Belinda Martin has again showed that age is just a number in taking out the 2018 PAYCE Sutherland 2 Surf.
In some of the coldest conditions for the race in recent memory on Sunday morning, Martin was the first female home in a time of 37 minutes and one second.
Ireland’s Kevin Batt was the first male over the finish line in 32:39.
Another strong field of athletes lined up outside Sutherland Police Station with temperatures hovering around the five degree mark.
Conditions were perfect – other than the cold – as athletes made the 11-kilometre journey towards Wanda Beach for the 47th running of the iconic shire event.
Martin, from Sylvania, secured her fourth Sutherland 2 Surf title in a performance she told the Leader was her best in the event.
“Given my age, I’m nearly 45, I’d have to say it’s probably my best win,” she said.
“I looked at the time that won last year and ran about 40 seconds quicker than that which is what I was trying to aim for. I wanted to go under 37 [minutes].
“It’s funny, I don’t have any expectations these days so much now I’m a bit older. It suits me better, I don’t run so well with pressure. Just getting out and running suits me. It actually felt really easy. In hindsight I think I could have pushed a bit more.
“The actual course, that last kilometre is a climb. Knowing that having run it so many times that last hill hurts no matter how good you’re going. In the back of your mind you know it’s coming, the piano is going to drop on your back at that point.
“I’ve got a lot of second [places]. I’ve probably run over 10 [events]. So to win again… I’m really happy with that especially with Eloise [Wellings] in it this year. She’s obviously a fantastic runner.”
While the cold conditions made it hard to get going, Martin said the victory meant more as a local and even more as a mum as she got to experience her children cheering her across the finish line.
“It was freezing. That was definitely up there as one of the coldest,” she said.
“This one I was pretty numb the first two k’s. I still haven’t thawed out. I ran with my gloves on. I hate the cold.
“I think for distance runners a few more degrees [warmer] would have been perfect conditions. For me I was a little stiff early on. It was so cold, your toes were freezing and you felt like your fingers were going to snap off.
“It means so much more to me. You go to other fun runs and it doesn’t feel the same. It’s probably my favourite fun run.
“[My kids] were down at the finish line waiting. [Daughter] Imogen was funny. With 200m to go she was running along side me yelling out ‘I’m so proud of you, mum’. That’s what I’m usually doing to her when she’s running so it was nice the roles were reversed.”