FUN RUN - Hundreds round the mountain for fun

With pent-up energy suddenly released, 158 runners charged off up Three Mile Bush Road from the main gate of Hurupaki School at 9am.
But that was only the first rush of participants in the annual Kamo Round the Mountain 10km Fun Run and Walk on Sunday morning.
With a system of staggered starts adopted to avoid possible hazards relating to traffic congestion, 129 fast walkers headed off a minute later, with 119 casual walkers another minute back.
The organisers, Hatea Harriers, followed the principles of a fun run: no prizes for the fastest and no listings published showing places and times, but everybody had a chance to win something from the huge booty of spot prizes.
The emphasis was on taking part for fun, fitness and spot prizes. Or possibly, for some, the challenge of completing the 10km distance.
In the spirit of a fun run, Ian Calder, the Oceania over-50 half-marathon champion, and Chris Honiss, the Northland senior men's road champ, were content not to battle for first place as they came home together at the front of the field, while Whangarei marathon runner Ady Ngawati came home easily ahead of the other women.
Isobel Boraston won the premier prize of the day, an Air New Zealand mystery trip for two valued at $1000, donated by Pauline Dinsdale.
Boraston was overwhelmed when her name was drawn, particularly as a knee injury sustained early in the 10km had turned her run into a painful struggle to complete the hilly course.
"I hobbled all the way, but I was determined to finish."
Dinsdale, the major sponsor, is no stranger to running and completed the run herself, in just under an hour, before rushing home to prepare for the prizegiving.
She is a longtime member of Hatea Harriers and took up the sport 28 years ago, encouraged by the thought that running would help keep her slim.
"I wanted to lose weight for my 21st," she said.
No doubt Dinsdale was encouraged by her father, Colin Thorne, who is well known for his running feats in the masters grades, including completing 17 Rotorua marathons - the last in 2007 at the age of 83.
A knee operation last November kept Thorne out of this year's Rotorua marathon, but it seems that he hasn't given up the possibility of completing another.
"I've run 17 so far," he said, obviously not willing to give up the sport yet.
On Sunday, Thorne walked the 10km with the casual walkers, instead of running.
Most of the 406 participants appeared to be at the prizegiving, where interest in the draw for the mystery trip for two and four pairs of Smiths Sports' running shoes was especially intense.