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42 SPORT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 HERALDSUN.COM.AU THERE’S ONE Lisa Weightman Almost 36 years ago, 10 young men $20K LURES were among 1947 runners to complete the inaugural Big M Melbourne TOP FIELD Marathon. The group is now aged from IT may have lost its national title status, but the Medibank 57 to 70 and suffering from a variety Melbourne Marathon has lost none if its standing this year. of ailments, but all will be back on the An Australian record 7383 runners have already entered start line on October 13 to run their the marathon and barring unseasonal weather on 36th consecutive Melbourne October 13, organisers expect both the men’s and women’s Marathon. Chris Muirden reports race records to fall. The women’s field includes Australia’s top ETER Ryan is 65 distance runner Lisa and had open heart Weightman, who opted to surgery in May this forgo her spot at the Moscow year. The operation world titles last month to to mend an aneur- concentrate on the local race. Pism that had swollen his aorta The Preston runner to twice its normal size took clocked 2:27.32 at the London nearly seven hours. Olympics, so the race record His biggest fear, apart from NUMBERS RISE of 2:32.30 and a $20,000 dying, was no longer being a bonus should be achievable. member of the club he is proud THE fun run boom shows no Kenyan Eunice Kales will to belong. signs of abating, with also be after the bonus. Kales And we are not talking numbers in this year’s came home strongly to win about his membership among Melbourne Marathon up this year’s Brighton (UK) the elite “I played one VFL/ sharply. Marathon in 2:28.50 and the AFL game” group that came The half-marathon field pair are expected to adopt from his time as a rover at limit of 11,000 was reached similar race plans. Hawthorn in 1967. nearly two months prior to The men’s field is also the Ryan belongs to a group of this year’s event — on best credentialed in history. Melbourne Marathon Spar- October 13. Entries in the full Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi is tans who are dubbed the Leg- marathon have continued to a regular 2:08 runner and was ends because they have come, with 7383 entered. 17th at the world titles in completed every race since it Last year’s Melbourne race Moscow, while the African began in 1978. boasted 6230 finishers — a contingent is led by 2012 There are 10 of them left record for an Australian Xiamen Marathon winner and they share a bond and a de- marathon. Peter Kamais, who once termination to continue turn- So far 2236 women (30 per clocked 59.53 in a half ing up on that one day in cent of total entries) have marathon to beat Ethiopian October and putting their age- entered what was once a legend Haile Gebrselassie. ing, battered bodies through predominantly male event. Both should be well 42.2km. capable of breaking the It is for that reason that to make an exception for him. tests. She knows what this a couple of guys 10 years youn- mark, with his best 3:02 in the 2:11.04 set by Japhet Kipkorir Ryan was back walking just “The easiest thing is to say, event means to me.’’ ger.” Bill Rodgers’ tailwind year of in 2010. three days after his operation ‘Just give it away’, but it would One of his best mates, John Ryan is not the only Legend 1982. Star Moonee Ponds and has alternated jogging and be like saying, ‘Just give up on Dean, was a member of the to have overcome adversity “I was pretty fit back then, runner Liam Adams, who walking 800m once given life’. You have got to keep Legends group until 2010 and over the years. not a broken-down old hack won the Gold Coast half medical approval to start train- doing things,’’ Ryan said. it took a serious break of his The oldest member, 70- like I am now,’’ he said. marathon in 63.28 last year, ing in August. “I see my GP next week, but fibula in his leg just four weeks year-old Pete Battrick, has a se- “I’m the oldest and the will make his marathon He is worried that he might my cardiologist said, “Good before the race to stop him rious nerve-related back slowest, which is not a good debut, while Newcastle’s miss the seven-hour marathon luck for the marathon” re- running. complaint that restricted him to sign. But if I get a transplant I’ll Scott Westcott, who was time limit when the gates into cently so I have his approval to “He was devastated. I think 6hr59min13sec time last year. be right.’’ third last year in 2:16.00, will the finish line at the MCG run. My wife Christine is hap- all of us want to be the last one In the early years Battrick Neville Gardner, 69, had a Rich black - as per guidelines Rich black - as per guidelines be back. close, but organisers are likely py as long as I get the blood standing, the problem is there’s was usually around the 3:30 hip replacement in May 2011, Are the n GET INSTANT GAME NEWS ON YOUR PHONE Dockers 131 787 n MADE FOR YOUR MOBILE WATCH into their 99 black 99 black n ALL THE MATCH STATS EVERY first AFL n WHat THE coaches say GAME Grand SECOND PRELIMINary FINAL n Video highlightS Final? LIVE FREO v SYDNEY heraldsun.com.au MHSE01Z01MA - V1.

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