Congratulations to all our athletes who competed over the variety of distances. 

Personally speaking, watching everyone crushing it over the last couple of hundred meters with smiles on their faces was inspiring.

Thank you to the Wellington Chapter for sorting the barbecue and hospitality tent and to their members for manning the feed station for most of the day. 

I lost count of all the personal bests that were achieved, with everyone pushing to raise their own bar.   

For many in the Achilles community, Round the Bays is more than just a race—it’s a key event in their training and a chance to connect with teammates from across the country.

This year’s event saw a strong turnout of Achilles participants, many of whom were training for larger races like the New York Marathon. 

Our first Achilles home was Te-Huia from Achilles Waikato, managing to break under the 1:30 barrier! How cool!

Not to be outdone, Lee "Batman" Warn came through to a rowdy applause and laughter as he glided down the finishing straight. 

Congratulations to all, no matter how you got across the finish line, you did it. 

Sometimes the hardest part of it all is making it across the next meter infront of you, and making the decision to continue is one many shy away from.   

We hope to see even more of you next year!

Article added: Tuesday 01 April 2025