Veteran can't wait for No 25

ROBYN EDIE/Southland Times

FEET FEAT: Bill Richardson's feet have had a heavy workload to contend with during the years 164 marathons, to be precise.

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If you've lived in Invercargill for any length of time there's a good chance you would have spotted Bill Richardson.

He is arguably Southland's keenest runner – every night of the week and every day of the weekend the Southland Boys' High School teacher can be spotted running the streets of Invercargill.

The 58-year-old is obsessed with running and his record in the sport backs up that statement fully.

Tomorrow Richardson will take part in his 25th Southland Marathon and it will be his 165th all-time marathon.

This year he has completed 24 races and has two more coming up, which would take his 2009 total to an astonishing 26 marathons.

Among the 24 marathons he has run already this year were three in three days during a trip to the United States.

His love for running has taken him to all parts of the world as he's bounced himself around from one place to another in search of more marathons.

So what motivates a person to run so many kilometres so often? "People in wheelchairs," Richardson responds sharply.

"We're supposed to run, that's what we do. I have a lot of respect for people in wheelchairs who can't do it. It must be so hard."

And what is the formula behind being able to complete so many arduous races?

"Staying positive," he said.

"Running a marathon is mostly mental. Too many people talk themselves out of it by being negative. If someone on a wet windy day says to me `what a horrible day', I say `no it's not, it's a great day'. The best thing is being able to wake up in the morning. The rest is a bonus," he said.

Richardson ran his first marathon in 1980 when he completed the Riverton to Invercargill race in 3hr 11min.

He has knocked that time down during the years but admits that now he has added a few years to his age he is slowing up a bit.

Richardson won't be in the group of runners pushing for a top spot tomorrow but his remarkable record of 165 marathons still means he is one of the legends and more- respected runners in the field.

All up 275 competitors will take part in the Southland Marathon tomorrow, this year's race marking the 100th anniversary of the event.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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