The marathon took its inspiration from one of the greatest athletic feats in history. And Christchurch's SBS Marathon Event took its inspiration from one of the greatest marathons in history.
Marathon running, as we know it, hails back to Athens in 1896 and the first modern Olympiad. But the inspiration for this most classic of challenges hails back to the mythical Greek messenger, Pheidippides, who ran 24 miles between Marathon and Athens to announce an Athenian victory in the Battle of Marathon, and then dropped down dead. It was from this ancient tale that the great nobility of long distance running arose, and with it that most classic of challenges – the marathon.
One of New Zealand's greatest marathons has a celebration of its own this year. Just as the modern marathon was inspired by ancient tale of Pheidippides, Christchurch's SBS Marathon was inspired by another historic marathon.
In the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games Great Britain's Ian Thompson ran what was then the second fastest marathon of all time (2:09:12), and New Zealand's 41 year old Jack Foster ran what was then the fastest ever by a New Zealander (2:11:18) to claim silver.
It was this great race that inspired Christchurch's annual SBS Marathon Event, which this year celebrates its 30th year as New Zealand's fastest road race and the South Island's premier marathon event.
The fast flat streets have produced several record runs and over the years this has become the race to run if you're searching for a PB. A $50,000 prize pool also makes the SBS Marathon Event New Zealand's richest running race, and as
the only race in New Zealand that actively strives to put the country's best runners on their start line, the SBS Marathon event consistently tops the national half and full marathon rankings.
This year will be no different, with high profile starters including New Zealand reps Jason Woolhouse, Ben Ruthe and Shireen Crumpton lining up against Australian reps Scott Westcott, Lisa Flint and Lisa Tamsett.
Past winners, such as Wellington's Matt Dravitski and Christchurch standouts Phil Costley and Mark Bailey, will be on the start line. But the Cantab to watch could be transplanted Englishman, Matt Smith. Smith emigrated to New Zealand in 2007 and won the SBS Half Marathon and the Auckland marathon in 2008. At this year's SBS Marathon the former Great Britain rep hopes to qualify for the Commonwealth Games marathon in a New Zealand singlet.
There will also be interest in Australian-based Ethiopian, Wondwosen Geleta. Geleta, who moved to Australia a year ago with refugee status, was a talented junior within Ethiopia's vast distance running pool and after adapting to a new life Down Under many think he is poised to become the next big thing for the green and gold singlet.
While the 30th anniversary event is shaping up as the strongest marathon assembled on these shores since the 1990 Commonwealth Games, race director Chris Cox stresses that this is a festival of fitness aimed at runners and walkers of all age and ability.
"First and foremost the SBS Marathon Event is a community event," says Cox. "We get big entries from school, businesses and family groups. Six years ago we introduced the Kid's Mara'Fun, which now attracts more than 700 kids."
With a full marathon, a half marathon and 10k for both runners and walkers, and a popular Kids Mara'fun, this festival of fitness has something for everyone. Participants are supported by more than 300 volunteers and thousands of Christchurch city residents cheering from their front gates. And with the start/finish line amidst the café, casino, shopping and accommodation districts, the SBS Marathon Event has become a popular mid-winter getaway for runners and walkers from all ends of New Zealand.
In 2009 more than 5000 runners and walkers took on the scenic tour around Christchurch's scenic Avon River and Hagley Park, much of which still follows the historic Commonwealth Games route. Cox is hoping the 30th anniversary celebrations will see over 6000 starters.
Entries already this year are ahead of 2009, including participants from the USA, Australia, Singapore, Japan and the UK, and Cox is confident of that the 30th anniversary will be the best SBS Marathon yet.
For more details and to enter online: www.sbsmarathon.co.nz.
