Alice Mason, the first woman to cross the finish line in the 2020 Rotorua Marathon. Photo / Andrew Warner
She had planned to race in Korea in March but that was cancelled, as were large-scale running events in New Zealand.
"Motivation-wise, it was quite hard to keep working so hard."
But the work paid off when she completed the 42.2km in two hours and 50 minutes, seven minutes ahead of the second woman home, Mel Aitken, from Tawa.
Mason had been working full-time in Rotorua Hospital until last month when she moved to a new part-time role in Tauranga, where her coach Craig Kirkwood is based.
She hopes the change will have "positive effects" for her running, allowing her more time to recover.
"I've also got lots of people there to train with now which is a bit different from Rotorua. But I do miss the Redwoods. I find that I have to come back once a week or fortnight or I miss the forest too much."
A live feed of the finish line is being broadcast today.
The race was Michael Voss' first Rotorua Marathon win after coming third last year.
He "really enjoyed" the race despite having a "bad spot" in the Hamurana hills.
Men's Rotorua Marathon winner Michael Voss with mayor Steve Chadwick. Photo / Andrew Warner
"When I got the gap ... I just didn't look back, I just tried to focus on holding a comfortable pace."
"To win the marathon has always been the goal, this is my third attempt, so I'm pretty stoked to finally get the win," he said.
Voss' friends and family were out on the course giving updates on his time and his lead and his workmates from Longmile Builders gave him extra boosts of encouragement.
He injured his achilles six weeks ago and resorted to biking for three weeks to keep his fitness up, before getting back on his feet three weeks ago.
"I just had to trust my coach's [Kim Stevenson's] word that it's not what you do in the three weeks of training you do before the marathon, it's the three months and three weeks of training that lead up to the day. So I had to keep reminding myself of that, half of it's all in your head."
"My legs started to cramp in the latter stages and if the race was 1km longer, I don't think I would have made it. I was right on the red line," he said.
"I can't really remember too much of the last 10km, I was just running on adrenaline."
Barbara Jamieson-Tucker at the finish line. Photo / Andrew Warner
She aimed to complete the marathon walk instead after months of rehabilitation.
"Initially I could only walk for 10 minutes and I'd be absolutely stuffed."
She manages the Rotorua Workbridge office, helping disabled and injured New Zealanders find employment, and has been using walking to keep herself "fit and healthy" during her return to work.
"I like getting out in the open spaces - just switching off really. Everybody needs time to themselves."
Jamieson-Tucker said the support she'd had from ACC, QE Health and physiotherapy had been "marvellous".
It is normally at the start of winter but was postponed due to Covid-19 this year and Aucklanders could not compete due to recent community transmission.
