Napier race-walker Paul McGettigan had made a triumphant return after a three-year spell. Photo / Duncan Brown
It just didn't seem right ... riding around the streets of Napier and not seeing Hawke's Bay race-walker Paul McGettigan strutting his stuff.
That was the case in 2015, '16 and '17. It was the norm for 22 years before that.
"After the Levin Half Marathon in 2014 I stopped competing because I didn't feel like it," McGettigan, 61, recalled.
"That break was certainly refreshing. I'm back and hungry to compete again and I'm eyeing more masters events in the future."
The national 3000m champion in his 40-plus age group in 2001 and a runner-up in Oceania Masters 5km and 10km events at his peak, McGettigan, proved it won't take him long to be among the country's best in his age group again when he won the Napier Harrier Club's eight-week Shoe Clinic-sponsored 5km series which ended last week.
With four wins, a third and three fourths McGettigan was the overall series winner with a two-point victory over open men's runner Steve Franklin.
"My time improved during each of the eight weeks from 37m 10s on the first week to 28m 47s this week. When you consider my best time on this course is 26m 05s I couldn't be happier," McGettigan said.
The course he was referring to starts in Ahuriri and takes competitors over to Westshore Beach and back. He admitted it's easy to get distracted from the task at hand on the scenic route.
It is the third time in the 10-year history of the series that McGettigan, a Mitre 10 hardware department worker, has won it.
"To do it in my first year back is pretty special."
A former race-walking coach who gave up the mentoring role in 2012, McGettigan trains between 30 minutes and an hour for four days each week.
Fellow athletes as well as cyclists and triathletes who train in the Park Island area can expect to see the man nicknamed Magoo training for a further five years at least.
"I'll keep going as long as I can ... as long as a I can keep the motivation."
And the history behind his nickname?
"I got it when I bought a raffle and put the name Magoo on the butt. I won the raffle and the name has stuck since then. My father once wore Magoo glasses to a party so it's a bit of a family tradition."
Magoo will swap his race-walking actions for running during Napier Harriers Club's events in the winter, which begin with Saturday's Strifflechase Relay from Taradale Park. This event involves four- or five-person relay teams.
Runners in each team have to stay together for the first 2km lap. From then on the slowest person in each team on each lap drops off until one runner from each team is left to battle for the title. This team formation helps club members get to know each other and run in an enjoyable but competitive environment.
On the eve of the relay McGettigan will be found immersed in his other favourite hobby, as scoreboard operator at Napier's McLean Park when the Hurricanes host the Sharks in a Super Rugby clash.
He has had this role since March 2000 and with the Hurricanes and Chiefs development teams playing in the curtainraiser McGettigan will chalk up 352 games in the role.
"I'm pretty keen to get to 400," he said.
His pre-match ritual will be the same as it has always been - a walk around the park so he can get a feel of the atmosphere before setting up his scoring equipment.
McGettigan's involvement with rugby games at McLean Park dates back to 1992 when he was the graphic artist for rep match and club programmes.
Before his promotion to the scoreboard role McGettigan was the old Magpies mascot or the "old Kahu."
His 300th game as the scoreboard operator was when the Magpies beat the Wellington Lions 35-24 in October, 2013. Another of his most memorable games was the Magpies 2001 NPC division two 30-27 semifinal win against East Coast.
"That was the day we were invaded by East Coast supporters. They took over the old McKenzie Stand as well as the bulk of the Centennial Stand ... that match had massive feeling."
It's fair to say McGettigan has got almost as much feeling for race walking again.