irun.org.au

Whether you’re a kid, adult or as we like to say ‘kid at heart’ 😉; can you really turn down a free entry to the new Sydney Zoo? Enter RunWest before October 31 to secure your pass!* Trust us, it’s an uncaged experience you will not want to miss!

Will you RunWest? Tag a friend to challenge them to be part of Western Sydney's largest community festival which runs through the new Sydney Zoo. Enter before 31 October and you'll receive a free ticket to Sydney Zoo. http://www.runthewest.com.au

POLL: Help us brand your new Community. Athletics Australia is committed to supporting healthy and happy lifestyles. As part of this commitment, we will be launching an exciting, fun, new brand that is built by and for walkers and runners. Only problem is; we need a fresh, fun, innovative name! So, have your say below.

"One in eight is more than a statistic, it's a life."

Make this Mother’s Day meaningful. Raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research and have fun in the process.

With over 70 locations throughout Australia; grab your family and friends and head to your closest Mother' Day Classic Event this Mother's Day! Check it out --> http://www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/

Ladies; today along with every other day is yours!!!🏃‍♀️🙌🌺

iRun.org.au is in Melbourne this Thursday, looking to film everyday runners. Whether you are a part of a club, small running group or social running squad, we would love for you to volunteer!!!

If you are interested, drop us a PM us with your suburb and best contact email/phone so we can get in touch.

Athletics Australia, Athletics NSW and irun.org.au will be at Kamay parkrun this Saturday (the 25th) along with Rejoov Runners, to celebrate the close relationships between parkruns and running groups in Australia. So, come and join us on Saturday at Kamay parkrun’s 1st anniversary, have a run and help us keep the fantastic running communities growing. 🏃‍♀️🎉
parkrun Australia

Ever used an excuse to get out of your exercise routine? Whether it be the weather, time restrictions, the kids or your fitness level, we've got a tip to help keep you moving and motivated! 🏃‍♀️🏃

Check them out--->http://bit.ly/2AGgsNC

It's time to put your Excuses to bed! According to a recent survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 60% of Adult Australians live a mostly sedentary lifestyle. In short, this means that more than half of our population spends a lot of time sitting down. This may be at home or work, and can actually be counteracted…

LESS THAN 4 DAYS TO GO!!
The countdown is on. Grab your mates and participate in the 15km, 5km & Relay fun runs this November. Register before it's too late! Secure your spot now: http://www.thecity2sea.com.au/

New York, New York
Interested in doing the New York Marathon this year?
Join The Jodi Lee Foundation's New York Marathon Team. It's a chance to run in the world's most famous marathon event while also supporting a good cause.
http://www.jodileefoundation.org.au/bowel-cancer/events/new-york-marathon-2016

Almost 37,000 took part in the Tokyo Marathon yesterday with Kurt Fearnley again doing Australia proud in the wheelchair event, pipping his long-term rival Ernst van Dyk in a sprint winning in a time of 1hr26min. Victoria's Garvoc star Gin Moloney was 22nd overall after giving a massive PB a shake. She went through halfway in 76.47 before finishing just outside her Melb marathon time in 2:44.23. It was a similar story for Newcastle's Vlad Shratov, who was on an Olympic qualifier pace early and went through half in 68.25 before fading to 47th in 2:29.06.

Geelong's popular River Run 5 and 10k events were held on Sunday and about 750 runners took part on what is a very flat, scenic course. Local star Julian Spence lowered his 10km course record to 31.09, while Western Athletics Tracy Douglas was well clear as first female in a smart time of 37.44. The 5km event was won by Nathaniel Blyth (18.14) and veteran Ruth Bartlett (20.44).

Here's a few more photos from what was a classic Valentine's Day battle of the sexes on Sunday down in Hobart.
http://www.irun.org.au/News/adams-wins-battle-of-the-sexes

Adams wins battle of the sexes

Some interesting results from Hobart's Run the Bridge with Liam Adams equalling his course record and passing Vic Mitchell in the final kilometre to win the inaugural battle of the sexes in 29.03. Michael Shelley was next home in 29.05 with Craig Mottram getting himself race fit again finishing third in 29.37. Vic Mitchell backed up from 2nd place in Briggs 5000m the night before to beat home a strong female field in 33.33. Milly Clark showed Amsterdam is not a one-off with second in 33.55, just ahead of Jess Trengove 33.59. Former national champ Shaun Creighton showed he is still handy at 48, just pipping her in 33.58. A record field of over 3000 entries and 2755 race-day finishers was pleasing for organiser Richard Welsh. Tassie runners Jimmy Lyall (15.39) and Mel Daniels (17.36) won the 5km road events.

Coogee Beach surf life saver Heather Hawkins is not your average 50-year-old mum. Having beaten Ovarian cancer, she decided to take on the world's hardest marathon challenge last month - seven marathons in seven continents in seven days. Nearly 35 hours of running later and a lot of flights, the Sydneysider was celebrating. Read her her tale and see if it's the right event for you.
http://www.irun.org.au/News/plucky-seven

Plucky seven

Which running event will get the most publicity in Tasmania next weekend - The Briggs Classic or the B&E Hobart Run the Bridge? It says something about the passion of race director Richard Welsh for running that he's assembled possibly the best field ever for a 10k road race in Australia and he's even got a battle of the sexes happening on Valentine's Day! It should be quite a race with Craig Mottram facing a tough battle just to get on the podium in his first race since he announced his official un-retirement. If you are heading down there, you can still enter one of Hobart's gems.
http://irun.org.au/News/all-roads-lead-to-hobart

