Marathon debut brings delight

Ex-Whanganui High School athlete powers to title in Tauranga winning his very first marathon.

Nick Berry crossed the marathon finish line with a smile on his face.
PHOTO / Andrew Warner

Nick Berry completed his very first marathon on Saturday - and he won it.

The 27-year-old Tauranga man was one of 221 people to have completed the Tauranga International Marathon's main event and was the first person over the marathon finish line, completing the 42.2km distance in two hours, 37 minutes and 42 seconds.

Though tired and a little sore straight after the race, Berry says taking a win in his first marathon felt "really good".

With a background in cross country running and triathlon at high school level, Berry decided to start getting back into it over the last three years with "a bit of surf lifesaving", also completing half marathons and half Ironman events.

But it was after completing the Coast to Coast event last year - though unsatisfied with his performance due to not getting his nutrition right - he decided to focus on running.

He says running is easier to juggle around every day commitments and it's what he enjoys most.

"It's always been my best discipline."

He said he knew he wanted to be competitive in Saturday's marathon but given it was his first he had no idea how it would end so his game plan was to "run it the way I wanted to run it".

That plan obviously proved successful.

Starting along Papamoa Beach Rd, Berry described the marathon course as "an amazing" one, which really took "it out of your legs", especially pacing around Mauao.

By Kristin Macfarlane & Staff Reporter
Whanganui Chronicle 25/9/18