Wellington’s Grant McLean is looking for a record fifth 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 with what is the biggest marathon event ever held in the Capital. Race Director Sally Anderson says entries are still being taken and they expect more than 4700 by race day.
“That’s 900 more participants than our event has ever had before,” says Anderson, “so we’re pretty happy”.
Grant McLean will be happy if he can also nab a record fifth straight win in the feature Full Marathon distance, which also double as the Wellington provincial title.
The 41-year-old SPARC policy manager is clear favourite for both the open and veteran titles, a rare feat that he also achieved in 2008.
The women’s marathon could also see a repeat winner, with McLean Wellington Scottish Athletic club mate, Lotty Turnidge, hoping to repeat her breakthrough win from last year.
Turnidge ran a race record 3hrs 07min last year. In the 12 months since she has improved her best marathon time to 2hrs 59min, which means she will be looking for another race record in the Harbour Capital event.
While the Full Marathon event has clear favourite, the Half Marathon features deep fields in both the men’s and women’s races as previous winners both face strong challenges.
Palmerston North’s Steve Smith will have to produce his best form to retain his Half Marathon title from last year. Fellow Palmerston North runner, Stephen Smith, will provide a strong challenge. Christchurch pair Sander Kriek and Kerry Faas, with Faas also favourite for the veteran half marathon title.
All eyes, however, will be on the half marathon debut of local standout Rees Buck. Buck, a national rep over cross country, is taking on his longest ever race. But he’ll need to be on his best game to topple Scotsman Andrew Douglas. The 22 year old has a best time of 1hr 08min, which means the winner on Sunday is likely to break the course record.
The women’s half marathon could turn up a historic win. It’s not often that a runner notches up wins in the same race 29 years apart, but local standout Vicki Humphries might just pull it off. Humphries won the Harbour Capital Half Marathon’s inaugural race away back in 1986 and recent form indicates the 46 year old could do it again. But she’ll have to outrun two out-of-towners in Christchurch runner-turned-triathlete Julia Grant and German cyclist-turned-triathlete Britta Martin.
Runners and walkers from Australia, Canada, USA, UK, Hong Kong, Mexico, Chile, Germany and all ends of New Zealand will line up in either the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10 kilometre or 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, for almost 20 years this race was a popular mid-winter goal attracting around 1000 entrants. But five years ago a shift from the Overseas Terminal to the popular Westpac Stadium saw an overnight growth that shows no signs of slowing down.
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.