All roads lead to Hobart

Big news story today by Scott Gullan revealing that distance great Craig Mottram will attempt to make his fifth Olympics in the marathon. He will probably need to run sub 2:15 in London to qualify, assuming Liam Adams gets under Scott Westcott and Brad Milosevic's times. “Physically I’m probably as good in terms of injuries as I have been in 10 years,” he says. “I’m confident I can do it, I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think so.
“The reason I have picked London, apart from the fact I lived there for a long time and it is very familiar to me, is that it’s also the British trials and they will have pace around the required time.
“Normally it’s won in 2:05 or thereabouts, I’m not looking to do that, I’m looking to what is required for the qualifier.”
http://www.irun.org.au/News/londons-calling-for-buster

It may not have started out as big as the Melbourne Marathon, but the KI Marathon on Kangaroo Island - 90 minutes drive and a boat trip from Adelaide - is hoping a longer build-up will help it become a popular Australian destination marathon. Top ultra marathoner David Turnbull was happy to talk about the first year and is hoping to return to defend his title on August 27.
http://irun.org.au/News/roo-beauty

There were no rockets, but Lisa Weightman and Lachlan McArthur literally flew over the Houston marathon circuit last Sunday and now have both feet back on the ground - until Rio of course! Read Lisa's report on her Houston experience.
http://irun.org.au/News/houston-bigger-than-texas

Houston, bigger than Texas

Former NT aths boss Richard Welsh is now based in Tassie and is helping their promotion in a big way. He was right behind great fields for the Tassie Carnivals, helped bring a few gun runners in for the Cadbury Half Marathon and now has struck gold by signing up Australia's top distance runner Michael Shelley for next month's Hobart Run the Bridge 10k event on February 14.
“I’m feeling OK and looking forward to racing again, as I haven’t raced since the Berlin Marathon in September last year,” said the Gold Coaster, who is notorious for only racing a handful of events each year. “I see the B&E Hobart Run The Bridge as a great start to the year as there are not many races around at the moment and it will give me a good hit out leading into the world half marathon championships in March." Another promotional ideas for the race Welsh has come up with is a genuine Battle of the Sexes with the elite women starting their 10km 4min12sec before the men and racing for a bonus $1000 prize. Go Welshy!
Register at: https://eventdesq.imgstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&EventDesqID=14642&OrgID=1110

Congrats to our marathon mum Lisa Weightman who finished second early this morning in the Houston Marathon in 2:27.35. Apart from ensuring her spot on the plane for a third Olympics, she won $20,000US - a nice belated birthday present for Lisa who turned 37 on Saturday. Husband Lachlan McArthur did a great job pacing before hamstring tightness slowed him but still ran a PB of 2:28.41. "It was a little bit of a shock in that second half for the legs to remember what running a marathon is like," she said. "I wanted to qualify for the Olympics. I now have the fastest time for Australian women." Lisa set the pace until the 30km mark, covering half in 72:45 and was only passed by Biruktayit Degefa, who is based in the US and has won two Sydney marathons. "I really wanted the cowboy hat" that is given the winner, Lisa said. "I guess I'm probably underdone in the race. I need to get some more races in my legs in the lead up to Rio. It's a little bit harder in the second half."

One of Australia's top trail runs was held yesterday with the now famous Two Bays race from Dromana to Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula taking place. Rohan Day and his crew put on an exciting event and the course, as his facebook pics show, is just to die for and the weather conditions were perfect - with the heat only really a factor for the final third of the field. By that stage 28km winners Ralph Street and Lauren Morrison were probably having a catch up snooze. Box Hill's Dion Finocchiaro won the 56km event in 4:06.37 in a major race record ahead of Francesco Ciancio and Brendan Davies. The women's race was also a cracker with Kirstin Bull smashing her own race record in 4:53.15 for seventh overall, just ahead of Natasha Fraser and Kylee Woods.

If you are looking for an event that is good for your fitness, then the Stadium Stomp series might be your go with all up around 30,000 stairs to go up and down. This year's series includes events in five iconic stadiums with Eden Park in Auckland the newcomer to the series. Sydney's James Manly hopes to run all five events.
http://irun.org.au/News/romper-stomper

Romper stomper High five on way for Manly James Manly is your average 34-year-old who enjoys keeping fit by working out at Sydney’s Peak Altitude Training gym. But last year he decided to take part in the Sydney leg of Stadium Stomp series. Some 6300 stairs at the SCG later and he was hooked on the concept. The so…

Lisa Weightman and husband Lachlan McArthur jetted off to the US on Saturday in preparation for Sunday's Houston Marathon. For Lisa it will be her first marathon since 2013 and also her first as a mum and a trip to Rio is also in the back of her mind!
http://irun.org.au/News/liftoff-in-houston

Liftoff in Houston

The first marathon of the Australian season took place in Hobart this morning with Burnie runner Thomas Murton and South Australia's Sheena Jackson winning the chocolates. Murton only entered late and clocked 2:37.16, while Jackson defended her 2015 title in 3:10.58. The men's half field was extra elite with Liam Adams 63.33 beating national champion Jonathan Peters 66.09 and Tassie's Dave Thomas 67.17. The women's half was won by Ruth Wilson in 79.34. More than 1800 took part in the four events and marathon finishers (293) were on a par with last year.

Lisa Weightman cut a bit of a lonely figure as she blitzed around the Yarra Boulevard in a 14km race simulation on Saturday on the same day as her son Pete's first birthday. But given Houston is now just over a month away, she was more than happy to temporarily give up the chance of eating birthday cake and her desire to not take risks with spikes this close to her big day, meant she even put aside the chance to run Zatopek against Eloise Wellings. Read her latest iRun report.
http://irun.org.au/News/all-systems-go