Marathon runners revel in perfect conditions

Runners leave the start during the Hastings Half Marathon which started and finished at the Havelock North Rugby Clubrooms at Anderson Park in Havelock North. Photo/Glenn Taylor

A cloudy sky provided ideal conditions for runners in the SpecSavers Hastings Half Marathon yesterday, organisers say.

The 34th annual event saw 176 participants run a 21.2km course that started and finished at Havelock North Rugby Clubrooms at Anderson Park in Havelock North.

Event director Craig Burns was pleased with this year's turnout.

"The weather was perfect. There was no sun, which is ideal running conditions."

Along with the titular Half Marathon run, there was also the option of a 5km or 10km walk/run, Mr Burns said.

In all, 471 runners had participated including more children in the 5km walk/run than in previous years.

"There were a lot of kids getting involved, which is really what we want to see."

The winner of the women's Half Marathon Anna Williams came in at 1h 29m. She was "very pleased" with the result; she had been trying to break the 1h 30m threshhold for three years. In her second Hastings Half Marathon, Ms Williams, 24, beat last years' time by five minutes, despite a "slightly hillier" course.

"There were a couple more hills, but I train those every day, so I was prepared," she said. "And the temperature was perfect; it stopped everyone from overheating."

Originally from Hawke's Bay, Ms Williams had moved to Auckland to begin her first teaching job, but she would "definitely be back" for next year's Half Marathon, she said.