Sisters Jennie Aitken-Hall, Vanessa McShane and Rachael Roycroft ran the Tauranga Half Marathon yesterday in remembrance of their late father, Mike. Photo: Mark McKeown.
Mrs McShane, who lives in Mount Maunganui, said she and her sisters wanted to do something to honour their dad and when they heard about the half marathon, which supports The Heart Foundation, they jumped at the opportunity.
"Dad passed away and it was very sudden and he didn't have a history of anything like that so this was an opportunity for us to get together and do something in dedication to him," she said.
Mrs Aitken-Hall travelled from Taranaki, and Mrs Roycroft from Waihi, to take part in the race.
Mrs McShane said everyone on the course was "really nice" and one homeowner went inside and came out with a glass of water.
"That's how shattered I must have looked," she joked.
While the sisters raced around the course, 68-year-old Gaylene Martin's goal was to finish the 5km loop.
She suffers from Graves Disease, that leads to an overactive thyroid gland, and a heart condition.
Before being fitted with a pacemaker two years ago her heart would stop and miss beats up to two seconds at a time, she said.
"I used to only be able to walk for a minute and a half but now I can do 30 minutes quite well," she said.
Mrs Martin's husband, Stan, walked with her and held her hand along much of the journey.
He was proud of his wife and said her health had improved immensely since she was fitted with the pacemaker.
"This is such a huge achievement for her and I am so proud of her. The Cardiac Clinic saved her life."
The couple walked the 5km route with Nan McKenzie of The Cardiac Clinic in Tauranga.
The clinic provides programmes for people with cardiac conditions, helping reduce the risk of further cardiac events.
Gaylene Martin (right) and Nan McKenzie of The Cardiac Clinic walked 5km in the Tauranga Half Marathon. Photo: Mark McKeown.