Hawke's Bay's autumn running and walking fest is set to get off to a damp start with occasional rain forecast for the Country2Coast tomorrow.
Held annually since 2011 and incorporating four separate events on the pathway network converging on Farndon Park at Clive, the Country2Coast will serve as a warm-up for some of those entering the Hawke's Bay International Marathon and associated runs and walks from between Napier and Sileni Estate winery west of Hastings on May 15 and which are being held for just the second time.
Tomorrow's events are a 15km walk from Perfume Point, Ahuriri; a cycle ride starting at Farndon Park at 9am; and at 9.30am a running event from Perfume Point, a walk/run from Grange Rd, Haumoana, and a half-marathon run from Puketapu School.
Occasional rain with fresh northwesterlies are forecast by MetService, but all events should be finished before a southerly change forecast for the afternoon.
The fun run/walk events will be timed but, like the untimed cycle ride, are not competitive with no awards for placings, although there will be spot prizes. The 21.1km Hillmac half-marathon will be timed with trophies for the first male and first female.
More than 600 people took part in the events last year, fastest time of the 69 in the half-marathon being the 1hr 18min 24sec by Graeme Buscke, while Karen Toulmin was the first woman, and fourth-placed overall, running 1hr 25min 36sec. Each had also won in 2015.
Late registrations are being taken from 10am to 2pm today at the Havelock North Function Centre, at $30 for those aged over 13, $20 for children aged 5-12.