Simon says: Bring on the men's Games marathon..... I might be slightly biased but didn't Super 12 Country turn on an awesome day for running fast. True the roads had seen a bit of rain early on but not too hot, no noticeable wind and we all new the course was fast and the entries were strong across the board confirming the Chch marathon and half is quickly becoming the country's premier marathon. The full was under way at 9.15am and Clodey who had hinted pre 2.16 was straight into it with a 3.10 km showing he was keen to get on with it. Geoff Spillane who has been lying low for a while since making an almost complete recovery from a serious setback was keen for a good one in a race he had won before many moons ago, had second thoughts about that pace once he did the sums. Instead newcomer to the distance Brent Pulley thought why not and took up the chase leaving Spillane and Matt Dravitzki to work together at 3 and 4. So thru 10k in about 33mins for Phil but then I had a quick change of scene and across to the 1/2 where a classic dual was about to unfold with Jono W and Phil C matching up in a pre games blow out. Both these guys were rumoured to be running well, (when don't they?) so many had optimistically predicted a sub 63 which is fair hoofing.
So after a low 2.50's first km the two Nike athletes settled into a good clip going through 5k in around 14.50 and 10k in 29.55. At that point the slower Marathoners started to clog the roads a bit, but nothing was going to stop these guys from something pretty special. And so stride for stride both having turns at leading, they hit 15k still at sub 3 min km pace but then at about 16.5k Jono bolted with a sudden surge and never looked back and quickly opened about 30 meters that slowly turned into 100m and eventually 150m. With some heavy mileage under his belt and some best ever 8x3min sessions around the Bays, Jono was quietly confident but with such a good day and a fast course he soon realized this was a rare opportunity for something that might be hard to replicate. This was awesome running and people were appreciating it too. Through Armagh Street gates but suddenly a moment of confusion, his compass and the cones hinted at a left turn but thankfully local spectators disagreed and insisted he go straight through. Tempted to ask but why do the cones suggest otherwise?, he thought maybe a question I can ask later. While this probably cost a vital second or two it wasn't to be too critical and Jono charged on to a 62.37 breaking the race record and running a NZ residents record. Poor old Phil who ran an amazing 63.12 and only finished second. More importantly though isn't this great from two guys who are not peaking and just looking for a blow out before the big one in 8 weeks. Robbie J was third in 67mins and Chris Dagg, Paul Morrow and Alistair Snowdon add quality to a great field.
The women's race was also a great battle between Sarah Christie and fit again Nyla Carroll. Nyla did most of the leading with Sarah making a charge with about 1km to go. Timing is everything though and unfortunately for Sarah she was a tad out and just got pipped by Nyla in a great finish both running an excellent 72mins.
Back to the marathon and some changes but Phil Clode still doing it hard from the front with Brent finding out what marathons are all about and getting eaten up by Geoff and Matt. The pace did ease off ever so slightly in the second half with a sub 2.20 no longer all that likely but hey with $5k on the table there was still good reason to keep at it. And so that was how it stayed till the end. Clode finished with a 2.23.04 and Geoff at one stage got to within striking distance but just couldn't quiet finish things off (2.23.23) while Matt also found that there was nothing in the legs in the last few k to close the gaps ahead 2.24.16. Back in the pack Kerry Rodger's conservative running paid dividends and he looked good taking the vet title in 2.27.26.
The women's race didn't really have the depth and so it was gifted to Shireen Crumpton who can run significantly quickier but is on the come back from injury. She said herself it was nice to win, and do it pretty comfy, 2.42.57.
So all in all good times had by most. Well done to Chris Cox and Mike Jacques esp, for their efforts in organising, a great event and well supported, also good to have a significant sponsor, SBS, on board. Good luck to those who now start to think about the CG (not watching it on the tally but actually running) I am quiet excited about getting snug in front of the box with a nice hot toddy already.
Summary results are given below, full results are at the official web site.
