Smith 'moonwalks' to first NZ title | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Duncan Smith feels like he's walking on the moon.

It's not down to any drug, or outlandish clothing. Simply put, he's 8kg lighter and a national champion for it.

It's this weight loss he believes can take the credit for a rejuvenated spring in his step and race times faster than he could record 19 years ago.

Smith raced around the Huntly Half Marathon course on Sunday fastest in his 45-49 age group in 1 hour 17 minutes 21 seconds. That won him his first national title, as the race doubled as the New Zealand Half Marathon Championships.

"I'm running as quick as I did when I was 26, which I think is pretty good," he said.

"I've a certificate on my wall from the Kawerau Half Marathon where I did 1h 17m 34s and finished fourth when I was 26.

"I've always run but not competitively. For me to carry 8kg less around, I felt I was walking on the moon. The spring I had in my youth has come back. It's revitalised me."

The half marathon is only one part of a journey for Smith, who in July will attempt the Gold Coast Marathon and challenge himself to go faster still.

He finished the New Plymouth Marathon in March in 2h 45m and his goal for the Gold Coast is to better that time.

"I was using Huntly as a build-up. I like to do a half about a month before a marathon. I found the course quite tough, tougher than I expected. I wasn't sure how I was doing, you never know until the finish.

"I'm quite happy but not happy that I got beaten by three 50-year-olds."

The national titles were up for grabs only to those runners who hold Athletics New Zealand affiliation but the race numbers gave no indication of age group or affiliation status.

"I didn't know I'd won until it was prizegiving. It was a great thrill. I didn't even go to check the boards where all the times were pinned up."

Smith, a Lake City Athletic Club member for some 20 years, is now in the depths of his long runs, slogging it out for up to three hours on weekends and an additional two-hour midweek run on top of shorter sessions.

Once the Gold Coast Marathon is out of the way - well, that's another journey he will have to start planning.

• Also winning a national age group title was Lake City's Trevor Ogilvie, who won the 60-64 title in 1h 20m 17s. Marion Roberts came second in the 55-59 age group with 1h 45m 48s.

Aaron Pulford (Hamilton City Hawks) won the national title in 1h 9m 21s, with Maria Bentley (Feilding) taking the women's title in 1h 17m 56s.

Lake City hopeful Sarah Biss pulled out shortly before half way. She said she felt her body hadn't recovered sufficiently from racing in Japan and wanted to preserve herself for the Christchurch Marathon.