Posts Tagged ‘New Zealand’
Joe Scott article – 1908
1993 That Dam Run
THAT DAM RUN” – 1993
by Don Wallace
For the second year New Zealand played host to the IAU Australasian 100km Championship. Race organiser Scott Leonard has developed an event of international standard. on one of the most scenic 100km courses in the world.
IAU president Malcolm Campbell, who attended the race on December 31. 1993. praised the efforts of the New Zealanders in hosting a world class race. Malcolm Campbell also expressed his enthusiasm for the road race in the Waitaki \%alley as the venue for the IAU World Challenge 100km on December 31, 1999. The
1999 event will be a unique experience as runners will be competing in the final championship race of the century.
The 1993 race attracted 22 competitors from 8 countries. Starting in the cool, overcast conditions at Kurow, at Gam, the course initially ran out and back on a flat _30km section. This was heading east on the northern side of the Waitaki River toward Waimate. The conditioned remained overcast, warming a few degrees, and humid. Sails, very good conditions for a ‘100km race though an early breeze blowing from the east up the valley was to strengthen. proving a hinderance to runners later in the race.
After returning to Kurow at 30kms the runners head up the Waitaki Valley over roiling hills to 55km at Otematata. The course is generally climbing along this section. _Mountains line both sides of the valley with the Waitaki and Avilnore darns creating picturesque lakes. The course is flat for 8kms near Otematata before climbing the steepest. hill to the top of the Benmore Dam wall at 63kms. Here the view is spectacular. With Benmore Dam the largest hydro dam in New Zealand being held back by a 70m high rock and earth darn to the left. To the right a panoramic view way down the Waitaki Valley, across the Avirnore Darn.
The runners descend from the dam returning via the opposite shoreline of Avirnore Dam. After the downhill from the dam the course is fairly flat. It crosses the Avirnore Dam at 87kni to return to Kurow via the main road. This includes some ro{tiug hills but this time it is downhill overall. At 98km it is recommended runners look a bit lively, passing the cemetary. The last couple of kilometres to Kurow are flat.
From the start a pack of four stayed together for the first 15km. This included Russell Hurring (NZ), second in 1992, four time winner of the 67km Kepler Challenge, Damon Rodwell (GBR) and another Kiwi marathoner Murray Cairns. Thomas Rusik, a 45 year old Czech who has competed in thirty-seven 100km races followed. Hans-Werner Janicke, the German 100km coach and his wife Katharina Janicke (who has run 8Iu•s22 this year) were also in the field_ The womens race also included Japan’s Yukiko Mizuno, New Zealand runners Margaret Hazelwood and Winnie Cosgrove.
By 20km, in 1 hr:20:14 Hurring and myself had pulled away from Rodwell and Cairns. I increased the pace very slightly to about 3.52per km which I maintained for the next 30kms By 25k.m Russell Hurring was slowly dropping and I slowly pulled away from him as we climbed over the rolling hills up the Waitaki Valley. I reach 30kms in 3:16:51, with a two minutes lead. I was running very comfortably at 30kms and was only 20 seconds behind my ‘92 pace. Shortly after 60kIn I climb the steepest dill upto the top of the Benmore Dane. I felt stong on the climb however my quads felt sore with the steep downhill off the darn. The darn slowed my pace for the next 10ki7 to 41:07, giving 7Okins in 4:37:36. _My lead on Hurring was over three minutes and I felt confident he would not gain on me, In ‘92 I pushed the pace from 50 to 80klns (1:57 for 30kms). I held a steady 4 min/km pace. to 80km in 5:17:51. Since turning back at Benmore Darin I was running Into a head wind that was strengthening.
At 86km as I ran across the Avirnore Dam wall the wind was blowing across me from behind and really assisting. But that was only for 500 metres until I reached the main highway returning to Kurow and turned directly into the wind. I was slowing in the final 15 kin and the wind dampened my enthusiasm to push harder. 1 knew I had a good lead. The traffic on the road was more hazardous. I resigned to maintaining a slower but steady pace and ran 44:31 over the last l0kms to finish in 6:44:14. I was pleased with niy effort.
During the race Alan Rider did a great job of seconding for me. I had drunk water to 15kms, then about an 8-10% solution of Endura for the remainder of the race. 1 also consumed about 8 or 9 Leppin squeezy’s, 3 in the first half and then more frequently over the final 50km.
