Marathon runners getting itchy feet

Press, 19 October 1977, Page 23

Marathon runners getting itchy feet

The fine weather this week has signalled the approach of the season for the 26 mile 385 yard road race which bears the charismic and sometimes dreaded title of “The Marathon.” This is the event which Dr Roger Bannister, the first sub-four minute miler, once called, “the acme of athletic heroism” — the event which is so tough that to have completed it is recognised as a great achievement. Yet in spite of the marathon’s awesome reputation — there are few who run it without each time saying “never again” afterwards — it has the fastest entry growth of any athletic event throughout the world.

In New Zealand this season’s calendar of road events includes more marathons, and more runners will be taking part in them than ever before. There is hardly any age barrier for fit marathoners. They range in age from less than 16 to well over 60. In the United Kingdom there is a veteran category in marathons for runners over 80.

Women, once excluded from this event, are now finding it increasingly suited to their capabilities and 28 ran in the last huge annual Rotorua event.

Marathoning is also a growing factor in the tourist and holiday industry and may earn tourist dollars for New Zealand. White Heron Travel, Limited, is planning annual group tourst to Hawaii for the worldfamous Honolulu marathon which is held every year in the month of December. Each year airlines carry increasing numbers of run-

ning holidaymakers to Honolulu for this prestige event from many parts of North America, Europe and Australia. Air New Zealand is also expecting to carry increasing numbers of overseas runners to the huge annual Fletcher-sponsored Rotorua marathon in April. Nearly 600 ran in the event last April and Air New Zealand brought a big party of runners from Honolulu for it.

They included the director of cardiac rehabilitation at the University of Hawaii, Dr Jack Scaff, and some of the heart patients he has rehabilitated at his world-famous Honolulu marathon clinic. All completed the Rotorua event. Their ages ranged from 28 to 62. New Zealanders can also travel to the huge annual Boston marathon, which attracts athletes from all over the world. New Zealand’s former Olympic marathon representative, Dave McKenzie, of Greymouth, is a former winner of the Boston event.

In North America several city corporations hold annual community marathons. There will be quite a few air travellers to the annual New York city event on October 23. Last year this event attracted well over 2000 runners and more are expected this year. Among the top contenders are lan Thompson, winner of the Christchurch Commonwealth Games marathon, and the double Olympic gold medal winner in the 5000 and 10,000 m events, Lasse Viren, of Finland, and Frank Shorter, of the United States, the 1972 Olympic marathon champion.

Next month New Zealand will be host to one of the greatest fields of world-ranking marathon runners, for the big Choysa-sponsored marathon in Auckland. Nearly all New Zealand’s top distance men will be running the twice out-and-back harbour-side course. Their performances will have a big bearing on selection for the Edmonton Commonwealth Games next August. The race is on November 13 and entries can be sent to the race secretary at Box 65108 Auckland.

Both lan Thompson and Frank Shorter are among the list of world-class overseas marathon men invited for the Choysa marathon. The Christchurch Harrier and A. A. Club’s annual open marathon will set the long-distance season here off to a strong start with a record field of more than 80 on Saturday. Most registered clubs will be represented and runners will take part from the Army, Air Force and police force.

The tall, strong-strid-ing athlete, Les Vincent is coming from Nelson. He is a former winner of the D. B. Great Westland marathon and took third in last year’s Christchurch marathon and could well prove to be the man to watch on Saturday. But there will be strong competition from the Christchurch club team, which includes Kevin Barnes, Vic Sykes, John Perry, Doug Mackley, and Peter McLauchlan and Jim Young, of the Olympic club. lan Falvey (Timaru), who with Vic Sykes is a strong contender for veteran (over 40) honours, seems sure to be well up in the over-all results. More and more veteran (over 40) runners are competing and these will account for about 30 per cent of the field on Saturday. Of these five are over 50. One of these is Barry Evans, who in this race last year recorded the best New Zealand marathon time for a man in his age group.

Evans ran well in the big Symon and Lowther 100 km run on Oct 8. Two other veterans who ran well in the lOOkms Brain Price of the Waimea club and David Fenn of the Veterans club, are also running on Saturday. Price beat Evans by some minutes in the lOOkm.

It will be worth noting how the 100 km 14 days earlier, assists their performance over less than half the distance on Saturday. Some other veteran athletes who ran well in the 100 km, including the Canterbury marathon champion, Don Cameron (44), and Frank Aplin (41), are doing light recovery training before tackling marathons later in the season.

The race secretary on Saturday, Peter Sullivan, who also ran well in the 10 okm, says the Christchurch club regards their marathon as a “peoples’ event.” Course marshalls will remain on duty to help slower runners until four hours have elapsed. However, all runners coming in later will have their perfomrances recorded and all who complete the course and who apply on Saturday for certificates will receive them.

Mr Sullivan said post entries will be allowed although they will not qualify for major trophies.

The round-the-river course, finishing at Porritt Park, is recognised as one of the best in New Zealand. The event starts at 2 p.m. but all runners are asked to report to the numbers steward by 1.30 p.m. Runners bringing personal refreshments must deposit their containers, clearly labled with their names and numbers, with Mr Alan Barnett the feed station supervisor, by 1.30 p.m.