Half marathon: New dad hopes he has pace

Reigning Auckland Marathon winner Stephen Lett is taking part in the Podium Ohope Express half marathon and Rotorua Marathon this year.

On any ordinary day, winning the Auckland Marathon would be cause enough for celebration.

However, Stephen Lett had an even better reason to celebrate as his wife gave birth to their first child hours after he crossed the finish line last year.

While not much can trump that day, the New Zealand representative is looking forward to competing in the Podium Ohope Express half marathon on Easter Saturday.

"The Podium Ohope Express appears to be a fast, flat course and is perfectly timed as a lead-up event to the Rotorua Marathon," Lett said. "Since my daughter Ruby was born, I haven't had as much time to train so I hope I can keep up."

The Podium Ohope Express is a 5km, 10km or 21.1km run or walk event that will start from Maraetotara Reserve this Saturday.

Like many competitors, Lett (Auckland) is using it as a build-up to the Rotorua Marathon in May. Lett is targeting the full marathon on May 2 after twice running the half-marathon in Rotorua, finishing second in 2012 and fourth in 2014.

"I've never run [the full marathon] at Rotorua and I'm really keen to do so," he said. "It is a good time of year and it is a strength-based course with a few hills. It is also attractive because of the long history attached to it and the fact lots of big names have won there in the past."

He said he hoped to do a good time in Rotorua but said he was not doing as much training in the lead-up as he did for the Auckland Marathon last year.

"I'm a little unsure about what I can do at the Rotorua Marathon. I would like to think I could run low 2.30s and I would hope my previous experience come into play."

Meanwhile, entry numbers are growing steadily for the Ohope race this weekend and event manager Mike van der Boom believed there was something to suit everyone.

Lett and wife Felicity are physiotherapists and share a passion for fitness.

Felicity will be run off her feet with Ruby and won't be able to enter the Ohope Express, but has completed one marathon and plenty of half marathons in her time.

The community-based event is supported by many local businesses including Podium Podiatry and Footwear, which has generously donated $4000 in prizes.

Likewise, the Whakatane Aquatic and Fitness Centre has supplied spot prizes for the 5km event.

-You can still enter the Podium Ohope Express at www.ohopeexpress.co.nz or enter on the day before 8.30am. The half marathon and 10km starts at 9am and the 5km starts at 10am.