
Chch runner seeing the world one marathon at a time
It might be winter, but Oska Baynes is out pounding more than 150km of tarmac every week.
The 34-year-old is one of New Zealand's most accomplished long-distance runners, with six national half-marathon titles under his belt, and has recently pivoted more into the full 42.2km event.
His ruthless training schedule, normally getting through two workouts every day, goes hand-in-hand with his role as owner of shoe store The Frontrunner Colombo.
But things could have turned out very differently.
Baynes only took up running at 16 while at St Andrew's College, struggling with his personal life at school and at home.
'Most of us teenagers with a broken home probably struggle with stuff. Then you throw yourself into a pressure cooker, private school, elite environment,' he said.
'I didn't have the emotional maturity, the social maturity, and if you don't have that structure it can often come out in negative ways. I probably let myself down numerous times with my actions.'
It took a helping hand from his maths teacher, former Commonwealth Games representative and 33-time national champion Phil Costley, to steer him on the right path.
'He (Costley) was consistent, I didn't have a lot of that consistency.
'Year 11, 12, and 13, I needed that consistent, unconditional male role model.'
Costley's influence was hugely important for the young Baynes.
"It wasn't even discipline. It was just, 'Sunday morning we're going for a run', and it meant I didn't go out Saturday night,' he said.
'I didn't play up or I didn't want to let him down. In the end, I think that's probably what it boils down to.
"He was probably one of three teachers at school that, if they weren't there, I wouldn't have bothered turning up. The situation could have been quite different.'
Baynes talks a lot about consistency. His daily routine is rigid but purposeful, centred around training and family.
'My priority at the beginning and end of every day is family – non-negotiable. So (spending time with) my 10-month-old son and my wife from when I get up at six until I leave the house at 7.30, quarter-to-eight.'
He trains from 8-9.30am, works in the shop until 5pm and trains again in the evenings before heading home to spend the remainder of the day with his family.
'My (nine-year-old) daughter and I, at the moment we're learning to speak German,' he said.
'We sit up in the evenings for an hour-and-a-half and we talk to each other about our day. Then I pop her to bed at eight, maybe spend an hour with my wife if she's still up, half an hour to myself, and I'm sleeping at 9.30.'
Having spend the majority of his career focusing on the half-marathon, winning numerous national titles and representing New Zealand at the world championships in Latvia in 2023, his training at the moment is all about the marathon.
Baynes said his goal is to travel and experience new sights – while lowering his personal best time – 2hr 16min – and he believes he can shave off three to four minutes.
'I want to see how fast I can run over a marathon, that's the carrot keeping me going,' he said.
'I want to see if I can go to Frankfurt, or Osaka, or Vienna, or Valencia or wherever I want to go, and use running as an opportunity to see some places.
'We'll try and make that happen at some point next year.'
In May he won the Christchurch Marathon for the second time, coming home in 2hr 20min.
It wasn't his fastest time, but the home crowd made it memorable.
'Everyone you run past when you come into the last 300 (metres), people are seven deep, both sides. And when you're winning by six minutes, you can take your time to soak it in,' Baynes said.
There were man familiar faces – people he had met through running circles or helped at the store.
Baynes has owned The Frontrunner since 2016 and recently opened a second store in Nelson.
'Everyone knows everyone. What I will remember is that we've influenced and we've helped and we've cared for all of those people.
'The marathon recap said there might have been 15,000 people out supporting, and for all of those people, we will have helped them or helped someone they know over the last decade. It was really amazing being there.'
Baynes said the key to running is to find a way to make it exciting, whether that is going out with friends or something else.
'Running is boring. Ultimately it sucks, right? It's the same bullshit two hours a day.
'If you're a kid, or even an adult, make it fun.
'You do it for long enough, you'll find it's two degrees, sideways rain, and you're up on the Summit Rd with four of your mates on a Sunday morning laughing at each other about how f***ing stupid you are.'
Next up for Baynes is a marathon in Japan in February, with Frankfurt also in his sights for October.
'I'll be knocking on the door of 36 then, so we'll see how much patience my wife has.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


NZ Herald
8 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Waikato boxer Greer Hall eyes up Commonwealth Games 2026 after fight in Australia
Greer Hall, of Hamilton's Hit Fitness HQ under Cairo George, was among the gold medal winners at the recent Queensland International Golden Gloves Tournament. Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Already a subscriber? Sign in here Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen. Waikato boxer Greer Hall eyes up Commonwealth Games 2026 after fight in Australia Greer Hall, of Hamilton's Hit Fitness HQ under Cairo George, was among the gold medal winners at the recent Queensland International Golden Gloves Tournament. Waikato boxers who fought in the Queensland International Golden Gloves Tournament have come home with a big medal haul. Of 11 fighters, four won gold, three won silver and two won bronze. Greer Hall, of Hamilton's Hit Fitness HQ under Cairo George, was among the gold medal winners and is hoping to be selected for the New Zealand Boxing team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Hall beat Queensland Novice Champion Emily Collins in the semi-finals and Skye Wienert in the finals. Meanwhile, Stephanie Trotter, of Nabby's Boxing Gym in Hamilton, also won her bout and should be in contention for the Commonwealth Games.

