Here's to the Next Time

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HERE'S TO THE NEXT TIME Marathon time will be here soon and these reflections by Roger Cole come at a good time. Thanks, Roger, for giving us the picture. Well we showed them we meant busi- the senior. Our team in the junior maraness-full teams home in junior and thon put up a very meritworthy senior Marathons as well as notable formance, those participating being Paul perplacings. Green, Kevin Jamieson, races The were run in good weather, and Alan Higgins. Murray Hall, perhaps a little on the warm side, but One tends to feel rather jealous as this was appreciated by the spectators they relax, whilst inside tense, who spent most of time swimming in the wondering if you've not bitten feeling off more Catchpool. For the than you can chew. Both races are handiuninitiated, the trampers' cap races, the handicaps worked out marthons are run once a year. The idea a steward from reports on club mem- by is that the competitors have to don boots bers' fitness sent in by their club and (weighing at least 21 lb. each)-I believe on previous performances. this is the only clothing requirement in The feeling of despair is the rules and the rest is left to your own ing when the characters you overwhelm- start with sense of decency or local by-laws ruling dash away like sprinters and before at the time-and run round a previously first mile is done you decide next year the arranged The course. won't see you within a hundred miles of junior marathon has a shorter the Orongorongos. course and is run before the start of Then comes the most encouraging moment of the race when you see the must have gone some as he had started back of an earlier starter who is walk- a quarter of an hour later. Another runing. It was probably just about the time ner went past quite fast on our left and you were considering walking yourself, heading in that direction we came upon but to prove you are better than the a track, and then in à cloud of dust character in front you have to run past Peter was gone and I was on my own him. By this time you will have reached again. It was here the boots got heavy, the top of one of the many undulations but finding Bill Cronin on top giving enon the five-mile track and having just couragement (a fortuitous hole in his passed this fellow the problem is keep- boot resulting in their temporary visit ing in front of him as he's refreshed to Auckland saved him from our own after his walk up. Fortunately you come miserable fate), and knowing it was all to another uphill slope and he starts downhill, in public view, gave me walking again, but of course there is strength to finish. Bill had told me that somebody else in front. So it goes on as long as I got down okay we must win until suddenly the river confronts you. the team race, but he didn't know tragedy It was here Max passed me, plunging had struck Peter Daniel, the Gods dedown the steep descent to the river like ciding he had run too well felled him a boulder out of control. I favoured a with heat stroke within a hundred yards more cautious descent and by the time of the finish when he was lying fifth. I reached the river he was round the So although Max Smart came second, first bend. Here is the first check point Bruce Jefferies third, myself twelfth, and its associated group of onlookers with Hank Bertholett and Bill Lockie and of course one quickens the pace and close behind, the Hutt Valley and Taraattempts to show how little effort the rua managed to slip in. race requires. However, for my part, Next year, Paul Green moves into I rather destroyed this illusion by step- senior class after having the fastest time ping in a deep puddle and stumbling to his credit in the junior. Bruce Jefpast. These onlookers are in little groups feries, established player, should about rugby scattered the course and usually be in the peak of fitness, John Patchett, seated just where one is feeling like now chief guide, will have to set a good having a little walk, and again, pride example, and Peter Daniels would be being what it is, you are forced to con- unluckly to suffer similarly twice. tinue running. The river valley is nice and flat, The other clubs will really have somealthough I still managed to fall over. thing to beat. This doesn't mean the rest and one follows "Landrover" tracks as it of us can take it easy, as with a mem is a little more compacted and not so bership of 175, we are a poor club if much "boot spin occurs! Outside the we haven't got more than 10 per cent Paua hut was a very encouraging little of our members entered in one or other chap (perhaps the offspring of one of our of the marathons. Max has promised members) who told everybody they were to run if he's not in the tropical jungles lying third. Again I was caught up, by a of South America. And my hot tip for Hutt Valley runner this time, and we the outsider with a chance is Bill Cronin had a yarn for a quarter of an hour until if he doesn't over indulge in the social he stopped for a breath on the "Baker". comferts of life-wine, women, and Good tactics, keeps 'em talking! About song! this time Bruce Jefferies went past, going With the lighter nights on us now, uphill almost as fast as Max had previ- a run in the evening once or twice a ously gone down. There is no defined week will warm us up and will prepare track up the Baker and I was wading us for the big day next February when chest high through the bushes when the Tongue and Meats are going to clear Peter Daniels came on the scene; he the board.