Chris Barnes and Tom Donoghue have different goals for next month's Gunnedah Gallop but their motivations are the same.
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Chris finished second last year behind local Ironman, Pete Loveridge and is seeking to improve on his 30.29 minute personal best from that race.
Tom joked he just wanted to finish the race before last light.
“If I can run the whole way without stopping, I’ll be happy,” he said.
But the main energy behind both their entries, aside from Tom also sponsoring the race, was participation and the great Aussie notion of “having a go”.
After all, that’s what this race is all about, organisers say. It’s about getting outside, being active and leading a healthy lifestyle.
Competitive running is not completely foreign to Tom who ran a half-marathon in Dubbo a few years ago.
He completed the full distance with minimal training, so the 8km Gallop circuit shouldn’t be too much of a worry.
Chris, meanwhile, is eyeing off line honours as long-time rival, Loveridge, is unavailable for this year’s race.
Coincidently, it was with Loveridge in a junior team 22 years ago that Chris entered his first Gallop.
“Almost every event I enter, he’s been there,” Chris said.
“So without Pete there, the race is open to anyone.”
Chris has been in good form after running almost to the second, his goal time at the Tamworth half-marathon earlier this month.
This was despite a less-than ideal race preparation battling illness.
The 2015 Gunnedah Gallop will be held Sunday, September 13 from 9am.
For more information and to register, head to their Facebook page here and follow the links.