Athletics: Timing pays off in the long run

Whangarei's Tom Reynolds lived up to his, and his workmates, expectations in winning yesterday's ACC Whangarei Half Marathon. Photo / John Stone

Tom Reynolds may have only started running marathons last year, but the Northlander made it two from two in winning the ACC Whangarei Half Marathon.

Running a new course, which featured a crossing of the new Kotuitui Whitanga pedestrian bridge, the Whangarei doctor was four minutes clear of second place-getter Greg Morris.

After yesterday's race Reynolds was satisfied with claiming both the win and going under 80 minutes.

He said he ran the race tactically, especially at the start where he chose to put a bit of heat on from the start.

"I kind of wanted to feel everyone out and I went out hard to see if anyone would follow, which no one did," the 25-year-old, who had been writing weekly race tips for Advocate readers, explained. "Then I set into my km rate that I'd train for.

"I got a bit of cramp creeping into the legs in the last 5km, but by then I had a bit of a buffer."

He added that achievement of going under 80 minutes in the 21.1km course was something he had been working towards for a number of months.

However, while pleased to come out on top - especially after getting a bit of ribbing at work - he acknowledged it was a bit of a lonely race.

"It was a lot more lonely this year," he said, citing how last year his training partner Matt Morreau was less than 30 seconds behind him.

"I don't mind running by myself, a lot of my race style is go hard from the start and build a lead early [so it's not surprising'.

"But, I had my watch to keep an eye on my time - when you're running you have a bit of a routine you get going in your mind so you'll go through a list and that keeps you occupied."

Reynolds felt the new course Sport Northland had come up with was a huge step up from last year in terms of enjoyment and views of Whangarei.

The new course went from the Town Basin out to Onerahi via the Kotuitui Whitanga bridge and the Te Matau a Pohe bridge before returning to the finish line at the Canopy Bridge.

"I think [Sport Northland] deserve some credit for the effort they put in," Reynolds commented, adding the 9km fun run/walk was a good fit.

Yesterday's victory will be the last half marathon he runs for a while, as he prepares for several orienteering and multi-sport events in the coming months.

Lead results

Male:
Thomas Reynolds, 1h 18m 32s, 1;
Greg Morris, 1h 22m 45s, 2;
Ant Rodger, 1h 23m 19s, 3;
Ian Calder, 1h 23m 59s, 4

Female:
Sally Jackson, 1h 30m 29s, 1;
Maria Akesson, 1h 31m 16s, 2;
Helen Turner, 1h 34m 57s, 3;
Carolyn Younger, 1h 36m 34s, 4.