Russell Hurring was unable to sustain the early pace we set out at, though still ran well to record his best at 6:59:13. Thomas Rusik was first veteran and third overall in 7:25:30, closesly followed by Stuart McDonald NZ, 7:27:32. Hans-Werner Janicke ran a good 7:47 for fifth, and Dayle Steele ran a pb of 8:02, for sixth. Neville Mercer NZ ( 7:22 in Belgium) retired at 30km due to effects of a recent flu, and Damon Rodwell GBR also retired at the marathon mark. Other male finishers were Murray Cairns NZ, Ian Sussex NZ and Christophe Rochette FRA.
In the womans race Katharina, who had started with a fracture of a small toe retired at 30kin. Japanese runner Yukiko Mizuno had arrived the evening before the race. She had the lead by the Benmore Dam, running on to win in a good time of 8:43:14. She remained a few for a short while after the race before leaving to return to Japan. Margaret Hazelwood NZ also ran a goob pb of 8:50:32 to finish second, with Winnie Cosgrove NZ a third in her first I00krn in 9:38:45. Caroline Andrews NZ, also in her first 100km was the fourth woman and final finisher in the race.
New Zealand won the Trans Tasman teams throphy with Russell Hurring, Stuart MacDonald and Dayle Steele in the mens race and Margaret Hazelwood, Winnie Cosgrove and Caroline Andrew in the womens. Australia did not have a team.
At the finish at Kurow a marque was set up to provide a BBQ and refreshment for runners, helpers, officials and guests. Two local massuers also did a very thourough job to relieve tender muscles.
A dinner and presentation was later held at the Brydone Hotel, in Oarnaru which was providing accommodation for the runners and officals. For the second year large Maori wooden carvings were presented to the individual winners, and carved wooden treasure bowls to the winning team. A small amount of prize money was also presented, and the first New Zealand male Russell Hurring and female Margaret Hazelwood were giving air tickets from Air NZ to attend the 1994 IAU World Challenge 100km in Japan. Major sponsor Lynx donated several pairs of shoes and other goods were also distributed as ramdom draws.
Scott Leonard with the assistance of Dick and Ruth Tout, David Rush and the local athletic club, and the Kurow and Oamaru communities did a great job of staging “That Darn Run” in 1993. After two years I believe “That Dam Run” is certainly here to stay and will become an important event on the international calerider. The race is an ideal opportunity. for Kiwis and Aussies to run a 100km road race, though the organisers need to make better arrangements to attract more Aussies to attend. I beleive we will we see fast times recorded by many runners on this course. Who knows maybe that elusive Australasian 100km road record.
Tags: New Zealand, Ultralegends
To see the complete journey…… check the link : http://www.nzrun.co.nz/about/blog
Read Below the last day…..
Day 44- 14 December 2009
After an eventful night in Auckland…
In particular I acknowledge the attendance of those fantastic oldies from Riverview, complete with their handmade banner it was a fitting welcome back to the naki…but I wasn’t finished yet.
Megan announced the final K to go and as we neared the windwand I could see more people waiting to cheer me on and share with me the moment of completion of this massive task.
Thank you so much Interislander, Maui Campervans, Nature Spring Water, Mobilize and Waitara Travel.
A big thank you to all the Motels and Hotels throughout New Zealand who sponsored accommodation. You were all such amazing people and I look forward to catching up with you all again one day soon.
Megan Stewart – Safety and Maps (Mobilize)
Jason Obirek – Trainer
Murray Dick – Crew and Naming Rights Sponsor
Issobel Tamati – Crew / Mum
Eileen Tamati – Crew and Accommodation
Nadene George – Crew and Travel (Waitara Travel)
Mitch Tamati – Crew / Brother
Cyril Tamati – Crew / Dad
David Casey – Crew and Sponsor (Big Media)
Angela Koot – Crew
Alex Mckenzie – Crew
Thank you so much to all the amazing people we have met through the length of NZ. We have been so fortunate to meet so many great New Zealanders. Thank you so much for your kind donations to help support CanTeen and Cure Kids. Please keep spreading the word as we will keep fundraising to ensure we can help make a difference for these two amazing charities.
