Former running heavyweight Tim Harris overcame a near disastrous navigational error on course to race away with the ten kilometre Stawell Sportspower Handicap last Saturday.
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After training up to 80 kilometres a week in preparation for the Adelaide Marathon on August 14 Harris could be forgiven for settling into a trance-like rhythm in the Stawell Amateur Athletic Club race and missing a crucial turnoff in the Ironbarks just three kilometres into the event.
“I could have finished up back home in Horsham if the bloke behind me didn’t yell out that I was going the wrong way,” he said.
Harris had given up “barbecues and beer” and dropped more than 20 kilograms before his first win at Rupanyup in 2011. He then conquered the “hill of horrors” at Roses Gap in 2012 to win the toughest race on the club calendar.
The 48-year-old Harris lapsed into old habits, lost the battle of the bulge that he had previously won, and had to start the hard slog all over again.
“I set myself goals, like half-marathons and marathons in Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road and that’s kept me focused.
“I didn’t even think about winning today after 15 kilometres of steep hills at Troopers Camp (Rose Gap) yesterday.”
Harris got stronger as the race got longer and held a decisive margin in the end over fast-finishing backmarkers, Col Barnett and Mark Urquhart. The club meets at Stawell’s Rifle Range Road this Saturday for the 10 kilometre Run for Ray Scott Memorial.
