Running: Family of eight take on Tauranga International Marathon event

The Hollows family will do a Tauranga International Marathon event as a family. Photo / George Novak

When Kayla Hollows makes her way to the start line of her race as part of the Tauranga International Marathon, she won't be alone.

She will have her six-month-old baby in a carry pack, her 3 and 2-year-olds will be in a double pram and her three other children aged between 5 and 11 will be ready to run next to her.

Her husband Jamie Hollows will also be lining up.

The Hollows family have entered the Tauranga 6km Fun Run/Walk, which is one of five events being held as part of the Tauranga International Marathon this weekend, adding to the list of fun runs they have already completed as a family.

It's important to Hollows that her children grow up knowing the importance of health and fitness.

"After not being a very active person I am hoping to show my kids the importance of being fit, active and healthy while they are young and to continue that on into their adult life," Hollows says.

The family of eight have entered fun runs together for more than a year now, admitting it initially began as a matter of convenience.

With her and her husband's family living far away in the South Island, the Hollows juggle looking after their six children together.

Hollows entered her first event, the Waitomo Trail Run, in April last year. But the biggest barrier the Katikati woman found was trying to run and look after her large family, so she started bringing them along.

"I started taking my kids to events with me as I don't have a babysitter. Turns out my kids love running events and it's now something we try to do most weekends," she said.

And on Saturday, they'll be doing it all again at the Tauranga International Marathon.

The marathon, organised by Total Sport, was set to be a "flat, fast and fun" terrain.

There were 42.2km, 21.1km, 12km and 6km options, as well as a 2km kids (and parents) dash.

Following a successful inaugural event in 2017, which saw more than 1200 people take part, founder of Total Sport and the Tauranga International Marathon Aaron Carter said this year's course would be slightly different starting in Pāpāmoa and ending at The Strand "with a big party at the finish line, not only for runners, but their supporters and the Tauranga community to enjoy".

"Because of the flat and fast course and the stunning views, it's a bucket list event for seasoned runners as well as an ideal first-time option," Carter said.

The full marathon would start in Pāpāmoa heading on a direct course towards Mount Maunganui, along the ocean, before travelling around the Mauao base track.

They would run past Pilot Bay then up and over the Tauranga Harbour Bridge and back to the water's edge on the other side.

Runners would then make their way along the foreshore to Fergusson Park and back, through the Waikareao Estuary, including the Daisy Hardwick boardwalk, before finishing in the heart of the city centre.

The first woman and man in the Tauranga International Marathon would receive $2000 each, with second place getters nabbing $1000 and third place $500.

In the Half Marathon, the first-placed woman and man would each receive $1000, with second place getters taking out $500 and third $250.

For more information or to enter, go to www.marathontauranga.co.nz.