Well! Here is the challenge!
If you think you can run, walk, crawl or roll a km per day for the next 14 days then we would love to have you on board with your own K PER DAY Challenge!
So lets get to it! Start today! All it takes is a k!
Love to all
Lisa
Tags: New Zealand, Solo Running
24-8-92
PRESS RELEASE:
AUSTRALASIAN 100KM CHAMPIONSHIPS SUPPORTED BY SMOKEFREE
The inaugural running of this annual National/International event will take place on Dec. 28, 1992 at the lovely North Otago venue of CAMPBELL PARK.
The Sport of 100KM running is assuming a – rapidly expanding – ‘official’ status amongst the World’s Sporting Organizations. (There are 41 member nations in the International Assoc. of Ultrarunners – IAU.)
As the ’standard’ ultra-marathon distance, with planned inclusion at the Olympic Games in the next 8 years, the 100km race has enjoyed ‘patronage’ by the International Amateur Athletic Federation – IAAF – since 1989. And, is currently under consideration for eventual inclusion in the Commonwealth Games.
For the first time in New Zealand, the gap between the 100km race and Athletics NZ – the official governing body of athletics in NZ – has been bridged. Athletics NZ is recognizing the importance of the l00kms, and its future developement, by ‘patronizing’ this event.
This, brings what was once considered a fringe sport into the folds of ‘officialdom’, opening doors for New Zealand athletes/teams to represent their country at a recognized World Championship, the ‘100KM World-Cup’ event.
Elite athletes, observing official recognition and seeking further challenge in their efforts to represent their country, are moving up to the 100km distance from shorter races.
Individuals who wish to discover the bounds of their own ability and fortitude – elite or not – are testing the 100km event in numbers increasing more quickly than those of any other running event. (European and African events now boast fields of over 10,000 entries!)
New Zealand, always competitive on international levels of athletics – and particularly powerful in the ultra-distance events – has been selected to play host to, what is for Australasia, a ‘first’ with this IAU sanctioned event. The initial step in bringing the ‘100KM WORLD-CUP’ to New Zealand in 1994!
Under the auspices of the IAAF, world-record status is now afforded the 100km road event. Our course is extremely fast, which is of upmost importance to those competing, and provides ample excitement for those observing.
A ‘Who’s Who’ of NZ ultra-runners will lineup for the first ‘test’ of its kind against Australia.
- Sandy Barwick, world famous for her record shattering
performance over 1,000 miles in New York last year.
- Russell Prince, 2nd in the world at the 1991 World-Cup
100KM in the USA, ranked #1 in NZ/Australasia. s
- Russell Hurring, just returned from races in Europe -. after demolishing Prince’s 67km Kepler Challenge record by over 9 minutes in ‘91.
- Margaret Hazelwood, holder of the NZ Womens 100km record, set last year in Australia.
- Kerry Pascoe, the North Island’s top ultra-runner, winner of the 90 mile beach run, and his last 3 NZ run marathons.
- Dick Tout, former World/Australasian/NZ record holder of numerous ultra-distance events.
The ‘host’ venue – CAMPBELL PARK ` – ` offers the world, “a world away…” revealing a magnificient North Otago setting which highlights the natural beauty – trademark – and so important to New Zealand’s lifestyle and image. This village setting, proclaimed one of NZ’s best kept secrets, is centered around NZ’s first Mansion House, built in 1876, and provides a completely self-contained site for attending parties.
(This annual ‘Championship’ event is prelude to further use of Campbell Park as a sports ‘event’ and training center.)
Travel provided by AIR NEW ZEALAND assures a top New Zealand team will be assembled, representative of North and South Islands.
With assistance from the largest sports shoe company in the world – NIKE – materials and a network to runners from around the globe is available.
- LEPPIN – an energy product, and the company which has sponsored the ‘Commrades’ Double Marathon in South Africa for 15 years, is also supporting us, in a call for Friendship among peoples.
We also wish to acknowledge the support of: SMOKEFREE
FOSTERS LAGER
CHIQUITA
TELECOM (TMR)
With the support of these high-profile sponsors, the AUSTRALASIAN 100KM CHAMPIONSHIPS is assured of a brilliant future.
Tags: New Zealand, Ultra history