Women’s fun run

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 18

Women’s fun run

The growing enthusiasm for running among women of all ages in Canterbury was well displayed when a record number- of women took part in the Y.W.C.A. annual “all women’s” fun run in north Hagley Park last Sunday. It is the only all women’s fun run in New Zealand. Several husbands were available to keep younger children amused in a creche tent where counting acorns was a popular amusement. There were about 350 runners, whose . ages ranged from 7 to a woman who looked about 20 years younger than her age of 70. The turn-out included many family groups of women running with their children. Last year the turn-out was 150, or thereabouts. This year there were two optional courses, one of about 3 km and one of 8

km; about 200 or more ran in the longer event. Competitiveness was ruled out and all finished in good shape. None needed the attentions of two St John Ambulance women on duty in the creche tent. The organiser was Mrs Debbie Rhode, who recently set the fastest time for a Canterbury woman in the annual Symon and Lowther 100 km run over the notoriously tough Banks Peninsula hills course. “We were delighted to see so many newcomers and many seem likely to join clubs after they found there • need be no competitiveness in running. We had speakers from a number of registered clubs who outlined the social and other advantages of running with a club and several new members were enrolled on the spot,” said Mrs Rh.ode.