A week out from Wellington’s Shoe Clinic Harbour Capital Marathon and records are already being broken.
On Sunday 28 June more than 4000 runners and walkers from Australia, Canada, USA, Scotland, Hong Kong, Spain, England, Singapore, Germany, Ireland and all ends of New Zealand will line up at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium for the 29th annual Shoe Clinic Harbour Capital Marathon.
This is the continuation of the Wellington Marathon Clinic event’s reputation as New Zealand’s fastest-growing running event. Established in 1985 by the Wellington Marathon Clinic, for almost 20 years this race was a popular but modest mid-winter goal attracting less than 1000 entrants. But six years ago a change in venue to the popular Westpac Stadium was an overnight hit which has seen participation increase by over 500 percent.
Race Director, Sally Anderson, admits this year’s record entry has taken even her by surprise. “Prior to this year our biggest entry was around 3800 people,” says Anderson. “But we passed that a week ago and with a week until race day we’re sitting on more than 4200. Normally we get about 500 entries in the last week, so we could be looking at more than 4700 entries, which is just amazing when you think that only six years ago the event was attracting less than 1000 starters.”
Certainly the combined marathon, half marathon, 10k and Kids’ Magic Mile is defying the current financial recession, which Anderson puts down to a combination of factors coming together at the same time.
“People today place more value on their health and fitness,” says Anderson. “Simple and cost-effective activities such as running and walking are enjoying unprecedented growth, so good events haven’t been affected by the recession. The Harbour Capital course is very scenic and a lot of fun and caters for all age and ability, and Wellington is a great destination for a weekend away.”
Of entries thus far the fairer sex will dominate the start line, with women making up more than 56 percent of the field. The best known of them is Wellington’s evergreen Bernie Portenski, who at age 59 will have a fair chance of taking overall honours in the full marathon distance.
But even the much be-medaled Portenski can’t hold a match to Masterton’s Peter Tearle, who at 83 year young will take on the 10k Run. Or Newtown’s Michael Browne, who takes on the Half Marathon Run at age 78, or Auckland’s Barry Boston, who takes on the classic 42.2k Full Marathon at age 78.
Race day will be extra special for Wellingtonian Prue Miles. The 82 year old is entered in the 10k Walk and the course for all events goes straight past her Oriental Bay home.
The scenic route around Wellington’s harbour bays is a long way from David Penfold’s Feilding home. But the Shoe Clinic Harbour Capital Marathon will be no less special as he celebrates his 65th year and 21st year as a runner by taking on his 227th marathon.
At the other end of the scale the second year of the Kids’ Magic Mile is shaping up as a huge success, with over 400 children aged five to 12 taking on the classic mile distance. Two-time world mountain running champion, Melissa Moon, has been promoting the event around Wellington schools and has been impressed with the level of interest.
“It’s pretty exciting,” says Moon. “In an era where we’re told of increasing obesity and inactivity there are a whole new generation of kids out there keen to get out and give things like this a go.”
“Events like this show kids options outside of their living rooms, then they come along and see even more inspiring options like the 10k, half marathon and full marathon and maybe they grow up with those challenges in the back of their mind.”
Entries for the June 28 event are still open. See www.harbourcapital.org.nz.
