ALEX Matthews was a man in a hurry today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Turramurra-based runner created Dubbo Stampede history when he took out the Rhino Rumble marathon over the gruelling 42.2km before heading to work as an emergency doctor at Dubbo Base Hospital.
Matthews spent four months working at the hospital earlier in the year before returning to Sydney, where he works at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, but with a running event scheduled in his temporary home town he was keen to return but there was a catch.
"When I was here earlier in the year I did some training on the course with Jane Fardell and she showed me around, and it's been fantastic to be able to come back and be the first winner of the marathon here," Matthews said.
"I was disappointed when I thought I wouldn't be here but I made it, and now I have to be at work by 1pm so I'll need to do a bit of recovery before I head up to the hospital."
There was never a chance Matthews would be late for his shift as his time of 2:36.17 had him crossing the finish line shortly after 9.30am.
He finished ahead of Dubbo runner Len Darlington (2:59.02) with Fardell (2:59.18) in third place, and also the first woman over the line.
"I wanted to go out and use this as a training run and go around the three-hour mark," Fardell said.
"Given that, a time of 2:59 and being third over the line and first female is very good.
"Bar the zoo I train on the course, and everyone says Dubbo is flat but today the course was rolling, it was very deceptive and the wind picked up.
"We did three laps of the course so by the third lap I realised that if I pushed hard with the wind behind me it would compensate for when the wind was pushing into me."
With her first Rhino Rumble behind her, Fardell believes the inclusion of the marathon event has boosted the Stampede as a genuine running event.
"I think having the four different distances gives the Stampede more prestige across Australia, and even internationally," she said.
"Whether you are having your first run over the 5.5km, stretching out and being more serious in the marathon or in between there's something for everyone.
"The mayor is out on the course doing his first marathon as well, it's been a real boost having this event and I know, being from Dubbo, it's a big boost when people are cheering your name during the run.
"At other events you might get "go 124" or whatever number is on your bib but having people yell "go Jane" really feels good because you go to some pretty dark places when you're running a marathon."
RHINO RUMBLE TOP 10
1. Alex Matthews (Turramurra) 2:36.17; 2. Len Darlington (Dubbo) 2:59.02; 3. Jane Fardell (Dubbo) 2:59.18; 4. Oliver Carey (Redfern) 3:03.04; 5. Shayne Falkenmire (The Hill) 3:18.49; 6. Scott Stevenson (Dubbo) 3:19.17; 7. Jess Baker (St Ives) 3:19.27; 8. Paul Schroder (Dubbo) 3:24.01; 9. David Von Senden (Cairns) 3:25.15; 10. Kirby Clarke (Carrington) 3:26.30.
READ MORE: