Rotorua gears up for a marathon weekend

Otonga Rd School students (from left) Daniel Duyvesteyn, 10, Bella Wyatt, 10, and Flynn Haines, 9, are ready to finish their mini marathon, which kicks off Rotorua Marathon weekend. Photo/Stephen Parker

Thousands of runners and walkers will descend on Rotorua to take part in the annual Rotorua Marathon this weekend with locals of all ages looking forward to making the most of the event.

Race director Murray Fleming, of Event Promotions, said overall numbers were a little down on last year due to the World Masters Games that have just wrapped up in Auckland.

There are four events to enter - the full marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon and a 5km event - with Mr Fleming saying people could enter right up to and including race day on Saturday.

He said there were about 3200 entries across the four events with between 1200 and 1400 people taking on the full distance.

"But it's still pretty strong considering the timing of the Masters Games."

He said the Rotorua Marathon was marked down as one of the tougher marathons but "there's only one in the world where you can run around a lake start to finish and has been run 53 years consecutively, except for 1999 when it was washed out".

Registration starts on Friday from 2pm at the Energy Events Centre, where the start and finish line are located, and people could also check out a variety of trade stalls set up.

Lake City Athletics Club captain Phil Gulbransen, who will be running the half marathon, said about 85 club members would be taking part.

Most have completed the club's 16-week marathon clinic where people build up slowly to take on the full distance.

"Everyone seems to be really excited about it. They have spent a lot of time getting ready for it.

"We cater for everyone and all distances, depending on what they want to achieve."

Rotorua Association of Motels chairman Mike Gallagher said his two motels were very busy with most other motels also full or close to having no vacancies.

"Normally marathon weekend is really busy, but the rest of May has dropped off with forward bookings not as good as last year.

"Certainly, the sports events, and all those other events, up to the start of May has helped stretch out the season. Now for us moteliers it does quieten off, but we do have a busier period for the week around the Lions tour," he said.

On Friday 2174 school children from around the region will finish the final 2km of their 42km Rotorua Mini Marathon they have been completing over the year.

Otonga Rd School sports co-ordinator Neil Carrington said 481 students from his school were taking part.

"They've done it as part of their school fitness programme by running a 2km loop around the school.

"It's all been a bit of fun and have been doing it for a few years now."

The 53rd Rotorua Marathon
- Being run this Saturday around Lake Rotorua
- More than 2700 school students finish their Rotorua Mini Marathon on Friday
- Four events to take part in, with registration available on race day
- More than 3200 people will take part
- Hamurana Rd, from Unsworth Rd to State Highway 33 will be closed to traffic on Saturday 9am to 1pm
- For details visit rotoruamarathon.co.nz