Stunning views and the sunrise at the First Light Marathon brought Switzerland competitor Maja Huglis (pictured) to tears - a week after her family were among those stranded in the Waioweka Gorge due to flooding and slips. Photo / Ellen Mary Taylor
Stunning views and the sunrise at the First Light Marathon brought Switzerland competitor Maja Huglis (pictured) to tears - a week after her family were among those stranded in the Waioweka Gorge due to flooding and slips. Photo / Ellen Mary Taylor
A stranded Swiss tourist’s Waioweka Gorge ordeal had a contrasting conclusion at the First Light Marathon in Gisborne on Saturday.
Maja Hugli was second overall female in the 42.2km race, just a week after her family were among about 40 people evacuated from a campsite in the gorge following heavyrain that caused major slips and flooding.
They were helicoptered from the campsite to Matawai, leaving behind their campervan, then transported to Gisborne.
The family were reunited with their van early last week and headed to Mahia before returning to Gisborne for the marathon.
Hugli was among about 90 runners from various countries who took part - more than 300 others competed in the half-marathon and 6km fun run.
She was blown away by the scenery at the event promoted as “the race into the world’s first sunrise”.
“It was just the nature. It was really beautiful,” she said. “The start was before sunrise, so we just ran up the first hill and there was the sun coming up and this was really a nice view.
Swiss runner Maja Hugli with her medal after completing the First Light Marathon. Photo / Supplied
“It’s called the First Light Marathon and we had this first light, so that was just amazing and, yeah, I had to weep.
“I had to cry a bit because of this beautiful scene ... the marathon [went] up a lot of hills and over grassy sections and along the beach and it was just wonderful.”
This was her 30th marathon “and the most beautiful I’ve ever done”.
Hugli crossed the finish line in a net time of 4 hours 7 minutes 16 seconds - nearly 10 minutes behind winner Elaine Webb and over 30 minutes clear of the third-placed runner.
She was happy with the time - her aim had been 4½ hours.
It’s Hugli’s third trip to New Zealand, but the first time she has done a marathon in the country.
It was a contrasting experience compared to being stuck in the gorge although she was worried the marathon would not go ahead.
“We were so lucky because before this marathon was this tropical storm. We were in Mahia Beach and I wasn’t sure if the marathon would take place because I didn’t know how much damage would be around Gisborne.”
Her fears were allayed by “beautiful weather”, a near 30C temperature and plenty of sun.
“Everything looked fine and it was really, really nice.”
When contacted by the Gisborne Herald on Tuesday, Hugli, husband Matthias and their two children were heading for the Wairarapa to view the Putangirua Pinnacles [earth pillars] geological formation.
