Gilgandra-born mother-of-six Clare Palmer has become the first woman to win the 42.2 kilometre Rhino Ramble, shaving more than three minutes off Jane Fardell’s female course record.
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In just her third marathon, Palmer crossed the line in two hours, 55 minutes and 56 seconds, about 30 seconds ahead of the leading male, Lithgow’s Alex Visser.
Visser was the only other athlete to come in under the three-hour mark, finishing in 2:56:28 in his first marathon.
“I didn’t expect it, I couldn’t believe it,” Palmer said.
“I was catching him [Visser] from 38k and I knew he was slowing down but maybe he had a kick, I don’t know.
“When I passed him just after 39k I thought ‘I hope I can keep that [lead].”
But the 40-49 age group athlete did hold on, making history in the process.
To be running in a race like this … it’s just the freedom and it’s something about running I love.
- Clare Palmer
“I wanted to try and break the three-hour so I knew I had to keep 4:15 pace,” Palmer said.
“I kept looking at my watch and I was doing 4:10, 4:05, sometimes 4:15 so I knew … if I could keep to [pace] I’d break it [the three-hour mark].”
Claiming victory in the men’s was “definitely a shock” for Visser as well.
Visser positioned himself well from the outset and took the lead about 10km into the race.
He almost managed to hold on to the overall lead, as well, only capitulating to Palmer in the closing kilometres.
“I’ve always run casually, I’ve never really been that into races,” Visser said after the race.
“The last couple of years I’ve done a few half marathons and then I thought I’d give the marathon a go; it would be nice to come out to Dubbo to the zoo, bring my young baby and wife to see all the animals and make a weekend out of it.
“I wanted to break three hours, that was my main goal and I did that and the win is a bonus.”
That was the sentiment of the day from many of the participants, with the Dubbo Stampede a celebration of running first and foremost.
“I was running alongside one of the guys today in the race and I said it’s just so fantastic to be able to run like this,” Palmer said.
“To be running in a race like this … it’s just the freedom and it’s something about running I love.”
Rhino Ramble Marathon results:
Clare Palmer – 2:55:55; Catherine Robins – 3:31:05; Mel Webb – 3:46:30
Alex Visser – 2:56:28; David Hardwicke – 3:00:15; Matthew McKenna – 3:02:29
Visit www.racetecresults.com/Results.aspx?CId=16253&RId=3018 for all of the results of the 2017 Dubbo Stampede.
