8 Feb 2025
Once again Maryanne and I made the annual pilgrimage to Westport to take part in the 42nd Buller Gorge Marathon weekend. Over the years we have competed in the full marathon, half marathon and in the latter years as part of a team doing the marathon relay. Three years ago, a 10km was introduced and Maryanne and I took part in this new event which takes part on the newly formed Kawatiri Coastal Trail. Last year owing to ongoing hip and back problems, and not being able to run 10km, I had to be content acting as support person. This year as I have managed to do a bit of running without too many issues, I thought that I would try and run about 6km and then run/walk the rest of the distance.
This year there were no ferry issues, but we had to go on the 2am Bluebridge crossing as Interislander cancellations owing to bad weather in January meant that more people had booked on the Bluebridge and all what was left were the early morning sailing which was cheaper than at the normal daylight times. We made it to Nelson and stayed with friends and then travelled to Westport on Friday morning. After picking up our race packs we then proceeded to Carters Beach to our accommodation for the weekend.
In 2024 a new Race Director and committee were in place after a disastrous event the previous year. Things certainly were completely different right from race numbers pick up through until the completion of the prize giving. Again, this year the numbers were down on previous years for all races with just under 900 entrants. In the full marathon there were only 103 finishers (plus four that did not make the cutoff time), half marathon run 467 and 104 in the half marathon walk, 34 marathon relay teams and in the 10km, 187 runners and walkers.
Race day was sunny and warm with the temperature forecast to get up to 22 degrees around lunchtime – not an ideal temperature to be out running a marathon. The start time was again 9.30am and the course change for the last 1.5km of the 10km which kept the runners and walkers off the main street of Westport and alongside the Buller River before crossing a bridge over the rail lines before entering Victoria Square and the finishing chute was used again for this year.
The prize giving was well run, even though it started about 15 minutes later than the advertised time. There were a good number of major spot prizes drawn though our group weren’t lucky enough to strike one of the major spot prizes.
This year I managed to run the whole way (albeit slowly) and only walked over the swing bridge both ways and up over the bridge that goes over the railway lines by the finish. My finishing time was 1:28.40 and Maryanne completed the 10km run in 1:14:29. Also taking part this year from WRW were Liz Morrison 1:24:59 and Carole Douce 1:31:51. All finishers received a finishing medal this year.
Next year is the 43rd running of this event and is to take place on Saturday 14th February 2026 (Valentines Day).
John Palmer