Bay braces for super athletes

New Zealand's largest and longest-running half Ironman event takes 11 months of organisation and is so well regarded it took just six hours for 1350 competitors to claim the sought-after spots at the starting line.

The Port of Tauranga Half at Mount Maunganui tomorrow morning will see entrants consume 3000 bananas, 3000 bottles of Leppin sports drink and water and 50 cases of flat Coca Cola to help them through the gruelling 2km swim, 90km bike and 21km run.

With hours of exercise ahead of them, they are sure to welcome the 14 drink stations dotted along the course and at the recovery area at the finishing line on Pilot Bay, where the hundreds of bottles of flat Coke will provide an immediate sugar kick a few hours into the event.

With 36,000 paper cups ready to be filled it is likely the 25 portaloos brought in for the event will also be in hot demand.

The scenic course, marked with the help of 1.5km of barriers and 200 road cones, winds its way around the popular Mauao base track, along the harbour front at Pilot Bay and surf beaches at Mount Maunganui, Omanu and Papamoa.

In its 23rd year, event manager Janette Blyth said the Port of Tauranga Half was second only to the New Zealand Ironman in significance on the country's multi-sport scene, attracting the best from New Zealand and Australia.

"It has added status as the official Triathlon New Zealand national championships and a selection event for the world long distance championships," she said.

A team of about 400 volunteers from local sports groups and organisations, who use the event as a fundraising opportunity, will help things run smoothly while five Mount Maunganui St John staff will man two ambulances during the event.

Ms Blyth said the event was unique because it was held in Mount Maunganui in the middle of the summer holidays, providing a great atmosphere for both athletes and the average three-strong support crews they each brought along with them.

"Participants and supporters get to mix the race with holiday time here at the Mount, the race and the area are both iconic in that respect.

"It also has a unique mix, where some of the world's best athletes are on the start line alongside your average person who enjoys keeping active."

BEST SPOTS TO CATCH THE ACTION

• 
  Cafe corner. Grab a latte, pull up a chair and listen to the live commentary as the hordes rush past.
• 
  Tay St. See the cyclists rush by on Marine Parade and stay until the runners turn for home there.
• 
  Top of Mauao. Get a bit of exercise while you're getting a bird's eye view of the action.
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  Papamoa. For you cycling fans who just like getting away from it all.
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  The finish. Pilot Bay is where it will start and finish. Catch all the agonising drama.