Auckland Marathon: All Blacks win spurs on runners

Katie Kemp celebrates winning the women's 42km run. Photo / Greg Bowker

“Someone yelled out ‘we won’ and it was a great feeling," said women's half marathom winner Camille Buscomb.

Supporters standing on the side of the Auckland Marathon course shouted out updates on the Rugby World Cup final to keep runners up to date with how the All Blacks were going.

As the runners came over the Harbour Bridge and into the Viaduct they were greeted with hundreds of All Blacks fans who had left the bars and were lined along the route.

Runners wearing All Blacks jerseys were cheered on with extra force and shouts of "go the All Blacks", which many runners yelled back in response.

Camillie Buscomb celebrates winning the women's 21km run. Photo / Greg Bowker

Auckland Marathon winner Aaron Pulford crossed the line with a strong finish at two hours 27 minutes and one second. Pulford is a three-time 10,000m New Zealand champion and this was his debut marathon.

Jonathan Jackson came second with a time of two hours 27 minutes 32 seconds, followed by Dougal Thorburn who finished in two hours 27 minutes and 54 seconds.

Camille Buscomb was the women's half marathon winner for the second year in the row.

She finished the half marathon in one hour 16 minutes seven seconds and was "really happy" to hold on to her first place finish.

"It was pretty tough and windy," she said.

Buscomb watched a lot of the first half of the game on her journey from her hotel to the start line in Devonport.

Marathon runners celebrate an All Blacks win in Devonport. Photo / Greg Bowker

She found out the All Blacks had won about 3 km into the race.

"Someone yelled out 'we won' and it was a great feeling."

She was followed closely by Rowan Marie Torckler with a time of one hour 16 minutes 23 seconds and Olivia Burne, one hour 17 minutes.

Malcolm Hicks won the half marathon with a time of one hour 8 minutes, followed by Michael Banks with a time of one hour 10 minutes 18 seconds and Josh Maisey one hour 10 minutes 48 seconds.

Banks said the race had been enjoyable and having the Rugby World Cup final on at the same time gave it an added dimension.

"I heard when we got the yellow card and I just had to put it in the back of my mind and keep going.

"Then about 3km into it people were yelling out that we had won. That was a boost for me, it gave me adrenaline and lifted my energy."

Aaron Pulford celebrates winning the men's 42km run. Photo / Greg Bowker

Katie Kemp won the woman's marathon with a personal best time of two hours 42 minutes.

"I've worked so hard, I'm so thrilled," Kemp said after crossing the finish line.

Her race "went to plan exactly."

"My plan is to always race myself... The crowds lifted me hugely... it was a real adrenaline rush."

Kemp was racing as part of the ASB Run Down Your Rate team, which means her mortgage rate will be dropped to 2.42 per cent.

"I can't find my husband he is probably on the calculator somewhere," she said.

This was Kemp's third marathon, and she shaved seven minutes off her Taupo Marathon time.

Second place in the women's marathon was Kelly Parlane with a time of two hours 52 minutes followed by Elizabeth Pittaway, two hours 54 minutes.

Hundreds of runners were seen crossing the finish line in All Blacks supporters gear, many with silver fern flags draped around their shoulders.