Runners descend on BOP for marathon

Last year’s event. Photo. Alisha Lovrich

Runners and walkers of all abilities and experience levels will descend on the Bay of Plenty this Saturday, for the 57th Rotorua Marathon.

With around 4000 entrants expected to take part, it is set to be the most popular Rotorua Marathon since the 50th anniversary celebrations of seven years ago.

The thousands of entrants will take on the challenge of either the full marathon, Red Stag Timber half marathon, Go Media 10km or 5.5km distances.

This year's edition of the event is of further note as, with the entirety of New Zealand now at alert level 1, entrants from all regions are able to take part.

And with the trans-Tasman travel bubble now open, a number of Australians are also coming from across the ditch to take on the challenge.

'The Rotorua Marathon is truly one of the most iconic and historic running events in New Zealand,” says Athletics NZ CEO Peter Pfitzinger.

'We are fortunate in this country to be able to host a mass participation event of this size as similar events in other parts of the world are still not being held or greatly impacted by the ongoing pandemic.

'So it is wonderful to see such high numbers taking part and we are delighted to welcome entrants from all regions, which wasn't possible last year due to the restrictions on mass gatherings and travel,” he adds.

'It is also great to see some Australians take the opportunity to enter and we are looking forward to providing them with our Kiwi hospitality in Rotorua.”

The full marathon centres on a full lap of Lake Rotorua, with a mixture of elevations.

Starting in Government Gardens outside the Energy Events Centre, the course heads out through Rotorua's CBD, along Arawa St, down Lake Rd, Fairy Springs Rd and around the traditional lake course, back into town, through Prince's Arch up the finish straight.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says it continues to attract thousands of visitors, as well as capturing the imagination of the locals.

'This event means a lot to our community, including our local businesses, so it's really great that in today's uncertain times we are able to host thousands of visitors from all around the country,” he says.

'The event has evolved over the years to become a very inclusive affair with everyone able to participate and I'm sure that's another reason why people keep coming.

'Rotorua locals love hosting this iconic event and will give all participants and their supporters a very warm welcome and plenty of support.”

The event has again attracted plenty of elite quality with a number of high-class runners in the fields for both the marathon and Red Stag Timber half marathon.

Local Michael Voss will attempt to join a small but select band of men to successfully secure back-to-back Rotorua Marathon titles. Only three men in the long and storied history of the race have previously achieved a successful title defence – Jack Foster (1972-73), Paul Ballinger (1988-89) and Dale Warrander, who twice achieved the feat in 2004-05 and 2010-11.

Now the 24-year-old Rotorua-based Voss will attempt to add his name to this special group, having claimed a decisive victory in last September's race (2:31:13). Voss, who boasts a lifetime best of 2:22:34, is clearly in good shape and last month carved 32 seconds from his half marathon PB, posting 1:05:09 for second in Christchurch.

Leading the contenders in the women's marathon is Ingrid Cree, who will be hoping to upgrade on her third place at the 2020 Rotorua Marathon. The 38-year-old will enter the race full of confidence following her PB of 2:53:30 for third in last month's Christchurch Marathon.

Among the leading contenders in the Red Stag Timber half marathon is Sjors Corporaal, who finished second in last year's 21.1km event. The 43-year-old is a vastly experienced performer, who placed second over the full marathon distance at the 2018 edition of the Rotorua Marathon.

The marathon starts on Saturday at 8am with the marathon walk underway at 8.05am. The starting gun will fire for the Red Stag Timber half marathon at 8.15am with the half marathon walk to follow at 8.20am.

The 10km event for runners and walkers will begin at 8.35am with the 5.5km event underway at 9am.

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