Winton and Crumpton Among Record Legend Field

A record number of entrants will line up at the Arthur Lydiard Legend Running and Walking Event on Saturday 17th September in Auckland.

The expected 750 runners and walkers are likely to be led by well-renowned athletes, Scott Winton (Auckland) and Shireen Crumpton (Christchurch).

Winton will be running the Lydiard Legend Marathon for the third time, having placed first in 2008 and second in 2009. His goal this year to take the number one position again over a course he knows well.

“I enjoy this course a lot, it is a great mix of being challenging and also very scenic.” said the previous top world top 30 marathon runner.

Having won the Lydiard Legend Marathon last year, Crumpton will be scaling things down to take part in the Arthur’s Half Marathon this year. Alongside her will be another past Legend Marathon winner, Ady Ngawati (Whangarei)

Crumpton would have liked to tackle the full marathon again, however is listening to her body after a gruelling start to the year.

“I've run four marathons this year. One in Wanaka in January, the Hong Kong Marathon in February, the Boston marathon in April (6th place), and the Noumea Marathon last month where I placed third

“I really enjoyed The Legend event last year so wanted to return this time, however will have to be the Half Marathon so my legs can get round the Auckland Marathon next month and the Kepler Challenge in December.”

The absence of the two past champions in the women’s marathon field leaves the top podium place open for a new champion to emerge. It is likely to be a tight battle between Mikki Williden, Melissa Norris, Lesley-Turner-Hall and Debbie Fillery.

Fillery and Turner-Hall come into the race with the most experience on the course, having both completed every Legend event since its conception in 2005. Turner-Hall the remarkable statistic of finishing on the podium finished on the podium in every one of those years. Norris and Williden will both be first line starters on this marathon course.

It is the seventh annual Lydiard Legend Running and Walking Event and is a race is already steeped in history, honouring the amazing story of New Zealand great, Arthur Lydiard. However this year the event will have an extra special meaning for many of the participants after founder of the event , Mr Ian Winson, was critically injured in the fatal gas explosion in Onehunga early this year.

The event, which incorporates  a 5km, 10km, half marathon and full marathon option was the idea of Winson’s who visited Lydiard on several occasions and gained his permission to run the event just prior to Lydiard’s passing in December 2004.

The Winson family have released the following information regarding Ian’s progress since the accident.

“Ian continues to make amazing progress following the accident and the amputation of both legs above the knee plus major injuries to both arms & hands. After numerous operations at Auckland & Middlemore Hospitals (& there are 1-2 more at least in the future) he has made a great recovery medically and is now undergoing rehabilitation and learning to cope with the physical demands & life as it will be going forward.”

At this stage Winson is likely to be able to attend The Legend event on Saturday 17th September.

For more information on the event or to enter, visit www.thelegend.co.nz