IN FORM: Mauao Half Marathon winner Regan Bones cruises to the finish line. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER 110217aw19BOP
IN FORM: Mauao Half Marathon winner Regan Bones cruises to the finish line. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER 110217aw19BOP
Running or walking a half marathon is hard enough on a flat course without having to do three climbs to the top of Mauao and three laps around the base track.
But that is what makes the Foundation Clinic Mauao Half Marathon such an unusual event. It is 95 percent off-road and offers competitors a real challenge and some of the best scenery you could hope for.
The second Mauao Half Marathon was held on Saturday morning in glorious conditions with increased numbers in individual and team events.
The first runner home was Tauranga's Regan Bones, 24, in a good time of 1h 42m 59s followed by Tauranga Triathlon members Todd Rowan (1:43:34) and Brad Dixon (1:43:54) .
Bones says the short, steep bits up the side of Mauao were the most difficult.
"They sort of take you out of your rhythm. It is pretty testing. It definitely impacts on your lungs and your muscles because they are working hard and then your heart rate drops," he said.
"It is pretty awesome to get a win. I haven't had one for quite a while and is good preparation for a marathon I am running in Hawke's Bay in four weeks."
Runner-up Rowan, 33, says his plan was to stick with the lead runner and see what happens.
"I was going for first today but [Bones] had more legs than me on that last hill climb and I just never bridged the gap again. Regan ran really well.
"The hardest thing was just trying to control your pace for three ups [Mauao] and the last one is the hardest, the four-wheel drive track."
First woman home in 1:50:53 was Jessie Speedy, 18, from Cambridge who spends her summers at the Mount. Andrena Clarke (2:07:10) from Mount Maunganui was second with Rotorua's Lauren Keaney third (2:09:09).
Speedy was not sure what to expect when she lined up at the start.
"To be honest I didn't even know. I just wanted to come out and do it and give it a go. I wasn't too worried. It turned out well I guess," she said smiling.
"I have done cross country before but nothing this long off-road. This was my first one so hopefully I will be back. Yeah, I love it."
TOP EFFORT: Mauao Half Marathon Women's winner Jessie Speedy. PHOTO: Andrew Warner.
Organiser Craig Newland from Foundation Clinic says starting and finishing the race on the Mount Main Beach was due to feedback from the athletes.
"Last year we started at Pilot Bay which means we changed the route to keep everyone off the road to make it a bit safer. It makes it a little bit easier and [provides] more space for competitors and supporters as well," Newland said.
"We want to get bigger but we don't want to too much. Obviously we are mindful of the environment we are working in and mindful of the community as well. It is trying to get people more active more than anything which is the big thing."
Among the relay teams entered were 12 professional rugby referees at the start of a two-day camp in preparation for the Super Rugby season that begins on February 23.
