The Direct Group Uniforms Hamilton Half Marathon is just around the corner and runners in the city are prepping hard for it.
The annual event organised by the Fitness Action Charitable Trust is going to celebrate its 15th anniversary. But for Rod Gill, a frequent runner and a 72 year-old cancer survivor, its going to be his 100th half marathon.
He took up running about 5 years ago with a friend and started off with doing it socially, which soon became a hobby.
At the age of 70, he took up a challenge to run 52 half marathons in 52 weeks, in 2016. With a complete itinerary set by his wife Jean, he completed 13 road races and 39 trail runs successfully.
He ran through different weathers and storms and thoroughly enjoyed his journey.
Soon after achieving his goal though, he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery.
After 12 months of well rested recovery, he decided to get back to running and has managed to complete a lot more marathons, bringing him to a total of 99.
The Hamilton Half Marathon is going to be his special 100 and he couldn’t be more excited.
Rod Gill has frequently been on the podium ever since he started running and has achieved some amazing milestones, with his best being 1 hour and 52 minutes.
Gill even goes to the gym in between his runs to build up his strength to run.
He has travelled all over New Zealand, met a bunch of different people, and enjoyed it. He considers himself lucky to be doing what he is doing, because it’s his running that led to his diagnosis and cure of his cancer.
Rod joined the Hamilton Road Runners Club in 2014 and has found tremendous support from the group and couldn’t be happier that his 100th marathon is going to be in Hamilton.
The marathon is going to take place at the Flagstaff Park as usual.
For more details, visit www.hamiltonhalfmarathon.org.nz
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