Right up until the day it was to start, on February 19, organisers of the Cargo Plus Coastal Challenge were not sure whether or not the event could go ahead.
Because it is a hospice fundraiser, possible cancellation would have struck a blow to Harbour Hospice, as well as the event organisers, Total Sport.
However, the Covid-19 gods were in a positive mood, and almost 50 runners were able to line up on Waiwera Beach waiting for the start gun.
They were taking part on the event’s 20th anniversary, which included a 33km Full Monty course and, for the first time, a 50km ultra marathon.
Among them was Greg Shaw of Ōrewa, a 67-year-oldconsultant engineer who chose the ultra marathon option – a route from Waiwera to Manly, across the peninsula to Arkles Bay and on to Devonport.
Greg was nervous – straight out of hospital, it was touch and go whether he would be able to compete.
A urinary tract issue saw him spend two nights in hospital, the week before the event.
“Everyone said ‘that’s the end of your run’,” Greg says.
However, he wasn’t going to let down the supporters, who had already sponsored him to the tune of several thousand dollars.
“My GP said to try it and monitor myself, stopping if I needed to, and I took that advice.”
Along the way, he was slowed down by having to swim a rock section affected by an exceptionally high tide, deal with leg cramps and an injury to a calf muscle.
“I also wedged a foot between two rocks and thought I’d broken a bone, but I gritted it out and kept running,” he says.
Foremost in his mind was not to let donors down, as well as achieve his personal goal of running the 50km.
His persistence paid off – he completed the event in 7hrs12mins, coming in 27th male and first in his Over 60 age group.
Best of all, he says, he raised more money than any other competitor – $11,500 and counting. The event as a whole has raised $70,000 plus to date.
Greg would like to get his contribution up to a nice round figure of $12,000. You can donate at https://50k-for-hospice.raisely.com/gregory-thomas-shaw
Backstory Sept 27, 2021
