Long-running fitness ritual

By PHOEBE FALCONER

Thousands of feet will pound the Auckland waterfront tomorrow during the annual Round the Bays run.

An estimated 75,000 joggers and walkers will head along Tamaki Drive in the largest running event in the Southern Hemisphere, and the second-largest in the world.

Prime Minister Helen Clark will start the race, which begins on Quay St at 9.15am for wheelchair athletes and 9.30am for runners and walkers.

Just over 8km later, the runners will get to the finish at St Heliers' Vellenoweth Green.

Fast facts about the run:

* The first Round the Bays event was in 1972, with 1200 participants.

* 70 per cent of participants run in teams.

* Numbers are almost equally divided between walkers and runners.

* The oldest registered participant this year is 89.

The youngest is three months.

* The course covers 8.4km, from Quay St in the city to St Heliers.

* The MetService forecasts bright and sunny weather.

* Last year the first runner in was Robbie Johnston, from the Bays Cougars athletics club, in 25m 41s.

The first woman home was Mariko Horimoto from Japan, in 30m 27s. Gavin Foulsham in the wheelchair division did the distance in 18m 21s, which is 27.47km/h.

* At the rate Johnston ran, he would burn about 600 calories during his run. If everyone ran this fast, the total energy they expended would be 45 million calories.

* The average time taken is between an hour and an hour and a half.

* The St John Ambulance will be providing nine ambulances, as well as teams on golfcarts, pedalmedics on bicycle ambulances, motorcycle paramedics, and clinics at Vellenoweth Green and Madills Farm.

pf* St John staff treated 318 people last year. The most common reasons for requiring treatment were blisters, skin chafing and other minor ailments. But two people required hospitalisation for cardiac-related problems.

* There are 10 water stops, providing 10,000 cups.

* The Army team drags an L119 light gun that weighs in at a hefty 1814kg.