1992 Auckland Marathon: The Finishers' Experience

On Sunday 23 January 2022 the Auckland Marathon will celebrate its 30th anniversary. 

At the heart of any event is its participants. Over a quarter of a million athletes have pounded the pavements of Auckland since 1992, turning the city into a vibrant and colourful celebration of running each year.  

The experience of taking part in a mass participation event is like no other and for ASB Auckland Marathon competitors, the feeling of running across the Auckland Harbour Bridge makes this event extra special. 

In part two of our Auckland Marathon 30th anniversary series we meet two athletes who have been involved in the event right from the start, finishing both the inaugural 1992 Auckland Marathon and returning again in January.  

When 56-year-old Robert Scott laces up his trainers on the morning of Sunday 23 January, he will be just hours away from finishing his 30thconsecutive Auckland Marathon. 

Robert, a member of Auckland University Track Club for over 30 years, ran his first Auckland Marathon in 1992 for Auckland University and will once again represent his club colours when he returns to the event in January. 

Robert used to be a competitive runner who had taken on many other marathons around New Zealand, but there was something special that drew him to the 1992 event 30 years ago. 

“I wanted to run the Auckland Marathon because it was going over the Harbour Bridge, that was the main reason,” said Robert. “The Auckland Marathon was this new marathon going over the bridge and all runners were pretty excited because it was the first time any of us could get over the Harbour Bridge. 

“It’s just different you know, you’d watch the New York Marathon with the Brooklyn Bridge and you’d watch Sydney and they’d have the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Paris would have the Champs-Élysées, so each big city marathon had its drawcard and for Auckland it’s the Harbour Bridge.” 

Robert says not too much has changed about the event over the 30 years, except for the odd course and finish line alteration. 

“Over the 30 years we’ve had different finishing points, at the moment it’s Victoria Park but we have finished at Madills and Farm and I think we finished at Saint Heliers once, but generally the marathon has always gone over the Harbour Bridge and up and down Tamaki Drive so that’s also been a historical part of the course,” said Robert. 

“It’s just always been well organised and it’s always been on my must-run list.” 

As well as the emotion of running the event for the 30th time, the 2021 ASB Auckland Marathon will have an additional layer of sentiment for Robert with his daughter Serena Scott set to participate in the Barfoot & Thompson Half Marathon on the same day.   

“As I get older just running with my daughter is so much fun,” said Robert. “I didn’t realise being a parent and running with your kid could be so enjoyable.” 

Allan Shadbolt is another who is no stranger to the Auckland Marathon, nor the Harbour Bridge. The Pukekohe-raised runner was one of the 2,542 athletes who took part in the inaugural marathon in 1992 and was also one of the thousand Aucklanders first allowed to walk across the bridge in May 1959, a few days before its official opening.  

“It did feel like we were part of history,” said Allan. “I actually walked over in 1959 when they built the bridge, when I was 11 years old. I thought well I’ve walked over it and now I’d like to run over it, and I’ve flown over it and I’ve been underneath it, so when the opportunity came up I thought I’ve got to do that.” 

Despite completing his first marathon in 1979, it was touch-and-go whether he’d make it to the start line of the Auckland Marathon in 1992.  

“In 1991 I actually had a back operation and people reckoned I’d never run again, but I like to prove people wrong,” said Allan. “So when ’92 came along I had a go at Rotorua and thought I’d run a bad marathon, then this Auckland one came up and I ran reasonably well at that one.” 

That was Allan’s first attempt at the Auckland Marathon.Since then, he’s been back another seven times and is aiming to make that eight on Sunday 23 January. 

Now at 73 years of age, Allan is grateful to still be able to compete in the Auckland Marathon. 

“I think it’ll be a bit surreal to cross the Harbour Bridge 30 years on because I’m still out there,” said Allan. “I’m 73 now and still running pretty good times. In 2018 I won my age group in Auckland in 3:51. I was pleased with that!” 

Robert, Serena and Allan will be joined by thousands of participants asthey run the city and conquer the Harbour Bridgewhen the ASB Auckland Marathon returns on Sunday 23 January. 

Entries remain open for the 2021 ASB Auckland Marathon.