When Angela Small lines up in the New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty Half Marathon at the Air New Zealand Hawke's Bay Marathon on May 13, she will do so to complete her rehabilitation from a frightening car crash that left her hospitalized with multiple fractures.
Ironically when the crash occurred last September, Ange and her partner Kevin were on the way to Wellington to compete in another half-marathon, the Lower Hutt 3 Bridges event. Small would end up in hospital while good friend and walking companion Vicki Hann took part and relayed her progress via the phone to Small's hospital bed.
This time it is Wellington based Hann that will do the travelling to join her good friend as both will walk the New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty sponsored Half Marathon - and then likely enjoy a wine or two at the Sileni Estates finish line.
Small credits her passion for walking and her resulting fitness in helping her quick recovery, enabling her to take part this weekend.
"I was on my way down to Wellington to meet up with my friend and walking partner, Vicki Hann, who has relocated there, and got taken out by an out-of-control car on a corner. I ended up with 10 fractures to my ribs and four cracked vertebrae. My recovery was very quick due to the fitness that I had at the time - I was probably at peak fitness being ready to compete the next day. I recovered really quickly and joined a really good gym to get back on track and in just over a week I will be walking the Sotheby's Half Marathon with my good friend alongside."