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Due to online entry system closing earlier than previously stated there will now be no late fee for entry.  Please enter either tonight or tommorow from 7am at the start/finish area.  Please make sure thought that if you are entering the 21km Walk option this starts at 8am.

See you all tommorow

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For those who will be turning up on Friday and wish to collect race numbers etc we will be having rego from 5pm-730pm otherwise you can collect Satureday morning.  Also I have been asked, and we will accommodate Mum's/Dad's who wish to do the run with their child in a buggy/pram.  We will set them off at the same time as the Walkers to cut down on congestion, but we love this is turning into a family affair.

See you all in 3 weeks!!!!!

This year the 3rd Annual Ohope Half Marathon incorporating also the 10km run/walk option will take place on Saturday 31st March 2012.  See you all there

We hope that everyone enjoyed their day out regardless of the weather.  You can read below a race report compled by Jim Robinson (one of the half marathon competitors).  Thanks to Jim for preparing.

Ohope half marathon: “a good hit-out” 

Helen Rountree and Kyle MacDonald had a successful form-tester on Sunday — soundly winning the Ohope half marathon.

Kyle MacDonald has his eyes on a sub 2 hr 30 min at the Rotorua marathon in a month’s time. So he was well pleased with a “good solid hit out” at the second Ohope Half Marathon, held on a two-lap course beside the Eastern Bay of Plenty Pacific coastline. 

MacDonald’s been packing in the distance in preparation for Rotorua — which will be just his third marathon. He ran 160 km last week with no more than a one-day taper for Sunday.

Despite that, “I felt good throughout,” he reckoned.

He and his 27-year-old twin Iain had planned to share the pace at the front, each taking five-minute stints, to see what kind of a time they could score (Kyle’s PB is a low-69 mins).

But the plan came unstuck at the first U-turn at just over 5 km. 

“I accelerated out of the turn — and got a gap. I didn’t mean to get away. I thought, ah well, I’ll keep going and see if he can get back,” the winner said.

No chance of that. Kyle kept opening the gap all the way to the finish near the end of the pretty Ohope spit, crossing the line in 1 hr 10 min 35 secs, to his brother’s 1 hr 13 min 43 sec.

Ben Ruthe, who has put running on the back burner for a while to focus on family and his new business, was third in 1 hr 17 min 16 sec.

Those times could in fact be a lot quicker than they look at first glance. According to GPS, it seems the course was likely about 600 m longer than the 21.1 km half marathon distance, which would account for at least 2 min of extra effort.

Although one wit in search of a faster time claimed 600 m was surely worth at least 10 minutes.

“I was actually quite surprised when I finished and saw the time. I thought it’d be quicker than that,” MacDonald admitted.

The weather conditions were OK for running but unfortunately dire for anything else. Ohope is a beach resort and nearby Whakatane is the reigning sunniest centre in the country, but the weather gods were having none of it on Sunday and it rained solidly for most of the day.

It wasn’t cold and there was no wind, so no worries when you’re going hard (apart from a couple of huge puddles to dodge). But the downpour was a shame for all the walkers and slower runners, who’d have had no more than a misty glimpse of Whale Island and the sweeping Ohope beach.

No big deal for the fast runners though. “I liked the course. I liked the flat nature. [With the two-lap format] I knew where everyone was. I’d definitely like to be back next year,” MacDonald said.

Certainly, when the right distance is confirmed, the Ohope race will be a cracking choice to get a quick time, and hone form for Rotorua. There are a few small rises of about 10 m each lap, but other than that, it’s pan flat, and pretty much straight.

A 67 or 68 min men’s winning time looks more than feasible.

Helen Rountree had a good race, confirming she’s back to a solid level of fitness after a frustrating spell with injury.

Rountree dashed off from the other women right from the start. She finished in 1 hr 24 min 16 sec, with Katy Dawson second (1 hr 34 min 14 sec) and Naomi Davoren (1 hr 37 min 20 sec) third.

Rountree’s now focusing on the Huntly half marathon in mid-May — the race that preempted her coming down with long-term foot problems (plantar fascia) in 2010. She had about six months without proper training and has only been running consistently since Christmas.

“I felt pretty good today — but the time was slow,” Rountree said. She’s looking to shave a good few minutes off at the Huntly half, where last year she came away with an impressive 1 hr 18 min.

The Ohope Half Marathon was supported by a 10 km. The women’s race was won by Fee Holdsworth (43 min 29 sec) with the men’s taken out by Darren Ashmore  (38 min 41 sec).

Results: www.ohopehalfmarathon.co.nz

 -Jim Robinson

We spent the day in Ohope today finalising some details and we got out and took some photos of the course.  We apologise if they are not too clear but they are taken with a phone!

The first is of the start/finish area.  Although on grass, there isn't much before you hit the road.

Soon after turning onto the road you get to the biggest hill of the course.  We reckon it is less than 10m high.  The 10km race starts at the top of this hill.

After tackling the hill you head off down Harbour Road and then turn right into Anne Road.  On the way back you will turn left.

After about 150m Anne Road comes to an end and you will turn left into Ocean Road.  If you are interested there are some great views of White Island in the distance as you are coming donw Anne Road.

Ocean Road lives up to its name with some great ocean views, including over to Whale Island.

The distance along Ocean Road to the turn point is about 3km.  For the turn you will step up onto the grass and turn around the aid station which will have water and some lollies.  This photo is the view from the aid station looking back down Ocean Road.

Then head back to the start/finish line!

We have finalised the venue for registration on Saturday.  This will take place between 4pm and 6pm at the Ohope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park.  We will have it sign posted off Harbour Road and it is the entrance before the main entrance to the holiday park, about 60m before it.  Just drive into the drive way and you cannot miss it.  Looking forward to seeing you there.

We have finalised the course for 2011.  All details are under the event section of the website.  We are really happy with the course.  It is scenic, but more importantly, it is fast.  A perfect hit out for the Rotorua marathon and a great course to chase you PB time on.