Every Tuesday, Grace Potts joins a throng of Kiwis heading to Takapuna to take part in the Harcourts Beach Series races.
What makes Grace remarkable is that she is the youngest competitor on the beach: the tiny Hauraki pre-schooler is just 3-years-old.
The Harcourts Beach Series runs for 18 weeks over summer, offering multisport training opportunities across three disciplines of swimming, running and stand-up paddle boarding (SUP). There are distance options to suit all ages and capabilities from beginners to elite athletes.
Grace participates in the 2.5km beach run with older sisters Sofia (5) and Ava (8). Mum Lisa runs alongside Grace: "We usually compete as a family for safety reasons and also to offer a bit of encouragement."
Sofia participated in the series for the first time last season and Ava is in her third year. The older girls plan to try the junior beach swim next season.