Third win the charm

Round Raro Road Race winner Warick Brenan has dedicated his third win to the late Jack Ralston after overcoming wintry conditions to secure the overall title.

Brenan, who revealed last week about his three-year battle with lung cancer in anticipation of this race, said his 2012 was the most important of the three titles he has won.

The Auckland runner also secured the 2007 title before successfully defending it in 2008.

“It’s a good feeling. My time wasn’t as fast as I wanted but given the conditions I was pretty happy,” Brenan said.

“When I look at the great names that have won this run, you look at their times and it shows you how tough this course is. It’s pretty tough even though it’s flat.”

The Kiwi dedicated the victory to Ralston, who died of leukaemia earlier this year at the age of 64.

He had coached a number of New Zealand’s most successful multisport athletes, including 2004 Olympic gold medallist Hamish Carter and ironman Cameron Brown.

“He always said to keep fighting the fight. We’ll always remember him, he’ll always be one of my role models.”

When asked about whether the third victory meant more than the previous two titles, Brenan agreed and said there was plenty of meaning for him from the race.

“It showed me that I’m on the mend – I’m on my way back. It would have taken over four hours if I was to do it a year ago. It’s the start of a new beginning I hope.”

It won’t be the last Rarotonga sees of Brenan after the Auckland runner confirmed he would be back to defend his title.

“I think I have to come back – it’s a good place to be.”

And he won’t be the only runner in the family competing, by the sounds of it. Thirteen-year-old son Matthew would most likely be competing in the 10 kilometre race in 2013.

If he is anything like his father, there could very well be a champion pedigree in the youngster.

“I have to keep extending the distance or else he’ll beat me,” Brenan said about his son.

A Brenan brace in 2013 sounds like it could very well be on the cards.

For now, the Kiwi runner is setting his sights firmly on a top-10 finish at the Auckland marathon and will have demons to erase in what will be an emotional return to the start line.