Marathon: Runner's focus on Big Apple

NEW YORK, NEW YORK: Start spreading the news, Wanganui athlete Rachel Townsend will be a part of it in the New York City Marathon and welcomes support. Photo/Stuart Murno

Wanganui athlete Rachel Townsend has had an injury-free run two months out from her biggest challenge - the New York Marathon.

The 28-year-old won the women's section of the Property Brokers 3 Bridges Marathon last December and has since set her sights set on joining more than 50,000 runners in one of the world's best-known 42km races on November 2.

The accounting clerk had a great 2013 season, running in four New Zealand marathons, and her dominant performance on the home course last year set her up for some hard training in the lead up to New York.

Last year, Townsend ran Rotorua in May, Wellington in June, then Auckland in November before dominating the women's section from start to finish at the 3 Bridges event. She was thrilled to finish in 3hr 27 min 4sec, and reach her personal goal in front of the people who cared about her the most.

Townsend, who is the pride of her "crossfit" training team, received a special invitation to join a group running in the New York race after making some email contacts at Rotorua.

Sitting in her office at Barlow Lendrum FitzGerald Chartered Accountants, Townsend, who fits work around business diploma studies while going for training runs on those quiet nights, received an email telling her there were two spots remaining and she had two minutes to decide if she wanted one of them.

She had no hesitation in accepting the challenge and realise a life-long dream.

She had intended to run the 50th anniversary of the Rotorua marathon this year in the lead up to New York, but business studies took precedence.

"Not running the Rotorua race hasn't interrupted my training regime at all, but I decided not to because it got in the way of my studies and I'd rather save the money for New York," she said yesterday.

"It's going to cost thousands to do it. The marathon package, which includes flights, seven days' accommodation and a pre-race dinner is $7500, but there will be other costs. I was in Auckland at the weekend and I approached Balance Nutrition and they have very kindly offered to sponsor my nutritional needs while I'm training. That gives my gels, proteins, powders, energy bars - my fuel and that's a big help," Townsend said.

She is also registered with the give-a-little website allowing supporters to donate. The address is www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/tcsnycmarathon

The affable athlete welcomes any support no matter how small and is certainly not averse to corporate supporters.

"The New York Marathon allows logos and advertising on our gear and I'd be more than happy to spread a corporate message to the world. The race attracts over 50,000 competitors, but it is also beamed around the world to millions of people."

In the meantime, Townsend's training programme is progressing well and she remains injury-free.

"My body's feeling great and I think I'm right on track."

Townsend trains crossfit which involves multiple styles of workouts to build core strength and conditioning with her coaches and friends Matt Rayner, Karli Kaea-Norman, Megan Wallace and Sue Staples.

Several, including Staples will be joining her in New York.

"We're a bit of a cult, they would say," Townsend said.

The support is an essential component in the build-up and during the race.

"Apparently there's a five hour wait from registration on the day to the start of the race, so that's a lot of time to manage the emotions. A big part of running a marathon, especially the New York, is being settled both physically and emotionally, so that's going to be quite interesting. Having the support, including financial, allows me to focus solely on the event."

Townsend flies out to New York on October 29.