Lake City Athletic runner Sue Crowley is one to watch in the Copthorne Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon this weekend. PHOTO/ FILE
Lake City Athletic runner Sue Crowley is one to watch in the Copthorne Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon this weekend. PHOTO/ FILE
Sue Crowley's name is already firmly etched into the history of Rotorua's trail running community despite only fully taking up the sport eight years ago.
Crowley has recently enjoyed a fine vein of form over long distances - including finishing as the first local woman in the recent TaraweraUltramarathon and winning the Tarawera Trail Marathon and 50km women's premier race late last year.
Tomorrowthe 47-year-old has a shorter challenge ahead of her, taking on the 21.1km distance in the Copthorne Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon.
Crowley, competing for the fifth time in the annual event, is looking to improve on last year's third place finish behind local Johanna Ottosson and Kirsten Milne from Te Awamutu.
But the Rotorua Trail Running Club and Lake City Athletic runner said it could be a "shock to the system" after a lack of training since last month's Tarawera Ultramarathon.
"I haven't been running a lot. I needed to have that time out and let my body recover," Crowley said. "I'm not sure how it will go but my aim is to keep competitive till the end and not find myself dragging at the finish.
"What's hard about this race is the distance is only one factor - you also have to think about the terrain. I haven't plucked out a time I'm aiming for I just want to run strong."
The start of last year's Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon. PHOTO/ FILE
Crowley added she was excited to run on the scenic off-road trails and smooth gravel forest roads in Whakarewarewa forest.
"It's a very nice track. It's a great mixture because there's interesting bush areas and then smoother paths but it will be a challenge. The course is known for its hills - you have to pace yourself right that's for sure."
The day's events also include a 1.5km Fun Run/Walk for 3 to 6-year-olds, 2.5km Fun Run/Walk for 7 to 10-year-olds, 5km Fun Run/Walk and Quarter Marathon Fun Run/Walk.
In total 1400 competitors are entered across all events with 450 from Rotorua and many international entrants including competitors from Sweden, Ireland, USA and Germany.
Crowley said she would be using the Copthorne Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon as a training session as she considers entering the Rotorua Marathon in May.
"Shorter distances are more about your speed than stamina and that's something I'll need to be working on in this race," she said.
"It's still very up in the air about the marathon. If I want to enter that I'll need a lot more road running practice and speed work, let's see how this weekend goes."
People can still enter on the day - registration will be open from 7.30am however this is cash only. Course maps are unavailable until the day and will be displayed in the registration tent.
2017 Copthorne Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon
When: Sunday Where: Whakarewarewa Forest (head to Waipa Mill Road and then the registration marquee) Start times: 7.30am-10.30am: Registration in main marquee at Waipa Recreation Area. 9am: Start of the Lance Lawson Little Devils 1.5km Fun Run/Walk (3-6yrs) 9.10am: Start of the Lance Lawson Little Devils 2.5km Fun Run/Walk (7-10yrs) 9.45am: Start of the Polynesian Spa 5km Fun Run/Walk 10am: Start of the Copthorne Half Marathon 10.15am: Little Devils Prizegiving 11am: Start of the Mitre 10 Mega Quarter Marathon Fun Run/Walk 1.30pm: Prizegiving
