Editorial: Walk and run defeats the blues

After a week of rain-sodden misery, Country2Coast gave Hawke's Bay something to smile about.

Even if the sun did not exactly beam on the day, it had at least stopped raining.

In fact, the weather was perfect for walking and running and the organisers, Havelock North Rotary, supported by Hawke's Bay Today, could not have been more pleased.

More than 1200 people lined by at either River Rd near Havelock North or Haumoana, depending on whether they were doing the 17km or 7km version of the event.

What sets Country2Coast apart from Hawke's Bay's many other top class events is its emphasis on fun and participation. Almost anyone can join in and for most people it is still a challenge. If walking 7km is too easy for you, try 17km. If you can easily walk 17km, try running instead. If you can already run 17km, well, I guess you need to either come first or set a time to beat next year.

Yesterday, I predicted that Country2Coast will become Hawke's Bay's equivalent of Auckland's Round the Bays. Here is an event that individuals, families, the young and old and local companies can get involved with, train for and celebrate at the finish.

Havelock North Rotary were thrilled by the community support for this charity event, which they could see as they registered participants on Saturday was going to be a huge success.

A truly amazing aspect of Country2Coast was that it ran through parts of the Cape Coast that had been submerged by flooding just four days earlier.

Parts of the pathways and sections of road from Te Awanga to Clifton had been in shocking condition, prompting speculation that the event might not go ahead.

Contractors Fulton Hogan put an end to any negative thoughts with a massive clean-up effort that had the wrecked sections of the course ready to go by Sunday.

Well done to all participants.