| 1 | Phil Clode | 02:23:04 | Male | Open 18 to 39 | 1 | Auckland | M |
| 2 | Jeff Spillane | 02:23:23 | Male | Open 18 to 39 | 2 | Dunedin | M |
| 3 | Matt Dravitzki | 02:24:16 | Male | Open 18 to 39 | 3 | M | |
| 4 | Kerry Rodger | 02:27:26 | Male | 40 to 49 | 1 | Auckland | M |
| 5 | Brent Pulley | 02:27:47 | Male | Open 18 to 39 | 4 | Rangiora | M |
| 6 | Grant McLean | 02:28:22 | Male | Open 18 to 39 | 5 | Christchurch | M |
| 7 | Seaton Meredith | 02:30:21 | Male | Open 18 to 39 | 6 | Christchurch | M |
| 8 | Gavin Stevens | 02:31:41 | Male | 40 to 49 | 2 | Auckland | M |
| 9 | Joseph Piggin | 02:35:37 | Male | Open 18 to 39 | 7 | Dunedin | M |
| 10 | Colin Dowie | 02:37:27 | Male | 50 to 54 | 1 | Kaiapoi | M |
| 14 | Shireen Crumpton | 02:42:57 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 1 | F | |
| 19 | Bridget Baxter | 02:49:20 | Females | 35 to 44 | 1 | Auckland | F |
| 23 | Davina Jones | 02:52:05 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 2 | Palmerston North | F |
| 24 | Margaret McKenzie | 02:53:09 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 3 | Greymouth | F |
| 26 | Sue Attwood | 02:54:53 | Females | 35 to 44 | 2 | North Auckland | F |
| 31 | Tracy Crossley | 02:55:54 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 4 | TAURANGA | F |
| 37 | Eveline Coombe | 02:58:59 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 5 | Auckland | F |
| 47 | Line Brix Frandsen | 03:04:10 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 6 | Auckland | F |
| 1 | Jonathan Wyatt | 01:02:37 | Men | 20 to 39 | 1 | Wellington | M |
| 2 | Phil Costley | 01:03:12 | Men | 20 to 39 | 2 | Christchurch | M |
| 3 | Robbie Johnston | 01:07:00 | Men | 20 to 39 | 3 | Auckland | M |
| 4 | Chris Dagg | 01:07:23 | Men | 20 to 39 | 4 | Queenstown | M |
| 5 | Paul Morrow | 01:07:50 | Men | 20 to 39 | 5 | Christchurch | M |
| 6 | Alastair Snowdon | 01:08:23 | Men | 20 to 39 | 6 | M | |
| 7 | Don Greig | 01:11:21 | Male | 40 to 49 | 1 | Christchurch | M |
| 8 | Nyla Carroll | 01:12:41 | Females | 35 to 44 | 1 | Auckland | F |
| 9 | Sarah Christie | 01:12:43 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 1 | F | |
| 10 | Damian Lawrence | 01:12:58 | Male | under 20 | 1 | Christchurch | M |
| 23 | Marnie Oberer | 01:17:02 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 2 | Auckland | F |
| 25 | Gabrielle O'Rourke | 01:17:40 | Females | 35 to 44 | 2 | Wellington | F |
| 28 | Michelle Hopkins | 01:17:44 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 3 | F | |
| 43 | Natasha Buckley | 01:21:16 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 4 | Christchurch | F |
| 45 | Shirlene Mulcahy | 01:21:22 | Female | Open 18 to 34 | 5 | Christchurch | F |
| 1 | Mark Bailey | 00:30:54 | Male | Open | Christchurch | M | |
| 2 | Jason Lawrence | 00:33:43 | Male | Open | M | ||
| 3 | Kevin Wooley | 00:34:03 | Male | Open | Christchurch | M | |
| 4 | Mark Reid | SBS Honey's | 00:34:24 | Team | Christchurch | M | |
| 5 | Kelvin Read | 00:35:21 | Male | Open | M | ||
| 6 | Paul Coughlan | Solid Energy | 00:35:24 | Team | Christchurch | M | |
| 7 | Matthew Harkerss | 00:35:39 | Male | Open | Christchurch | M | |
| 8 | Daniel Reese | 00:36:00 | Male | Open | M | ||
| 9 | Daisuke Aso | 00:37:43 | Male | Open | Christchurch | M | |
| 10 | Robyn Duncan | 00:37:52 | Female | Open | F | ||
| 11 | Kaye Webb | Team D | 00:38:54 | Team | Rangiora | F | |
| 15 | Stephanie Hyde | 00:39:45 | Female | Open | Christchurch | F | |
| 25 | Paula Costello | Pink Panthers | 00:43:27 | Team | F | ||
| 27 | Mary Jo | Chase Garden City | 00:43:32 | Team | Christchurch | F | |
| 30 | Jennifer Welchman | 00:44:11 | Female | Open | F | ||
| 37 | Mette Kristiansen | 00:45:17 | Female | Open | Christchurch | F | |
| 39 | Courtney Bramwell | 00:45:24 | Female | Open | Christchurch | F | |
| 42 | Greg Phillipson | The fertility Centre | 00:45:38 | Team | Merivale | F | |
| 43 | Lisa Kristiansen | 00:45:41 | Female | Open | Christchurch | F | |
| 44 | Penny Fletcher | 00:46:14 | Female | Open | Blenheim | F |
Race report by: Simon Panckhurst
