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Press, 23 March 1985, Page 80

By

GLENN HASZARD

The idea of running in a 50 mile (80km) race is not everyone’s idea of fun, but for Debbie Rhode of Governor’s Bay “ultra” distance running has much to commend it. She will run in the annual Brighton Pier 50 mile race around the outskirts of Christchurch on March 30, and is looking forward to it. The 37-year-old mother of two says that she has enjoyed training for the race and what particularly appeals to her is the slower pace of the ultra distance race. She also likes the challenge of the unknown factors in such a race,

where many variables may affect a runner’s chances. Rhode’s first excursion into ultra distance running was in a 100 km running race around the Port Hills of Christchurch in 1980. She won the women’s section with an impressive first-up llhr 40min run. The next year she took part in the Brighton 50 miles race and broke the women’s record with a time of 7hr 49min. That record still stands, but it is almost certain to fall on March 30. Rhode is aiming to lower her own record by 30 minutes and thinks that her training over the last few months should be sufficient

to achieve that target. She has been running up to 120 km a week, with long runs of 30 to 40km each week-end and has run two training runs of over 50km. She may not have the women’s race and record all to herself though. An Auckland runner, Sue Andrews, with a personal best 7hr 11 min time for the distance, is expected to enter. But that time was done on a course which is basically downhill, from the slopes of Mount Egmont to Stratford, at sea level. Last year’s over-all winner, Richard Tout (Takapuna), will defend his title this year.