Sport Northland business development manager Colleen Atchison said the feedback from last Sunday's event had been extremely positive, particularly in relation to the new course set-up.
"People were raving about new course. The CEO from ACC was there so there wasn't any pressure," Atchison joked.
She added she had heard people say how the course set-up was what had stirred them to enter.
Marathon winner Tom Reynolds was one of those to give Sport Northland the thumbs up.
Reynolds said he felt the new course was a huge step up from last year in terms of enjoyment and views of Whangarei.
"I think [Sport Northland] deserve some credit for the effort they put in," Reynolds said, adding the 9km fun run/walk was a good fit. "They make it appealing for all. They do a really great job of getting the atmosphere just right."
The marathon course went from the Town Basin out to Onerahi via the new Kotuitui Whiti pedestrian bridge and the Te Matau a Pohe bridge before returning to the finish line at the Canopy Bridge.
Meanwhile, the 9km runners and walkers went from the Canopy Bridge, across Riverside Drive and headed towards the Hatea River track along to Whareora and Paranui Valley Roads. They returned through Mair Park to the start/finish line at the Canopy Bridge.
Interestingly, of those 1150 entries for last Sunday's event, there was nearly a two-to-one ratio of women to men.
About 68 per cent of the entrants were from the Whangarei District, with 14 per cent from the Far North and 7 per cent from Kaipara. Auckland had a strong showing, making up 10 per cent of the entries, while people also came from Rotorua, Whakatane, and Gisborne.
