Collette wakes up to a morning rush: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 09 Aug 2004: 5.
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TONI Collette the actor became Toni Collette the environmentalist and fitness fan yesterday when she took part in Sydney’s annual City to Surf fun run as part of a Greenpeace team.
When asked how she had prepared herself for the gruelling run, Collette said it was a simple but efficient regime. “A couple of eggs on toast and a bit of water,” she said. “I do about an hour of exercise every day, but 14km is a bit of a stretch.” Another well- known participant was Steve Moneghetti, who’s 1991 race record of just over 40 minutes still stands. The 41-year-old showed why he was the grand old man of Australian distance running, leading for most of the race before coming in third in 41.19 minutes, just 1.16 seconds slower than his record.
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TONI Collette the actor became Toni Collette the environmentalist and fitness fan yesterday when she took part in Sydney’s annual City to Surf fun run as part of a Greenpeace team.
The Oscar-nominated star, who came to fame as the chubby Abba fan Muriel Heslop in the 1994 movie Muriel’s Wedding, looked fit and healthy in her tight-fitting Greenpeace T-shirt.
Lining up with 64,000 others in the city before the 14km run, the 31-year-old was all smiles and enthusiasm.
“This is the best way to wake up, thrust yourself into a rush of thousands and move your body,” Collette said.
The well-loved actress, who has won four AFI best actress awards over the past decade, is back home in Australia promoting her latest movie, Connie and Carla, about two singers who impersonate drag queens to get a break in show business.
“It’s a really fun way to raise money for Greenpeace, and it’s much-needed money,” she said.
When asked how she had prepared herself for the gruelling run, Collette said it was a simple but efficient regime. “A couple of eggs on toast and a bit of water,” she said. “I do about an hour of exercise every day, but 14km is a bit of a stretch.” Another well- known participant was Steve Moneghetti, who’s 1991 race record of just over 40 minutes still stands. The 41-year-old showed why he was the grand old man of Australian distance running, leading for most of the race before coming in third in 41.19 minutes, just 1.16 seconds slower than his record.
It was the first time he had competed in 13 years, explaining thathe said he was safely retired and therefore more able to enjoy the event.
Tanzania’s Patrick Nyangelo won the 14km road race in 41 minutes four seconds, while Olympic runner Haley McGregor, from Victoria, took out the women’s division in 46 minutes 22 seconds. She was due to fly out today to join the Olympic team in Athens and described the race as “a big confidence booster”.
One-hundred-year-old Philip Rabinowitz, running his fourth City to Surf, crossed the finish line in just over three hours.
A race spokeswoman said Rabinowitz, who ran with 30 of his relatives keeping an eye on him, finished in “good shape, good health and good humour”.
Most of those taking part were “weekend warriors” — those people who decide to take part in the weeks leading up to the race and undertake a training regimen before the big day.
In the city of the Mardi Gras, many just took it as opportunity to dress up.
George Bush, Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein walked side by side, in the midst of gorillas, Elvis impersonators, dinosaurs and Spiderman.
Race organisers said there were no reports of any serious injuries.