Life in the slow lane just fine for fun run

By JO-MARIE BROWN

The country's biggest annual fun run has become a walk.

For thousands who sweltered along the Auckland waterfront in the Nestle Round the Bays Fun Run, there was not much running involved.

The race began as a serious jogging event in 1972, but many people yesterday preferred a leisurely stroll along the 8.4km route.

Race organiser Elizabeth Leitch estimated that 70,000 people took part and said the number who opted to walk was up on previous years.

"Round the Bays is not just for serious runners," she said. "It's really an event for all ages and fitness groups. You can run at speed, jog or walk it and we certainly had an increase in walkers this year.

"Keeping walkers to the left and runners to the right has worked really well and I think that's really encouraged walkers to participate."

Even those not up to foot-slogging still went along for the ride as parents piloted hundreds of children in pushchairs.

Ashley McCullough, aged 3, and Blair McCullough, 5, of Glen Eden, have become veterans of the event, despite never having finished the course under their own steam.

Father Paul McCullough has pushed the pair along every year since they were born.

"I bring them every year and they love it. It's not that bad pushing a pushchair. It's nice and flat so once you're moving, you're moving," he said.

Getting an "armchair ride" appealed to a number of adults as well.

Brothers Glenn and Karl Tooley, of Browns Bay, dug out the family's rusty wheelbarrow for the event and took it in turns to relax along the route.

Glenn Tooley said they had decided on a wheelbarrow race, which they completed in just over an hour, simply to be different.

"It is a fun run, so why not have fun? Although it was a lot of hard work."

Next year the brothers plan to use a bigger wheelbarrow to help ride out the bumps and may add more wheels to speed up the trip.

Not everyone took such a relaxed approach to the event, and Northcote's Jason Cameron was the first runner home in 25m 44s.

The first woman runner was Fujiko Takahashi in 29m 54s. Para-Olympic athlete Gavin Foulsham won the wheelchair section in 18m 36s, and Scott Arlidge won the inaugural in-line skating section in 16m 20s.

Competitors crossing the finish line at Vellenoweth Green, St Heliers, sought welcome relief from the 20-degree heat by gulping down cups of water and running under nearby hoses.

A lively band entertained the crowd, while songs such as the Proclaimers' I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) blared from loudspeakers to help spur the throng towards the finish.

Among the tired bodies strewn on Vellenoweth Green was Charles Blower, 70, of Whangaparaoa, who soaked up the sun after completing his 15th Round the Bays run.

"I just get such a thrill from seeing so many people enjoying themselves," he said. "There's a really friendly atmosphere here and it's been such a beautiful day for it."