Leah Fitzgerald, who’s from Australia, picked a good time to make her first trip overseas and run in the 18th annual Big Island International Marathon.
Last year, it rained like nobody’s business and the high winds made for dangerous conditions, with almost anything a possible flying projectile. Still, the race, with a new starting and finishing point at Hilo Bayfront, carried on.
Under perfect conditions — overcast skies, a beneficial breeze and absolutely no rain — Fitzgerald won the women’s marathon in 3 hours, 5 minutes, 53 seconds on Sunday, setting a record for the new course.
“It was a beautiful race. It was probably one of the most scenic races I’ve run in a while,” said Fitzgerald, who won a marathon in the Australian desert in July.
For good cheer, she brought along a friendly mate, her hubby Adam Fitzgerald. He’s 34 years old, works in construction, and ran in the 5K.
They bicycle together, not run, because Fitzgerald, 32, is a quite faster kangaroo. They’ve passed those genetics to their children: Daisy, 13, Jalen, 10, and Leo, 6, who are all runners as well. Daisy recently won her second junior triathlon in their Coffs Harbour hometown. The children stayed back in Åustrailia with their grandparents.
According to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Coffs Harbour has the most livable climate in Australia, and it is nestled between a high mountain backdrop and dozens of beaches.
Fitzgerald works at the Surf Club &Bar Restaurant in Coffs Harbour.
She’s competed in seven marathons, and her personal record is 3:05 at a Gold Coast run in Australia in 2013.
“I wanted to come here because it’s different (than the Honolulu Marathon) and not everybody has been here,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s very appealing. Since I’ve been a kid, I’ve run and I’ve loved it. After my three kids, I decided to get into racing.”
The couple will enjoy their 10-day vacation with a trip to Kona and Oahu, before flying 5,000 miles back home.
There are other popular sports in Australia, like swimming, rugby and catching butterflies. But Fitzgerald knew that running fit her best.
“I’ve been into it a long time,” she said. “It’s my strongest event and I just enjoy running. It’s become a part of who I am.”