Athletics: Half marathon will be just like a walk in the Park

It required a bit of manoeuvring but Dunedin's James Park has made some sacrifices to his busy running schedule to marry his partner of five years, Janeece Anderson, on September 27.

But before then Park will be part of the record field competing in Sunday's Moro Marathon around the Dunedin waterfront.

What makes this 50-year-old Dunedin photo lithographer at Southern Colour Print stand out from among others is his passion for such organised running events.

Sunday's will be his 321st.

The self-confessed gym-junkie admits to doing little in the way of training, but to using his daily gym routine as a build-up to such events.

"I love the gym," he said. "I've been known to do the half marathon and go to an aerobic class afterwards.

Quite often during the winter months I do a body attack class in the morning, go along for a club run with Hill City and then do a body combat class late in the afternoon."

Gym work and a combined love of the outdoors is how Park met his partner.

"Janeece is a great walker," he said.

"We travel away together using each event as an excuse to get away. I'll run and Janeece walks them."

It has been through this that Park has pieced together an impressive record, after beginning his running career as a fun-runner 11 years ago.

"I got roped into joining the Hill City Club and things escalated from there. I was bitten by the bug."

During the past 11 years Park has competed in almost every event going in the South Island and speaks fondly of his memories of each one.

While overseas he has competed in the New York and Gold Coast marathons.

He achieved his best time for the marathon of 3hrs 19min 40sec in the New York event.

"And that included stopping to take pictures around the course with a throw-away camera," he said.

"The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic - a field of 30,000 people and over two million lining the course something like 10-deep."

Park harbours a desire to return to both the Gold Coast and New York marathons, and compete in the Great Wall of China Marathon.

His record of 320 races has an average distance of 25km each.

With 20 full marathons under his belt and 125 half marathons his resume includes a large number of off-road races.

Among his favourites is the Avalanche Peak Run in Arthurs Pass, a run of 26km.

Another is the Flagpole Run-up, a mountainous run inland in Mid Canterbury, incorporating eight river crossings and a 2km 60deg climb.

"My legs were like jelly for three days after competing in the Flagpole event last year. But I still did my gym classes though and did the Riverton to Invercargill Marathon the next weekend."

Park admits that he would do better if he picked fewer events, but it suits the couple to use each event as a mini holiday and a chance to get away at the weekend.

As for his wedding in two weeks' time, Park admits suggesting that he and Anderson include a marathon.

"I think it fell on deaf ears," so I've put off doing the St Pauls Half Marathon in Invercargill this year."

After their honeymoon, the distance running-season will be in full swing, and the couple already have most weekends planned between now and Christmas.

Park is aiming for a time better than 1hr 30min for the half marathon Sunday, while Anderson has opted not to compete this year.

Her best time for walking Sunday's half marathon course is 2hrs 30min.

Sunday's marathon starts approximately 1km from the Albatross colony visitors' centre at 8am, with buses departing the Edgar Centre for the start at 6.45am.

The associated half marathon starts in Portsmouth Dr at 9.30am.

First runners from each section are expected at the finish line on Watson Park, Port Chalmers, shortly after 10.30am.