Runners take on sandy test

One of the world's great ultra-marathons will kick off just after dawn on Ninety Mile Beach tomorrow.

The 21st Te Houtaewa Challenge involves a 63km ultra-marathon leaving from the Bluff at 7.30am, a 42km marathon, a 21km walk/run and a 6km walk raising money for Project Promise, a Northland-wide effort to raise $3million for an oncology ward at Whangarei Hospital.

This year Te Houtaewa also offers cycling events for the first time with races over 20km, 40km and 60km.

The onshore action will be complemented by a series of waka ama events starting in front of the event headquarters in Paripari Domain at the southern end of Ahipara and Thundercat races along the shore tomorrow will be followed by a long-haul endurance race up Ninety Mile Beach on Sunday. Organisers promise plenty to see and do at the finish line near Paripari Domain. Late registrations can be made at race headquarters at the Te Ahu Centre in Kaitaia from 3-6pm today.

In previous years most runners competing in the ultra-marathon have come from overseas, especially Australia, the UK, US, Canada, France and Germany.

Te Houtaewa Challenge is said to be the world's only ultra-marathon run entirely on sand. It is based on the legend of Te Houtaewa, who evaded capture after stealing two baskets of kumara by running the length of Ninety Mile Beach, also known as Te Oneroa a Tohe.

Some of tomorrow's runners are likely to carry kumara as a tribute to the great athlete.

A living legend who won't be taking part, however, is Awanui farmer Lilac Flay.

Flay has competed in, and won, all but a few of the 20 ultra-marathons to date.

The 56-year-old is unable to run this year because of a back injury and she missed out last year due to an infection. Instead Flay will take part in the 6km Project Promise fundraiser. "If I can't run I might as well walk," she said.

Conditions look promising with cloudy periods and a northeasterly tailwind forecast for tomorrow.

The event is organised by Te Houtaewa Maori Charitable Trust.