Relaxed but eager pursuer of goals

PETER GIBBS

Saturday pub runs are fairly relaxed affairs, with many colourful characters turning up over the years. I can remember more than one occasion when the start has been held up for one regular runner often described as "the late Phil Barnes".

His reputation for a more Latin approach to timekeeping goes back a few decades. I can remember some time during the 1980s, driving into Richmond from my home in Waimea West, late for a duathlon, when I passed Phil, biking like a fury near the Appleby Bridge, also heading for the same race, but without a hope of making it in time. At the time he was picking apples but taking an active part in runs around the district.

Since then, the reporter for the Nelson Leader has become a well-accepted part of Nelson's running scene, his distinctive hairstyle and running style an integral part of nearly every race.

Despite outward appearances, Phil is actually highly organised. He has a record of every race he's done since 1984.

It's a habit he picked up after a day's surfing on a freezing beach in Cornwall, when he read an article about British runner Ron Hill, who had also kept records and logged up 100,000 miles (161,000 kilometres). Manchester United honoured his feat by giving him two solo laps of their home ground at halftime in a match in front of 60,000 spectators.

Since then, Phil's taken the same approach and says he's reached 49,000 miles (79,000km) – he promises a big party when he reaches 50,000 miles (81,000km) later this summer.

Another milestone will occur at Run Mahana this weekend, when he clocks up 1000 races.

Phil says the Mahana event is one of his favourites, because of the atmosphere of competing with around 1000 other runners and because the Mahana district "is a special place".

I asked him about his most memorable race, and he says that without a doubt it was the Samoa Half Marathon three years.

"The race started in the dark, but a huge storm had knocked all the power out, so I couldn't see a thing. I ran with the leaders for the first 5 kilometres but they were going a bit fast and I lost them. I couldn't see where I was going, and it turned out that the marshal at the turnaround had decided to abandon his post."

Eventually, someone stopped Phil and told him he'd gone about 3km too far, but the leaders had long since disappeared into the distance.

"When I ran back, a river had burst its banks. At times the water was up to my waist and I couldn't tell if I was running in the river or on the road."

Eventually a truck from the local radio station found him and, proudly informing him that he was the race leader, led him to a triumphant finish, where he was crowned the International Samoan Half Marathon champion.

Phil's 1000 races have been completed at an average rate of about 37 a year, but he says the pace has picked up, as he's already competed in 55 this year. Included are his favourite type of event, the Saturday pub runs in Nelson and the 5km series in Richmond every Wednesday over the summer.

The appeal of those events is that they're relaxed and social, with nothing resting on the result.

It hasn't always been that way. At his peak, Phil was competing in marathons regularly and twice got down to times of just over 2 hours and 40 minutes – but that was 20 years ago, he said, and he's happy now that running is just a lifestyle choice.

He's pleased that he doesn't seem to get injured, something he puts down to regular running and four other factors starting with 's', including surfing, soccer and sunshine.

To help maintain good health, he's tried other activities, including yoga, tai chi and meditation, all of which he found hugely helpful, "but I tend to get a bit lazy about it". He also attempts to stay on the straight and narrow with diet, trying to eat a healthy, semi-vegetarian diet.

He says his good health is something worth working to preserve: "It's a privilege to be fit and able to get out and do it every day. You can never take your fitness for granted."

- © Fairfax NZ News