There are only six months left to start training for the inaugural Tauranga International Marathon.

The event, organised by Total Sport, offers 42.2km, 21.1km, 10km or 5km options, as well as a 2km kids' dash.

For its inaugural event, the Tauranga International Marathon has also partnered with Live More Awesome, a nonprofit charity with a philosophy around helping people improve their mental health.

Their mission is to reinforce that everybody has mental health needs to be acknowledged and looked after, just like their physical health.

Total Sport founder Aaron Carter says he strongly believes physical health can help support good mental health.

'Taking care of your body is a powerful first step towards mental and emotional well-being.

'An event like this can bring a lot positivity someone's life, gained not just from training, endorphins and sense of achievement, but also from the community, shared experience and togetherness.

'We are delighted to have partnered with this superb charity to bring a little bit more awesome into the lives of locals, and domestic and international visitors to Tauranga.”

Live More Awesome founder Jimi Hunt says the Tauranga International Marathon is a brilliant partner to help showcase some of the mental health benefits of walking, running, getting out in the sun and becoming part of a wider community.

'We're also really excited to try and make this the most love-filled marathon in the world, encouraging and helping anyone and everyone who is looking to get involved, whether it's their first or hundredth marathon.”

The full marathon starts and finishes at The Strand. Runners will meander through the Daisy Hardwick boardwalk and estuary section, before making their way to Mount Maunganui, where they will head around the Mount loop track.

Runners will then continue along Marine Parade, right next to the ocean, before heading along Matapihi Road, before crossing the Matapihi rail bridge and finishing once more on The Strand, where they will be awarded their finisher's medal.

The Tauranga Half Marathon starts at Blake Park and follows the same track from the Mount Loop.

The Tauranga 10km run/walk starts at Moa Park on Ocean Beach Road, heading onto Marine Parade, and then along Matapihi Road, crossing the Matapihi rail bridge and finishing at the same place.

The Tauranga 5km run/walk starts at the Omanu golf course, where runners will head along Matapihi Road, then cross the Matapihi rail bridge before heading to the finish line.

The first woman and man in the full marathon will receive $2000 each, with second place getters nabbing $1000 and third place $500.

In the half marathon, the first-placed woman and man will each receive $1000, with second place getters taking out $500 and third $250.

All participants will enjoy the Tauranga International Marathon festival at the finish line, where there will be food trucks, live entertainment, local produce, including avocados, cheese, kiwifruit and seafood, as well as a kids' play area.

Full and half marathon winners will receive a finisher's medal.

Prices range from $19 for the kids dash to $149 for the full marathon (special price until 17 September).

To find out more info and register, visit their website.