Phil Costley is running in the Buller Marathon this Saturday. Photo: Barry Whitnall/shuttersport.co.nz.

Super Phil sets new record at Buller Marathon

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It was mission accomplished for Nelson runner Phil Costley, as he added another win and another record to his name when he competed in Saturday’s Buller Marathon.

Phil won the 42.2km race through the Buller Gorge to Westport in 2hr 28min 27sec to beat David Askin’s 1997 veteran’s marathon record by 49 seconds.

Phil now holds the Buller half and full, open and veteran records, but admits it was a close call on Saturday.

” I knew what I had to do – I had to run three-and-a-half minute kilometres to give myself a shot. I did the first two kilometres in seven minutes and was one hour 13 minutes through the first half, so I knew I was right on target.

“I had a couple of minutes to spare at the 20km mark but I also knew I’d need them because the second half of a marathon is always so hard. But then I started catching up with the half marathon runners with about 10km to go and that gave me a lift – I knew I was making progress.”

Now that Phil has achieved his “main goal for the summer” he is contemplating a start in the Rotorua Marathon in May. He also plans to run in the Buller Marathon again next year although he “won’t be chasing a fast time”.

“I said I would do Rotorua but I’ll wait to see how my recovery goes first. I don’t know how much the Buller has taken out of me.”

Phil has now raced in 26 marathons, winning half of them.

Nelson’s Ian Courtenay was fourth on Saturday in 2hr 55min 28sec. Motueka’s Collette Read won the women’s marathon in 3hr 9min 37sec, ahead of Appleby’s Carol Cooper who finished in 3hr 11min 10sec.

One-hundred and fifty one runners competed in the marathon.