Records All Round in Harbour Capital

Wellington’s Grant McLean is looking for a record sixth straight title in the Shoe Clinic Harbour Capital Marathon. But he’ll have to beat a record field of almost 5000 runners and walkers.

Indeed, it’s records all round for the annual Shoe Clinic Harbour Capital Marathon. Organisers, the Wellington Marathon Clinic, are over the moon to be able to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the event with the biggest marathon event ever held in the Capital.

“To have a record field after 25 years is great,” says Race Director Sally Anderson. “Last year we got 4000 entries for the first time and this year it looks like we’re going to go close to 5000 entries. So we’re pretty happy.”

Grant McLean will be happy if he can also nab a record sixth straight win in the classic 42.2k distance on Sunday. The 42-year-old SPARC policy manager is sentimental favourite for both the open and veteran titles, a rare feat that he achieved in 2008 and 2009. But he will be pushed harder than in previous years, with Wellingtonians Dave Parsons and Joseph Bulbulia both down for the full distance. Bulbulia has won the Harbour Capital Half Marathon before, while Parsons ran a 2:30 marathon last year, which is faster than McLean’s course record of 2hrs 31min 38secs, set in 2004.

There is extra incentive for these favourites in 2010 with a new $1000 bonus for winners breaking the course record in the feature full marathon and half marathon races.

The women’s full marathon should see a new winner. McLean’s Wellington Scottish Athletic club mate, Lotty Turnidge, has won the event for the past two years but is skipping a third title attempt due to being pregnant. However, she still intends to be out there jogging the Half Marathon distance. This leaves Auckland’s Ingrid Frost as favourite for the woman’s full marathon title.

Another returning winner is Palmerston North’s Maria Bentley, who was a surprise winner in the 2009 Half Marathon race. Bentley, an exercise physiologist at Massey University, won in 1hr 18min 11secs, an outstanding result for someone not attached to the normal national scene. The course record is 1hr 17min 49secs set by Nelson-based American, Belinda Wimmer, in 2008. So Bentley has a realistic shot at the woman’s half marathon bonus.

The Palmerston North woman will need to be on her A-game. Auckland’s Lesley Turner-Hall, third in the Rotorua Marathon eight weeks ago, and Wellington super-vet Victoria Humphries, second to Bentley in the Harbour Capital Half Marathon are more than capable of closing in if Bentley’s record attempt should come unstuck.

One race that should see a record is the men’s Half Marathon where recent Rotorua Marathon runner-up Steven O’Callaghan is favourite for his first outing in the Capital City. O’Callaghan has a half marathon best of 1hr 07min 30secs, which is well inside the Harbour Capital Half Marathon record of 1hr 09min 15secs set by visiting Scotsman Andrew Douglas last year. But O’Callaghan will need to be wary of 2009 runner up Kerry Faas. The Christchurch runner was a former junior star who left the sport for 20 years only to return at the top of the veterans scene a couple of years ago. In 2009 the 42 year old was only 20secs behind Douglas.

Runners and walkers from Australia, Canada, USA, Scotland, Singapore, Romania, Ireland, France England and all ends of New Zealand will line up in either the 25th anniversary Shoe Clinic Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and Kids’ Magic Mile. This is a continuation of the events reputation as New Zealand’s fastest-growing running event.

Established in 1986 by the Wellington Marathon Clinic, this scenic tour of the Wellington Harbour bays was for almost 20 years a popular local mid-winter event attracting less than 1000 participants. But six years ago a shift from the Overseas Terminal to the popular Westpac Stadium saw the event double in size for three years in a row. Last year increased by 30 percent to attract 4701 entrants and this year is expected to top 5000.

The eldest starter for this year’s 25th anniversary event is 79 year old James Lucas from Silverstream, who is entered for the 10k Walk. The eldest runner is 74 year old Aucklander, Alec Day, who will take on the classic full marathon distance. Meanwhile 53 year old Wellington runner Des Young will be trying to keep his streak alive as the only person to have completed all 25 events.

Sunday’s event kicks off at 6:30am with the Full Marathon Walk. The Full Marathon Run at 7:30pm, the Half Marathon Run and Walk 9:00am, the 10K Run and Walk at 9:15am, and the new Kid’s Magic Mile at 9:25am. Late entries will be taken at the Wellington Town Hall on Friday and Saturday. For more information see www.harbourcapital.org.nz.