Half Marathon: Fast family enjoy run of success

Runners get under way at the half marathon yesterday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Husband and wife duo Ben and Jess Ruthe have won titles at the Copthorne Rotorua Off-Road Half Marathon.

The Tauranga couple both won their respective races at the popular event in the Whakarewarewa Forest yesterday, with Jess winning the women's half marathon race and Ben winning the men's race.

Event organiser Charlotte Pearson said she was not sure if a couple had won both titles at the event before, but it was a top achievement.

She said they were well known in local running circles, and they were late entries yesterday.

Their children did the Little Devil's children's event in the early morning then they did the half marathon event.

About 1300 people entered all the events yesterday, which included a half marathon, quarter marathon, 5km fun run or walk, plus a children's race.

"We are really stoked with that," Pearson said.

"After such a miserable day yesterday there was only a little bit of drizzle today but for the most part it was good."

She said a lot of people used the event as a build-up to the Rotorua Marathon in May.

Jess Ruthe finished second at the 50th Rotorua Marathon last year.

- Half marathon results:

Men: 1 Ben Ruthe (Tauranga) 1:13:26, 2 Michael Voss (Rotorua) 1:17:52, 3 Adrian Lysaght (Tokoroa) 1:19:10, 4 Lance Brew (Hamilton) 1:20:48, 5 Julian Ng (Mission Bay) 1:21:38.

Female: 1 Jess Ruthe (Tauranga) 1:20:39, 2 Rowan Marie Torckler (Cambridge) 1:24:17, 3 Kirsten Milne (Te Awamutu) 1:29:27, 4 Johanna Ottosson 1:30:36, 5 Hannah Wells (Auckland) 1:31:44.