Rotorua roads will take a pounding tomorrow with more than 4500 competitors expected to take part in the Rotorua Marathon.
The Lion Foundation 48th Rotorua Marathon is shaping up to be one of the best yet with one of the strongest fields assembled at any New Zealand marathon.
Last year's men's winner Dale Warrander is looking for win number six.
However, he faces strong competition from a number of competitors, including Phil Costley from Nelson who has won two Rotorua marathons and has held more than 30 national athletics titles.
Angus Bell, a former New Zealand mountain running rep who has switched to road events, will take on his first marathon, while Japanese runner Yosuke Tokitani, who won the Lake Kawaguchi Marathon in November last year, has also confirmed his entry for tomorrow's race which starts in front of the museum in Rotorua's Government Gardens.