The story of the last place finisher who actually won
Melanie Magowan provided a moment that summed up Invercargill Park Run as she headed for the finish line surrounded by a support group on Saturday.
On Saturday morning the Invercargill Park Run course record was toppled.
The visiting Fionn Cullinane completed the 5km Queens Park circuit in 15min 28sec. It’s the quickest any one of the 2974 participants, over five years of the event, has gone.
But despite slicing 13sec off the previous record, it wasn’t that moment which prompted tears of joy on Saturday.
It was Melanie Magowan - who finished over an hour later at the tail end of the 129-strong field - who had people wiping their eyes. She was the true winner.
Three weeks ago, Magowan could only walk 800m.
But let’s rewind the clock back to 2018 and tell this story properly.
In 2018, after a three-year wait, Magowan had a right knee replacement. Six months later she started to have problems with her left foot.
She underwent eight surgeries in ten months in an attempt to fix it. Twelve months after that right knee replacement Magowan had her left leg, below the knee, amputated.
The reason for the problems with her left leg remains a mystery. It now sits with the health and disability commissionaire who is still investigating, Magowan says.
Magowan was a former triathlete before migrating from England to New Zealand. She represented Great Britain at age-group level.
Having a foot amputated was just as much a mental challenge as it was a physical one for someone such as Magowan who had embraced physical fitness.
She has tried to remain active. Within six weeks of taking up Waka Ama last year, she won a gold medal as a para-athlete at the IVF Va’A World Sprint Club Championships in London.
But remaining active “while standing upright” has remained a challenge.
Magowan would take part in the Invercargill Park Run on Saturday mornings, but in a modified wheelchair.
Up until about three weeks ago an 800m walk was her lot. She had troubles walking longer distances with her prosthetic leg.
Although there was a flashback to a moment as a younger when she had an ACL injury.
She recalls she was in a knee brace and would throw her leg forward from her hip so she wasn’t having to use her lower leg.
It puts a significant workload on her hamstring, but she tried. She says she managed to walk further than she ever had since the amputation. About 2km. That was about three weeks ago.
A few days later she walked in Queens Park and managed about 3.2km. It prompted the thought that just maybe she could give the 5km Invercargill Park Run a go.
She had taken part in Park Run 18 times prior, but all were in her modified wheelchair.
Magowan told Park Run organiser Liz Henry, and a couple of people close to her, of the plan and set off without her wheelchair on Saturday.
She admits when she passed the 3.2km mark - which is the furthest she’d walked in close to seven years - it was just sheer stubbornness that got her to the finish line.
“My hamstring was complaining, because the way the mechanics work in your leg if you don’t have a lever below the knee your hamstring does the work instead of your quad.”
Magowan was hurting and was asked by others if she wanted to stop and have a sit-down. She didn’t.
“I was determined to walk 5km and not have to sit down.”
As she went around the course at the tail end of the field, she collected volunteer marshals who walked the remainder of the journey with her.
It provided a moment that summed up Invercargill Park Run as she headed for the finish line surrounded by a support group as an emotional Henry - the organiser - waited for her.
“There were tears from me and a few others,” Magowan says.
She adds that it shouldn’t be underestimated what a supportive group of people like the Invercargill Park Run community can do for people.
Magowan doesn’t hide from the fact she has had her mental struggles while dealing with the physical ramifications of having her left foot amputated.
Before Magowan took part as a participant, she would volunteer on Saturday mornings at Park Run.
“I’d gone through all sorts of mental struggles, throughout the last two and half years copping with this amputation.
“Some of that time I’d be doing alright, some of that time I wouldn’t be. Liz wouldn’t see me for a while, and she would ring me and say, ‘Park Run is missing you’.
“She would put me down as a volunteer and make me go down there. They have been really supportive all the way through, and they are with everyone, it doesn’t matter who you are.”
“I’ve been to other Park Runs around the country and I’ve got to say, of the ones I’ve been to, Invercargill is the most inclusive.”
Henry was delighted to be at the finish cheering Magowan home on Saturday morning.
“After being a sideline witness to many of our community successes since we started, I get pretty excited when our park runners and park walkers reach a milestone in your own life and personal goals,” Henry says.
“My kids were asking why I had tears [on Saturday], and it was funny trying to put into words how it made me happy to see someone else so happy with their efforts. It is such a cool part of parkrun for me.”
So, what next for Magowan?
Challenge Wanaka in February, in the water and on the bike, is now in her sights.
She has previously taken part in a team as its swimmer. Magowan wants to line up as an individual in the “aqua bike” category.
She has made contact with officials to see if she can register as a para-athlete in the 3km swim and 120km bike event, while using an e-bike.
“I’ve got a road bike that is crank assisted. If I pedal it helps me out, that would help guarantee to myself I could make it to the end.
“They have agreed. So, I’m going to enter Challenge Wanaka next year.”
Invercargill Park Run is held every Saturday morning at Queens Park. There is a 7.55am briefing for an 8am start at the cricket pavilion. It is a free event for people of all abilities - runners or walkers.