Phil Costley decided to enter the marathon just three weeks ago, but that didn't stop him putting in a winning performance. Picture / Dean Purcell

Phil Costley decided to enter the marathon just three weeks ago, but that didn't stop him putting in a winning performance. Picture / Dean Purcell

In a race that began with drama, Phil Costley of Christchurch made it victory number four from four starts in the Auckland marathon yesterday.

The maths teacher calculated his final run to perfection, winning in 2h 22m 7s, heading into the finishing chute in Fanshawe St just 25s ahead of Southland farmer Chris Dagg.

Costley, 35, Dagg, Craig Kirkwood and Mark Hutchinson shared the pace from the start and over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. At halfway Costley made a move in the adidas-sponsored event, broke clear and led the chase up and down Tamaki Drive.

"I came off the bridge and got mixed up with the 10km runners, which inspired me and gave me an energy boost," said Costley.

"I only decided three weeks ago that I would run, so I am pretty rapt with that," he added.

Dagg, 38, said that he had Costley in his sights over the final 5km.

"I could see him, but it was more a matter of making sure I finished," said Dagg.

Hutchinson, twice previous winner, was third in 2h 23m 54s.

The marathon and half-marathon start in Devonport created bad feeling among a number of runners, as the field was sent on its way 6 1/2 minutes before the advertised start time of 6.30am. One runner affected in the women's field was Melanie Burke of Waiheke Island, who was having a pit stop when the starting horn sounded.

Burke was on catch-up for the whole race and came through in second in 2h 55m 26s. Her net time for the marathon distance run was 2h 52m 53s.

While it was disappointment for Burke it was elation for Sharon Fitzgerald of Auckland, who scored a win in only her second marathon.

The 34-year-old mother of a 16-month-old, was delighted to go under three hours with her winning time of 2h 53m 42s.

"That is awesome. It was great all the way, a really fabulous run," she said.

Fitzgerald has been back in Auckland for 18 months, after spending eight years in Britain.

"I have a coach in the UK and he has continued coaching me by correspondence."

Johanna Ottosson from Rotorua was third, in a personal best time by 2m, in 2h 57m 2s.