as if he could turn around and do it all over again. Marlene had halved the time she was behind him but ran out of distance to pass. Valda was next home just being pipped coming up the slope by a young women (don't you just hate that?).
I never got to see any others coming home as I was away getting a towel and dry clothes for Marlene so sorry about that people. I must congratulate all our club walkers who did themselves and the club proud as they filled eight of the first 10 places. There would have been a number of PBs Marlene & Tanya definitely in fact Tanya knocked around 10mins off last year's time as did Mike but assuming it's the same Phil Mason who did it in 2.47 last year, Phil was around 25min faster a stupendous effort.
There were a number of the club's walkers who didn't walk but were there to support those members who were walking which was really great of them to turn out in such disgusting weather.
On a final note only about 20m behind Denise came one of the club's ex walkers Baz Preston who walked on his own for the whole race gradually passing the field. Baz used to be the fastest walker in the club in his time and he finished in 2.23 which isn't too bad for a bloke who will be 75 shortly is it; there's hope for us all yet.
Mike's Report
A cold and wet morning greeted the 800-odd runners and walkers who undertook this year’s Taranaki Daily News Half-Marathon. For once the weather forecasters got it right – bugger!!!! The rain was quite steady by the time the walkers took off at 8:15am but the good news was that the runners had cleared a way through the tide. Fortunately the rain soon dropped away to drizzle and occasional showers – but by then everyone was well and truly wet through!!!
A few regulars from the TRWC were missing from this year’s event – holidays, injuries and relocations meant that our numbers were down a bit. However we still had a good turn out and I’m constantly amazed by how good are uniforms are at standing out in a crowd.
Rachel and Vanessa took off at a cracking pace followed by Phil and Mike. Behind them was a good competitive group (Denise, Tanya, Nick, Marlene, Anne and Valda).
Rachel built up a good lead but by the 9km mark word was filtering through that Vanessa had caught and overtaken Rachel. Turns out Rachel had a tummy bug and did a wonderful job just to complete the event.
Nessie continued powering away and was the first walker and first woman home. Mike followed on 5mins later to be second home and first man home followed closely by Phil.
Phil had a good 200m to 300m lead on Mike through most of the race. However a couple of female runners dragged Mike along and he managed to catch and pass Phil just before the 20km mark. Just behind there was some competitive walking going on before Denise put on one of her trademark spurts right before the end.
Overall another result the Club can be proud of. The first four home were TRWC members and ten of the first thirteen were Club members. A number of PBs were recorded – Tanya and Nick continue to improve. Arthur did a fabulous time for his age!!!
A big thank you to a number of our members who were out there on the course supporting everyone’s endeavours – good on yas!!
A number of our members also helped out with organising, scrutineering and running of the event – many thanks to those members.
Despite the weather everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves.
Next up is the Club Prize-Giving Dinner on Thursday 23 October 2008 where the results of the Norm Morriss Memorial Club will be announced together with the winner of this years Points Trophy.
Selected Results (courtesy of the New Plymouth Joggers and Walkers Club):
01 2:11:52 Vanessa Lowl
02 2:16:26 Mike Nield
03 2:16:43 Phil Mason
04 2:24:34 Denise Stewart-Jacks
05 2:24:57 Herb Preston
06 2:25:59 Tanya Campbell
07 2:26:22 Rachel Gilberd
08 2:26:26 Nick O'Connor
09 2:26:51 Marlene White
10 2:28:58 Nicky Schuetze
11 2:29:08 Valda Goodey
12 2:29:20 Neil Fagan
13 2:29:46 Anne Fraser
14 2:32:02 Louis Kuriger
15 2:32:12 Bridget McFarlane
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55 2:48:54 Michelle Nicholson
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133 3:00:24 Arthur Lester
