Gisborne Harrier Club throws down challenge

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

HOW much can you improve your 2.5 or five-kilometre running time in two months?

Gisborne Harrier Club is putting this challenge to local runners with its Thursday twilight series that starts tomorrow and continues to the end of March.

The club is building on last year’s series, which was extended by four weeks because of consistently high numbers.

This time the club has decided on an eight-week series, during which runners can test whether a combination of training, race-hardening and friendly competition will get them fitter and faster over the same course.

Named The River Run and starting at the Marina car park, a slightly amended route will take in the Derby Street, Gladstone Road and William Pettie bridges.

The race is essentially traffic-free and takes in one or two laps of the scenic river walkways alongside the central business district rivers.

Club secretary Paul Paske said organisers had considered the new Oneroa beach walkway, which had become popular with local and visiting runners for training sessions.

“However, on a balmy evening it can be very busy, too, so we decided to stay out of the way of the walkers and cyclists there,” he said.

Five-kilometre races are quick and furious affairs for serious and seasoned athletes. Fast times require quick starts and having sufficient strength to keep going when the body goes into oxygen debt.

At the other end of the spectrum, for beginners and sportspeople who have not been running for a while, the distance will develop some endurance skills that may be handy while they dream about running fast marathons.

Heat can still be a problem, particularly at the start of the series, but the racing frequency will soon condition participants to deal with the realities of Gisborne’s summer climate.

Running in March should be cooler, which will also help produce faster times.

All are invited to take part, Naske says.

“These races will be low-key affairs for just $2,” he said.

“Formalities and the course will be simple. Starts will be at 6pm. The course is safe for kids, too, and most of them will find one lap of 2.5km a sufficient challenge.

“There will be no big prizes or extended ceremonies at the end so people can be home for dinner or Shortland Street by 7pm.

“However, some handy spot prizes will be divided among the finishers. I am sure the biggest prizes will be the satisfaction experienced privately by those runners who notch a marked improvement in their finishing times over the two months.”