Marathon win despite sickness
25 August 2008
Gold Coast runner Helen Stanton had the perfect warm-up for the Sydney Marathon in September by taking out the women’s Viridian Noosa Half Marathon.
She had to battle a head cold and a fast-finishing Roxana Schmidt of Moffat Beach to finish sixth overall in a time of 1.17.56.
“I was not sure how I’d go today,” she said.
“Two years ago I ran second here and I ran 1.16.30.
“I tried to do that again but, with getting the cold, I was just happy to win.”
Last year Stanton competed in the 10km event and finished a winner.
This year she was wondering whether she had enough left in the tank to hold out for a win as Schmidt and Glenda Banaghan tried to reel her in.
“They were starting to catch me but I think with my marathon endurance training I was able to hang in there in the end,” Stanton said.
“Glenda and I went out together, but I felt tired around about 8km and then I just tried to push it again for home.
“Then Roxy was catching me at the end so I knew I just had to push it in the last 3km.
“I like the course here – it’s a bit like the Gold Coast – and I love the flat, fast courses.
“It’s good where you come around and you can see where they (the chasers) are and where you’re placed.
Stanton has run a few Sydney half marathons and was second last year in the Melbourne Marathon in 2.41.
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