Tanja Grunwald showing the strain of the final running leg at the 2018 Mitre 10 Marton Triathlon.
Tanja Grunwald showing the strain of the final running leg at the 2018 Mitre 10 Marton Triathlon.
Organisers will be hoping for another record-topping turnout at the third annual Mitre 10 Marton Triathlon on Sunday morning.
Well over 200 competitors entered last year's event, up on the 127 for the inaugural 2017 event.
Beginning at 6.30am with on-the-day registrations, the long course race will start at event at 9am – consisting of a 300m swim of the Rangitikei College pool, followed by an 18km bike ride in a looping course around the wider area, before finishing with a 6km run back to the race hub.
Fifteen minutes later will be the start of the medium course event – a 200m swim, 12km bike ride and 4km run.
There will also be a short course with half the distances of each medium course leg, and a special race for 10-12 year olds, starting at 9.30-9.35am.
Understanding the course map will be vital, as Palmerston North's David Martin discovered last year when he won the long course event in just under an hour, ahead of his brother Adam Martin and Sam Bentham.
Some of the male competitors made a wrong turn and had to back track, whereas Martin, the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final competitor, had done his homework and took the victory by a 90 second margin.
David Martin, front, won the Long Race at the 2018 Marton Triathlon, followed home by brother Adam Martin and Sam Bentham.
William Leong won the medium course race, with Toby Smith winning the short course.
Aside from the children's course, all the races also have a three-person relay team option.
It was hot, blue sky conditions last year, while the mid-range forecast on Sunday is for cloud.
The ANZ Bank staff from Marton have chosen to support the triathlon as part of National Volunteer Week, and will be helping out in any way they can on the day.
"ANZ is committed to helping our communities flourish," said regional manager Gaylene Simpson.
"We allow our staff to live this purpose by dedicating volunteer hours to events around the region.
"We can't wait to help at this year's event – see you all at the finish line."
All the entry fees for this year's event will be donated to the Marton Maori Wardens.
The wardens organisation have been active since 1860 and there are currently over 1000 working in communities throughout the country.
This includes the group of 17 in Marton who have intimate knowledge and close connections to the local people.
Rangitikei College are again providing their facilities in the pool, transition areas and racing hub for organisers and people registering.
"Without the support from our community, the Mitre 10 Marton Triathlon would not be possible, it is great to see so many of the community come together for the success of the community" said event organiser Marie Kinloch.
