Blast victim in own race to Lydiard event

Ian Winson. Photo / Supplied

A man seriously injured in the Onehunga gas explosion hopes to attend the running event he created this weekend.

Ian Winson was the founder of the Lydiard Legend Marathon that follows the famous route in the Waitakere Ranges where coach Arthur Lydiard trained his runners. This weekend's event has attracted a record number of entrants.

Mr Winson had both legs amputated above the knee after the June 4 explosion and has been recovering.

His family yesterday said he was making "amazing progress" despite the terrible injuries, not only to his legs but also to his arms and hands.

"After numerous operations at Auckland and Middlemore Hospitals, [Ian] has made a great recovery medically and is now undergoing rehabilitation and learning to cope with the physical demands and life as it will be going forward."

He faces at least two more operations, but it's hoped he'll be fit enough to attend the event on Saturday.

Organisers say this weekend's event will have special meaning for many of the participants, being the first since the explosion.

Mr Winson's colleague Philomen Gulland, a Canadian mother-of-two, was killed in the blast. Methane gas was the likely cause but its source, and what ignited it, remain under investigation by the Department of Labour.

The race is the event's seventh with 750 runners and walkers expected to take part in either a 5km, 10km, half marathon or marathon option.

Athlete Scott Winton, who has won or placed high in the full and half marathons, hopes to regain the number one position again.

"I enjoy this course a lot, it's a great mix of being challenging and also very scenic," he said.

Last year's women's marathon winner, Shireen Crumpton of Christchurch, is scaling things down to take part in the half marathon this year.

She would have liked to tackle the full course again, but was "listening to her body" after a gruelling start to the year in which she's already run four marathons.

"I really enjoyed the Legend event last year so wanted to return. However, it'll have to be the half so my legs can get round the Auckland Marathon next month and the Kepler Challenge in December."

Mr Winson visited Lydiard on several occasions and gained his permission to run the event just before Lydiard died in December 2004.