23 Jul Hanmer Half Marathon
Ben, our Christchurch office’s resident Zoomer with an endless energy supply, has been taking on half marathon challenges, most recently while proudly sporting a Fraser Thomas shirt. The latest addition to Ben’s repertoire was the Hanmer Half Marathon on May 3rd.
Held in the scenic alpine village of Hanmer Springs, race day dawned with crisp autumn conditions: clear skies, no wind, and a bracing 1°C at the start line.
The race kicked off at 8:00am with a demanding climb, 180 metres of elevation gain in just the first 2 kilometres, taking walkers and runners from the town square to the summit of Conical Hill.
The rest of the course didn’t get much easier, featuring several smaller hills to create a total elevation gain of 400 metres. Winding through dense forest and dirt trails (lined with mud), the route was as challenging as it was scenic.
A few fuelling miscalculations and underestimating the chill beneath the tree canopy meant Ben didn’t quite hit his goal time, but he still crossed the finish line in a notable 1 hour and 57 minutes.
Ben continues to train every week, proudly wearing the Fraser Thomas logo, and is now gearing up for a new milestone: his first full marathon and ultra marathon in the upcoming spring/summer season.