RNZ News
11 hours ago
- RNZ News
Interest in hosting Commonwealth Games 'unprecedented'
The closing ceremony at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Photo: Photosport New Zealand Olympic boss Nicki Nicol says the interest from countries in hosting future Commonwealth Games shows strong support for the future of the games. It is one year until the trimmed down games in Glasgow. The Scottish city came in late to save the event, following Victoria in Australia pulling out, saying they couldn't afford it. It will be a scaled-down games in Glasgow with only 10 sports, but Nicol said there is ''unprecedented interest'' in hosting the 2030 games. Five countries have confirmed their interest in bidding for 2030, while New Zealand and another country are eyeing the 2034 games. "It does show that the interest in hosting and for our athletes participating at the Commonwealth Games is still really strong," Nicol told RNZ. "We are in really good shape." Canada, India, Nigeria, and two countries yet to be named are in the picture for hosting in 2030. It's understood a decision will be made later this year on what country will host those games. "2034 is our ambition and we will be working really hard to bring that to life," Nicol said. The sports on show in Glasgow will be 3 X 3 basketball and wheelchair basketball, artistic gymnastics, athletics and para athletics, bowls and para bowls, boxing, judo, netball, swimming and para swimming, track cycling and para track cycling, and weightlifting and para powerlifting. Nicol said 70 percent of medals contested for at the Birmingham games in 2022 would be on offer in Glasgow. "It's still a substantial games, but it has been pared back, particularly in team sports, and we feel for hockey, sevens and cricketers," Nicol said. There were 19 sports at Birmingham. Nicol said that given the late change posed by Victoria's withdrawal, Glasgow has evolved the games model with a decision not to construct an athletes' village. Athletes instead will stay in hotels next to games venues. Nicol indicated Commonwealth Sports's intention was to return to a fuller sports programme at future games, while running them on a more economically sustainable basis than past events. The New Zealand team is marking the 'one year to go' until the Glasgow games with the launch of 'The Fern is all of Us' campaign at a cocktail party in Auckland tonight. The event will feature a musical collaboration between Te Whare Haka o Waititi and the City of Sails Pipe Band, honouring both the Māori and Scottish cultures while Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro will also present the King's Baton to the New Zealand team. Nicol said 2026 was a big year for New Zealand sport, with the Winter Olympics in Italy in February and the Youth Olympics in Dakar in October and November, as well as the Commonwealth Games. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.


Scoop
14 hours ago
- Scoop
One Year To Go
Today marks 'One Year to Go' until the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the New Zealand Team honouring the milestone with the official launch of its'The Fern is all of Us'campaign. 'One Year to Go' will be celebrated this evening at a cocktail event at Auckland War Memorial Museum, attended by athletes, dignitaries including Her Excellency Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor General and the New Zealand Team Patron, as well as donors and sponsors. The event will feature a musical collaboration between Te Whare Haka o Waititi and the City of Sails Pipe Band, honouring both the Māori and Scottish cultures while Her Excellency Dame Cindy Kiro will also present the official King's Baton to the New Zealand Team on the night. 'Marking 'One Year to Go' is a significant moment for our team and our nation,' said NZOC CEO, Nicki Nicol. 'It's a chance to reflect on the journey ahead and the values that unite us as the New Zealand Team. The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is shaping up to be a superb Games and tonight's milestone will be a great warm-up,' she said. As well as celebrating 'One Year to Go', the New Zealand Team today launched a campaign that will guide the New Zealand Team's wider journey in 2026, including the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games in February and the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar in October. The campaign builds on the idea that the New Zealand Team brings the whole country together under one fern, one takahi, the foundation of our Pou Tangata haka. 'It speaks to the unity and strength of the New Zealand Team together with the communities who support them,' said Head of Brand and Marketing, Alex Cooper-Cuthbert. 'We wanted a really emotive piece that encapsulated the idea 'when you face one of us, you face all of us,' she said. The Commonwealth Games 'King's Baton Relay' Baton will also be on display at the event in its pre-designed state. Spanning all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories, the King's Baton Relay celebrates communities and marks the countdown to the Games. The Glasgow 2026 Baton has been reimagined with a 'Baton for Every Nation' concept, each baton is decorated to reflect its country's cultural heritage and identity. A fully designed and crafted New Zealand Baton will be unveiled during the New Zealand leg of the relay, from March 15-20 2026. As the countdown begins, 2026 is set to be an exciting year for the New Zealand Team. The Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games run from February 6 to February 22 2026. The Glasgow Commonwealth Games run from July 23 to August 2 2026. The Dakar Youth Olympic Games run from October 31 to November 13, 2026 About the NZOC The New Zealand Olympic Committee was established in 1911. Since then, we have used our unique mandate to select and lead more than 60 teams to Olympic and Commonwealth Games across the globe. Our athletes and teams are at the heart of our organisation and their stories have become integral to our national identity. They represent Aotearoa New Zealand with honour and pride and the silver fern is a symbol of their sporting success. For decades our teams and athletes have showcased our unique culture and values on the world stage as well as promoting excellence and innovation through their stories and success. We are a charity and rely heavily on commercial and other funding partnerships as we promote sport and the Olympic values and help create New Zealand history. We are engaged in education programmes for young New Zealanders and, through Olympic Solidarity and other partnerships, help fund athlete and sport development. We work in partnership with High Performance Sport New Zealand, which invests significant funding and specialist resources in NSOs, coaches and athletes to support performance on the world stage in New Zealand's targeted sports. We are proud to represent the Olympic and Commonwealth sporting movements in New Zealand.