Over 1000 people will converge on Rotorua's Lake front this Sunday to run or walk the cultural and natural highlights at the Podium Rotorua Running Festival.

The course will cover the Whakarewarewa Forest, serene golf courses, thermally active Sulphur Bay, the world famous Rotorua Museum and Te Puia and the gorgeous Lake Rotorua, with the Podium City of Rotorua Half, Brooks 10k, Novotel Community 4k and a Kids 2k​ Dash.

Serenity and her mum are involved in the race. Photo: Supplied.

'Encouraging people to get fit and healthy, the distances cater for the couch potato through to the whippet, and everyone in between,” says a statement from the organisers.

'It'll be fun for the whole family, with over $12,000 in merit and spot prizes, plus all finishers receiving a fabulous event medal.”

A warrior from the Mataraki Cultural group will start the event with the blowing of a putatara.

This year a large group from the Rotorua Group Challenge will be taking part.

'The low cost health and fitness group run by David Massey has been taking people on the journey of getting fit and healthy by having a large support group of over 100 like-minded people taking part in each intake.

'There are some truly inspirational stories of women turning their lives around and, in turn, those of their family, friends and whanau.”

Milly Hemsley from Running Events says the gathering has become popular with runners and this year's event will see runners ranging from a three-year-old to an 88-year-old grandmother from Auckland.

'We've even created a special prize for the oldest competitor after we were bailed up by three or four octogenarians a couple of years ago to say there was nothing for the oldest one,” says Milly.

'So we now have an award for the oldest competitor.”

She says last year's male and female winners of the half marathon, Josh Harrison and Sarah Joubert, haven't confirmed whether they will be back to defend their titles, but Milly admits a lot of top runners usually wait until the day to register for the run.

For more information, visit: www.runningfestival.co.nz