Allison Roe

Winner of both the Boston and New York Marathons in 1981. Advocate of health, wellbeing and vitality.

Allison Roe won the Boston (2h 26m) and New York marathons setting records at both in 1981. Her record in breaking Grete Waitz string of wins in New York was a World Record at the time (2h 25.29m). She also won a number of road races in the US including the famous 10k Peachtree Roadrace in Atlanta breaking Mary Decker’s record. Allison represented New Zealand in track and cross country and at the age of 18 as NZ Cross Country champion, led the NZ team to the World Cross Country Championships in Morocco, where they finished second to the USA. She went on to win a number of cross country races internationally in Spain and Japan. Allison also has New Zealand championship gold medals in cycling and triathlon and won the Brazil International Triathlon from a strong field of top performers. She has also won many awards for services to sport including, Member of the British Empire, NZ Sportsman of the Year, Nurmi Awards for Best Female Runner and Best Female Road Racer 1981 and more recently the Abebe Bikila Award presented at the United Nations in 2002.

Allison has always enjoyed a passion for sports and like many New Zealanders, still appreciates the freedom and inspiration of the outdoor environment. From an international athletic career she moved into television as a TV Sports presenter and then became an independent sports producer. She is a mother to two adorable children and became inspired to develop the three wheel Allison Roe Baby Stroller for mothers (and fathers) who desired to come close to returning to their former glory without leaving baby at home.

Today her main interest, besides family is to help influence the health and well being of New Zealanders at a time when our health care system is at a dangerously low ebb. When we are healthy we are in control, we are able to break down barriers, to open up a world of light, positivity, opportunity and freedom. Allison promotes vibrant health through the manufacturing and marketing of a natural chemical free sunblock range, Native Spirit (for sun protection and skin cancer prevention) developed by a doctor of naturopathy and herbal medicine.She is even more exhilarated about launching a new series of national run/walk events under the Allison Roe Run to Heal banner, entitled ASB Step Ahead. This initiative will provide substantial funding for local communities and in time Allison believes will influence the health of our nation … that’s the big picture! The event series begun in 2003 will raise funds for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation for community based health and disease prevention and management workshops throughout the country. Allison has learned that we are all unique and special in many ways and we owe it to ourselves to develop at least one area of our potential and to do it to the best of our ability. The results are always worth the effort.