Marathon: Mum has late debut

By EUGENE BINGHAM

Liza Hunter-Galvan is living proof that mums can do anything.

The United States-based New Zealand marathon runner has made it to Athens by juggling her training schedule around her four children.

The 35-year-old left New Zealand 16 years ago to take up a scholarship at a university in Texas, a prodigy of coaching legend Arthur Lydiard.

After falling in love and marrying an American, she settled in San Antonio, where she kept up running but never really thought she could make a national team.

"It wasn't until November when I ran 2h 42m and I noticed the qualifying standards and thought, 'Wow, I could make it'," said Hunter-Galvan.

With husband Ariel, a former US college runner, helping look after the children (Amber, 9, Haleigh, 7, Taigen, 3, and Tristan, 21 months), Hunter-Galvan stepped up her training.

She had kept in touch with Lydiard over the years and asked him to help her. To qualify, she ran two marathons of 2h 36m, including one victory in the US.

Hunter-Galvan first met Lydiard when she was at Papatoetoe High School where his second wife, Eira, who died of cancer in 1984, was the PE teacher.

Lydiard trained Hunter-Galvan to national secondary school titles before she decided to take up his offer to find a scholarship.

She will get the chance to catch up with her former coach during the Games thanks to her sister, Karren, who won a Visa promotion to come to Athens and opted to bring Lydiard with her.

Since joining the New Zealand team in Athens, Hunter-Galvan has discovered another former Papatoetoe High pupil.

Helen Clarke, the veteran Black Sticks hockey goalkeeper, recognised her from their days at school.

"We played hockey together - she was at the back saving goals and I was at the front scoring them."

Having spent so much time in the US, she is enjoying being around Kiwis in the New Zealand team.

But she is looking forward to seeing Ariel, who has made his way to Athens via Italy.

He took a 20-plus hour ferry trip to Greece, then a four-hour bus trip to Athens, where he is staying in a hostel.

The children are staying with friends and family, while their proud mum competes.

"I can't wait to give it my best. I just want to do New Zealand proud."