Refugees to run 50kmtrail challenge

Three Hamilton refugees have little more than a handful of weeks left to prepare for a 50km trail run.

Abulfazal Nazari, 18, and his brothers Mujtaba and Mortaza, both 17, are originally from Afghanistan.

They moved to Hamilton with their mother and four siblings in February 2016.

With the help of coach Campbell Forlong, they will conquer the Tarawera Trail Marathon in Rotorua.

The starting line begins at Pohutu Geyser in Te Puia. From there, it’s ‘‘full steam ahead’’ through Hemo Gorge and Whakarewarewa Forest, finishing up under Mt Tarawera at Hot Water Beach, Coromandel.

The race is expected to take an average of nine hours, but top competitors can complete 50km in only five.

The brothers did not run often in Afghanistan. Their main interest was football, they said.

But they recently embarked on a 42km training run, which Forlong said went well.

Forlong has been running for 12 years. This year, he gave himself the task of running a marathon distance each week.

He was approached by Tarawera Trail athlete liaison Sarah Rosenbaum and Red Cross to see if he knew of a family eager to take up the marathon challenge.

Twins Mujtaba and Mortaza study at Hamilton Boys’ High School, while Abulfazal is learning English at Wintec.

Forlong said the brothers have good physiques for running, but that it was down to mental deter- mination and physical strength.

He believes, as the eldest, Abulfazal is the smarter runner, while Mujtaba has good technique and Mortaza has strength.

The brothers aren’t worried about coming down with a case of the stitch - it is blisters they need to watch out for.

Rosenbaum is also a trail runner.

She has competed in the Tarawera Ultramarathon 87km - a distance further than running from Hamilton to Pokeno.

‘‘Our events are really special, and they are about every runner. It’s a beautiful way to show off Rotorua.’’

She said it was not often the 50km event receives entries from teenagers.

The Tarawera Trail Marathon will be held on Saturday, November 11. For more information, visit: www.taraweramarathon.co.nz