Owairaka Athletics

Senior training update leading up to the Auckland Road Relays THIS Sunday

Well done to everyone who took part in Te Hāora as an athlete or a helper on the day. A big team effort meant the event was a big success and lots of fun! Owai results below - and for Terence's fabulous photos, check our page!

This Sunday afternoon is the Auckland Road Relays … so another chance for our Road Relay squads to get out there. It’s also the last round of the Senior Winter League … and after Sunday, we’re within striking distance! Entries need to be in on Wednesday so if you’re available, please register and we’ll put you in a team. The more teams we have out there, the more points we’ll get. The race is at Mt Smart.

Race format: (Note – each lap is about 2.5km)

• U18/U20 Men, Senior Men, MM35, MM50 – Each team must have 4 athletes and will run a total of 13 laps. Each athlete must complete a minimum of 1 lap each. Laps must be run consecutively.
• U18/U20 Women, Senior Women, MW35+, MM60+ & Composite teams – Each team must have 3 athletes and will run a total of 8 laps. Each athlete must complete a minimum of 1 lap each. Laps must be run consecutively.
• Boys and Girls U16 – Each team must have three athletes and will run 3 laps total. Each athlete must run 1 lap each. Girls can run in a boys’ team.
Register here to be in one of our teams (all grades – juniors, seniors and masters) https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/events-1/auckland-road-relays

Also coming up soon:

Saturday 3 October - New Zealand Road Relay Champs, Halcombe, Wanganui-Manawatu. Teams are being finalised this week - so join an Owai team here: https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/events-1/2026-nz-road-relays

TRAINING THIS WEEK
Tuesday
Meet at 5.55pm Lovelock Track
Free-range acceleration run (20 mins out, progress the pace on the way back)
If 100% start at M pace and increase on the way back. If not 100% stay at M pace. Route is Sandringham, over the motorway, along the cycle path, around Keith Hay park, etc. Turn around at 20 mins.

Thursday
Meet at 5.550pm Lovelock Track
Up to 15 x 2 mins (r 60 seconds)
At between 5 to 10km race pace (what you could hold for 20-30 minutes). For the 60 second recoveries jog to nearest 200m mark on the track and start the next one from there. If not 100%, do the ons at more like HM/1hr pace.

RESULTS - Te Hāora
Senior Men
Greyhounds - Rohan Kanagasundaram, Lachlan Cameron, Sam Ge**er, Anton Weatherhead – 3rd
Oscar’s team – Oscar Mahy, Mark Morrisey, Johnathan Gee, Tom Grace – 5th

Senior Women
Clare Lund, Isabelle Brunton, Grace Parkinson, Zoe Gowers – 4th

U20 Women
Annika Vashi, Isabella Brown, Carys Douglas-Jones, Magdelena Eftimova – 1st

Masters Women
Emily Harvey, Tanya Hammond, Kathleen Hudson. Kirsty Macfarlane – 1st

M35s
Mariano’s team – Mariano Piagentini, Karl Kalders, Jon Turner, Nick Pannet – 1st
Adam and the Ants – Dion O’Neale, Hamish Gunns, Simon Mace, Adam Berry – 3rd

Men 50s
Keith’s team – Keith Burrows, Dan Coates, Nick Moore – 1st
Jerym’s team – Jerym Brunton, Anthony Lo, Pete Kenny, James Clendon – 3rd

Mens 60s
Malcolm Webb, Sudhakar Soma, Simon Haysom, Jeff Wilson – 2nd

Full results and lap splits for those interested are here: https://my.raceresult.com/413179/

LAST DAY TO REGISTER⚡⏱
The countdown to Te Hāora is down to the final stretch! The course is set, the timer is
ready, and the trackside energy is going to be electric.
📋 Quick Event Checklist:
* 🚲 Active Transport Encouraged: Bike, scoot, or jog down to Sandringham Rd!
* 📣 Bring the Noise: Spectators, bring your cheering gear—trackside support makes
every lap faster!
* 🥇 Prizes & Bragging Rights: Ready for the taking.
Don't leave your spot to chance—get your team registered today!
📅 Saturday, Sept 5 | 2:00 PM
📍 Lovelock Track
🔗 Final team sign-ups: https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/events-1/te-haora-2026

Te Hāora Race Week!

