Aotea runner Elliot Forrest has won the Wharf to Wharf half marathon, crossing the finish line at Tryphena Wharf in 1hr 46min after a race made even more challenging by a shoulder injury just seven weeks earlier.
The half marathon is one of several events held as part of this year’s Wharf to Wharf, with about 180 competitors taking part across the various races. The full marathon runners were still out on the course when Forrest crossed the line, with their race continuing towards the Tryphena finish.
Forrest had dislocated his shoulder seven weeks ago but said it had recovered enough for him to run, although he was still conscious of the injury.
“Oh, I had a dislocated shoulder, but I had surgery like seven weeks ago now, so it’s pretty good,” Forrest said. “So I can kind of swing it a little.”
He admitted he had started faster than planned because he was unsure how his shoulder would cope.
“Kind of set out a bit too fast, to be honest, because I didn’t know how fast I’d be able to go, but held on pretty well.”
The winning time was around what Forrest had hoped for before the race.
“I was hoping around like maybe that time, yeah?” he said. “Pretty good.”
But it was the chance to win the half marathon on his home island that meant the most.
“Oh man, I was buzzing for this,” Forrest said. “Like I’ve done a half marathon in Auckland, but it’s nothing like being at home.”
“I was so excited. I was pumped.”
His mother Orla, who owns the Currach Irish Pub, was waiting at the finish and said she was delighted to see her son take the local win.
“Pretty cool. Fantastic. So proud of him,” she said.
“He’s always loved running, and he’s really good at it. And it’s brilliant to have a local winner of the half marathon here on Great Barrier.”
She said it was particularly impressive given how recently he had suffered the shoulder injury.
“And seven weeks after a shoulder operation. Oh my gosh. He was running with one arm.”
Aucklander Nathan Miller finished second in the half marathon after travelling to Aotea with a friend competing in the full marathon.
Miller said the course was tough, particularly with its hills.
“It was hard. There’s a lot of hills and I’m not built for hills,” he said.
“But just try putting in a bit of work on the downhills and pretty nice to be able to train a bit more, but I just relied on a bit of grunt.”
Miller, who has had three knee surgeries, said he had not originally planned to enter the race. His best friend was running the marathon and, after a few drinks, Miller decided to sign up for the half.
“I was drunk, so I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll sign up.’”
His preparation was not exactly textbook either, with Miller spending the previous few days in Queenstown.
“I’ve just been spent the last few days in Queenstown, drinking with the wife, but it’s not been ideal prep,” he said.
Despite that, he said the island had delivered a memorable race.
“No, it’s a good race though. I love the island. It’s really nice, good support, so yeah, it’s been a fun day so far.”
That support was on full display along the course, with locals turning out to cheer runners through some of the island’s toughest sections.
At the top of Medlands Hill, girls dressed as bumble bees and bananas were on hand to encourage competitors, while at the bottom of Tryphena Hill the supporters had dressed up as party girls among Halloween decorations.
The weather also provided near-perfect conditions for running, with a light overcast keeping the heat down and calm winds providing a welcome change after several weeks of strong south-westerlies.
Locals lined the route with food, drinks and encouragement, giving runners a distinctly Aotea welcome as they made their way towards Tryphena.
Wharf to Wharf is known as “New Zealand’s friendliest marathon” and is run as a fundraiser, with the event raising money for the local community while bringing hundreds of runners and supporters to the island.
There was just one medical callout during the event, after a woman collapsed within the final 5km. She was treated for dehydration by the volunteer ambulance team before being transferred to Aotea Health to recover.
