Runner aims for marathon a month

German man Stefan Bild, pictured with wife Christine Bild, is completing a marathon a month for 2017. Photo / Cloe Willetts.

A German man who has made a bid to run a marathon a month for 2017 has chosen Kapiti as his latest destination.

Stefan Bild, originally from Lower Hutt, ran just over 42km between Paekakariki and Raumati Beach on Thursday last week, including the new Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway shared pathway.

Having already completed two other marathons this year in Germany, Stefan's Kapiti addition took around four hours and raised money for the annual Kapiti Run for Youth.

His decision to make 2017 a year of marathons stemmed from a desire to help others.

"Late last year I decided that chasing a personal best time was no longer enough of a challenge," said Stefan, who lives in Cologne, Germany.

Along with his wife Christine, Stefan is involved with a youth group run through his local church, which has access to various organisations and charities.

Having set up his own fundraising blog, Stefan's monthly marathon target is helping to raise money for a food bank run by his church, which helps locals in need and the many refugees being re-homed in Germany.

According to Stefan, after meeting all of the associated costs himself, he donated an additional 10 per cent of the money donated for each marathon.

Having started his marathon in Waikanae at around 7am, Stefan was accompanied by his mother's partner Ray McCarthy for the first leg, which ended at the Kapiti Rd intersection.

His mother Linda Soeberg, who co-owns Paraparaumu's Binn Inn store with Mr McCarthy, ran with Stefan for the second leg, which took them to Raumati Beach and back to the Te Moana Rd intersection.

To conclude the event, Christine joined Stefan to bike the remaining 15.7km to Peka Peka, before the pair returned to the finishing point in Waikanae.

"My Kapiti marathon was a great run with awesome scenery," Stefan said.

"I wanted to set myself a test that would not just be rewarding for me, but for others in need.

"It was a highlight of my trip to New Zealand."

¦Donations can be made through stefan-bild-fundraiser.blogspot.co.nz.