Editorial: Battlers are the real race heroes

A field of 1600 runners start off at the Rotorua Marathon. Photo / Stephen Parker

There could be a few weary and sore bodies around Rotorua this morning, after another successful marathon weekend.

There were certainly a few hobbling around the city on Saturday afternoon after completing their event - whether it be the full lap around the lake or one of the shorter distances.

Non-runners often struggle to understand the concept of running for fun. Why would anyone in their right mind put themselves through that?

At the finish line on Saturday, the answer was obvious. People of all shapes and sizes streamed past, each with their own tales and stories as to how they came to be running down that final stretch of Queens Dr, eyes on the finish line.

The emotion, joy, sense of achievement and just pure relief was written all over their faces. The elite runners are amazing, but for me the real fascination is watching the battlers towards the back. They're proof anyone can do it if they set their minds to it.

One of the more inspirational stories was Colin Smyth. By now most know his story. Saturday was his 50th consecutive Rotorua Marathon.

By his own admission, this one was tough. It took him and his wife Pat 11 hours to walk.

At 76 years of age, no one would have blamed him for hanging up his shoes long before now.

But he didn't and he got a well-deserved guard of honour at the end to mark his last hoorah.

If that's not enough to inspire the non-runners among us, I don't know what is.