Marathon: NZ casts spell on winner

Leah Fitzgerald vows to return next year with kids after slipping on her Hawke's Bay marathon crown. Photo / Paul Taylor

It was only her second international marathon but Leah Fitzgerald isn't about to forget it in a hurry for myriad reasons.

The Aussie blew away the women's field in Hawke's Bay in a scorching 3h 44s before extolling the qualities of the province and race organisers as the inaugural female champion on Saturday.

"It's my first time to New Zealand so I'm just blown away by its beauty and how everybody is so nice and welcoming," said Fitzgerald, winner of the 2015 Big Island International Marathon in Hawaii.

On Saturday the Coffs Harbour athlete finished seventh overall in a field of 780 male and female finishers.

"I've never gone to another country where there's so much warmth and I'm blown away by the Kiwis and that's so nice to see," said the 33-year-old restaurant manager.

"I've absolutely fallen in love with New Zealand and I've got three children so we'll bring them on the next trip," she said, confirming she would return next year although she was still trying to get her head around factors such as travel and finding a comfort zone between events.

Using the Bay race as an ideal launching pad, Fitzgerald has pencilled in the Gold Coast Marathon in July en route to qualifying for the New York Marathon in November.

Auckland stay-at-home mum Katherine Morgan was runner-up in 3:14 and Marisa Ruhter, of Seattle, was third in 3:20:03 in a field of 308 female finishers.

Karen Toumlin, of Hastings, was fourth and the first Bay runner home but women's favourite Ruby Muir, of Napier, did not finish.

"I thought she'd really catch me because of what I've seen of her she's quite a strong runner," Fitzgerald said of Muir, a champion trail athlete.

Looking more stable on her feet than the two leading blokes, she shook off Muir at the 18km mark but was mindful Morgan had earlier been breathing down her neck.

"I didn't know who she [Morgan] was either but I knew I had to shake her off my tail to save my lead."

Fitzgerald had no problem with the balmy weather - she trains in 30C-plus at home.

"I heard the wind whistling last night but when I got to the start line near the ocean [Marine Parade] this morning I thought where did that wind go?

"But then I got to the halfway mark and thought, 'Ah here it comes', so from that 30km mark I just had that head wind."

But no doubt the Bay package blew her away more than the pesky nor'westerlies.

Fitzgerald, whose husband Adam ran a PB in the half marathon, celebrated with a few drinks at Sileni Estates Winery after abstaining from alcohol while training.

"I don't think he [Adam] was too enthusiastic when I signed him up without asking but he comes along for the ride and absolutely enjoys it," she said with a grin. "I think he'll kill me if I put him in a full marathon."

While happy with her time, she didn't think it was even close to what she had anticipated.

"I was hoping for a sub-2:55 but the wind was intense and really slowed me down."

Marathons sit well with her. Her coach, Andrew Rowlings, an age-group ironman champion from Coffs Harbour, backs that: "He actually picked this race for me as a nice flat course and good preparation for the Gold Coast."

Fitzgerald thanked organisers and volunteers for the "smoothest running of events".

"All the information was just so easy to follow and I couldn't have been any happier with the event. I think they've done an amazing job for the first time," she said, picking up $3000 akin to the male winner.

Runners up got $1500 each.