Great running over the weekend in Sydney, Mt Maunganui and New Plymouth.
Entries close on Wednesday for Te Hāora! All the info and entry for external teams is here: https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/events-1/te-haora-2026

If you don’t want to run but would like to help out, come along and be a part of the team on the day. We will need help for set up from 10, at the registration desk from 12.30-1.30, marshalling during the race, on the sausage sizzle and at prize giving. Get in touch 😊

13 September (probably) Auckland Road Relays at Mt Smart. Register here to be in one of our teams (all grades – juniors, seniors and masters) https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/events-1/auckland-road-relays

SENIOR TRAINING THIS WEEK
Tuesday – 2k repeats (up to 40 minutes)
Meet at Lovelock Track 5.55pm. 10 Minute easy warm up and windsprints. Then out onto the streets. Up to 40 minutes of 2k repeats with 2 minutes standing recovery at the start / finish of the lap. Start around Marathon pace and gradually pick up pace to around Half Marathon pace if feeling good. https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6762415372/

Thursday - Up to 25 x 400m
Meet at Lovelock track at 5.55pm. 10 minute easy warm up then wind sprints. Then up to 25 x 400m at around 1 hour pace. If they start to feel hard, skip one to get a proper recovery and adjust the pace. 5km runners do fewer but faster. Since folks will be finishing the laps at different times, adjust the 30” by a few secs if needed to try and run with people at a similar pace and get some groups forming. It's always better in a group.

RESULTS
New Zealand 10k Road Champs (New Plymouth)
Julian Ng 36:13 (3rd M50)

Mt Maunganui Half Marathon
Dan Coates 1:17:57

2026 Sydney Marathon
Kathleen Hudson 2:56:36
Brigid DURBAN BURGESS 3:14:29

TEN. DAYS. OUT. ⏳
In just 10 days, the clock starts ticking at Lovelock Track. How many laps can your teamcomplete in 60 continuous minutes?
👟 Sharp handoffs and quick pacing are the name of the game!
Have you locked in your runner order yet? Who's taking lap one?
⏰ September 5 | 2:00 PM
🔗 Register now: https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/events-1/te-haora-2026

FASTEST LAPS & FOOTY TICKETS: WHAT’S ON THE LINE AT TE HĀORA?

Running for fun and glory is great, and running for prizes is the icing on the cake.
Whether you’re a super speedster or a fun-loving sports fan, Te Hāora has some
pretty cool rewards waiting at the finish line on September 5!
What you can win at Te Hāora

⚡ FASTEST INDIVIDUAL LAP (MALE & FEMALE):
Auckland Marathon Entry! Auckland Marathon entries are up for grabs
for the fastest laps of the day. Upload your run to Strava straight away to
be in to claim your spot on the start line of Auckland’s premiere road race.
One all-out lap around the course could secure your marathon ticket!🎟💨

⚽ SPOT PRIZES:
Spot prizes will be handed out at the end, including Auckland FC tickets,
so hand in your race bib with your name written on the back!
🔥Plus, we've got those Senior Winter League points up for grabs too.
🏃 Register your relay team now — link in bio!
Massive shoutout to Jerym Brunton, Barfoot & Thompson Runaway Auckland Marathon presented by ASICS and Davis Food Ingredients for their support of Te Hāora.
https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/events-1/te-haora-2026

Training this week and lots of relay events to get involved in
Less than 2 weeks to Te Hāora on the 5th September. This is our biggest event of the year. If you've done it before, you know it's a great concept. So much fun. 60 minutes and the clock's counting down. How many 1.2k laps can your team of 3 or 4 complete? The baton needs to change hands every lap. See below for an entry link to get into one of our teams. It's also a critical time for our local winter season. 2 events left - and we're in 3rd place in the Winter League, but only 40 points down on 1st. Time to lace up and get involved in the relays.

COMING UP

Saturday 29 August - New Zealand 10k Road Champs, Lake Rotomanu, Taranaki https://athletics.org.nz/event/2026-nz-10km-road-championships/

Saturday 5 September - Te Hāora, Lovelock Track. All the info and entry for external teams is here: https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/events-1/te-haora-2026
If you're an Owai member and want to be in a team, register here: https://forms.gle/SzkZun4pMnpvhsqG8

13 September (probably) Auckland Road Relays at Mt Smart. Register here to be in one of our teams - https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/events-1/auckland-road-relays

Saturday 3 October - New Zealand Road Relay Champs, Halcombe, Wanganui-Manawatu. Join an Owai team here: https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/events-1/2026-nz-road-relays

SENIOR TRAINING THIS WEEK

Tuesday. 5.55pm Lovelock Track - 4 x 8 minutes
Ons at MP to HM pace.
2 minute jog / shuffle regroup to the start between.

Thursday. 5.55pm Lovelock Track - 8 mins / 6 x 2 mins / 8 mins
8 minutes at 1 hour pace.
Regroup and recovery - 2 minutes.
Then 6 x 2 mins at 5k pace.
1 min standing recovery between with no regroup.
2 minutes recovery
8 minutes at 1 hour pace.

All welcome to come and try out. Turn up, have a chat with one of our coaching team - Dion, Nick or Keith and get running. Once you have tried out a couple of times, it's time to join: https://www.owairakaathletics.co.nz/join