WHILE most people prefer a leisurely drive on the Great Ocean Road, Western Athletics member Narelle Bardsley was one of 400 runners to line up as part of the Great Ocean Road International Marathon earlier this month.

The 30-year-old Wyndham Vale resident braved tough conditions to be the first woman to finish the 14km Paradise Run, and scooped up a cool $1000 for taking out the women’s 30-34 category.

Bardsley clocked a time of 52.48 minutes to place sixth overall.

The fitness trainer wasn’t allowed to run in the lead-up to the race after pulling up sore the weekend before when she represented the blue, yellow and red at the LaTrobe University Road Race, where she recorded the fourth-fastest time in the 15km run.

Bardsley went into the Great Ocean Road race with no expectations and considered taking the leg as a training run, but continued to push herself when she became an early leader.

“I was racing and feeling comfortable and winning. I was running against a strong headwind but I still felt strong and fit,” she said.

“I think because I’m fit at the moment, the conditions would have got to me mentally otherwise.”

“I felt great. I was more happy with my time than the win, because I ran a minute faster than the week before.”

The win is a promising start to Bardsley’s 2007 winter season, as she looks to add to her hectic Athletics Victoria Winter schedule by contesting her first half-marathon in July in the Gold Coast Airport Half-Marathon.

Bardsley is also hoping to take on Sydney’s City to Surf and Melbourne’s Run to the ‘G, where she won the 4km course in 2004.

Not bad for an athlete who prefers shorter distances.

“People are saying to me ‘what are you doing? You’re a sprinter doing a distance event’,” she laughed.