Marathon effort for father | Bay of Plenty Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Bay of Plenty

For a while, it looked like Trevor Wright would never get to see daughter Jess Ruthe race the same gruelling distance that became his specialty.

The former New Zealand marathon champion spent nearly a week in intensive care in July after catching a mystery virus.

He was air-lifted to Waikato Hospital and suffered septic shock, teetering on the verge of death.

Three months later, fully recovered, Wright and his wife, Rosemary, will head north this weekend to watch their youngest daughter have a crack at the Auckland Marathon.

They'll also assume babysitting duties, with 6-month-old Sam Ruthe watching both his parents - Jess and Ben - attempt the 42.2km epic.

"I didn't know she was going to do the marathon until recently because she didn't know how much training she was going to be able to do after having their little fella," Wright said.

"It will be a proud moment and I'm glad I can finally get to see her try it - things were pretty horrific in July and I'm lucky to be here but I think my old running days might have stood me in good stead."

Ruthe herself is realistic about her chances. Although she's won multiple New Zealand track running titles and has been on the national cross-country team, this time she's running solely to finish.

It's been a hell year for the 29-year-old, who also suffered post-natal depression after having Sam. Running has been her solace.

"I was always planning to do the half marathon this weekend, not seriously but just to give myself something to aim for," Ruthe said.

"As it got closer, I was a bit wary at how competitive I'd be and how I might try to really exert myself, which probably wouldn't be a good thing.

"I thought by doing the marathon, I could take the pressure off to some extent."

Her only other completed marathon was two years ago in Japan, where she clocked 2hrs 39mins 12secs to finish ninth in the Tokyo Marathon.

She had to pull out of the Chicago Marathon earlier that year, attempting an Olympic qualifying time, due to searing temperatures.

When Sam arrived on the scene this year, Ruthe began slowly getting back into training but her dad's illness was a catalyst to ramp things up.

"When he came through that, I said to him'how about booking a holiday to the Gold Coast next year and I'll do a marathon then for you', so that will be my big focus now.

"I kind of figured this weekend could be the starting point - if I do a marathon now without any proper training, at least that will benefit me down the track.

"I'm treating it as my first long run!"

Ruthe's genetics stand her in good stead - her father's best time for the distance was 2:12:28. He won the New Zealand title in 1982, won the Rotorua Marathon in 1984 and represented England at the 1978 Commonwealth Games.

Mum Rosemary was a track runner at three Commonwealth Games, winning gold in 1970, and made the final of the 800m at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

Ruthe may dabble in some more track events this summer, especially with the national 10,000m championships to be held in Tauranga early next year, while she's also keen to try selected events in the North Island Triple Crown trail series next month.

She'll also have expert assistance to call on in Sunday's race, with hubby Ben a former winner of the Auckland Marathon, although he's been sacrificing his own form to look after Sam for most of the winter.

"Even if I'm hurting, at least Ben will be worse.

"Deep down inside, I'm actually really excited that I may legitimately beat him, for the first time ever.

"He'd probably put himself in the grave before that happened, though!"