Mount half marathon attracts a large field of runners and walkers

Last year's half marathon women's winner Margie Campbell hits the finish line. Photo / File

While most Western Bay residents will be snuggling under their duvets on Sunday morning a large number of resilient athletes will be pounding the streets around Mount Maunganui.

The 32nd Mount Runners and Walkers Half Marathon again has a full field of walkers and runners taking part in a range of races, with 5km, 10km and 21km half marathon walk and run events, plus a kids run along the beach.

The event is the original half marathon event held at Mount Maunganui.

The course layout means supporters, spectators, entertainers, cheerleaders and marshals are always close by. Races begin opposite the Pacific Apartments on Mount Main Beach and travel down Marine Parade before reversing back before a lap of Mauao to the start/finish line.

Event organiser Luke Garea says this year there are three athletes taking on the half marathon, 10km and 5km races in a unique hat-trick to strive for.

"They are going to try to finish them all so that is kind of a quirky angle for the day.

"We had a re-routed course last year because of the slips around the Mount base track and now we are back to using the full base track which is nice. We are looking at 1400 entrants again this year which is great for the event in its 32nd year."

Garea says the event has always been held over Queen's Birthday Weekend.

"It is a great time to hold it for people who live outside Tauranga and the Mount. There are not so many events congested around it. It seems to be a good fit and the locals seem to enjoy it in the window it is in."

Last year the main half marathon races were won by Mount local Kyle Macdonald (1h 14m 10s) and Australian Margie Campbell (1h 21m 06s). It was Macdonald's third title and he holds the course record of 1h 11m 11s set in 2014.

The half marathon walks were won by Martin Poppelwell (2h 29m 16s) and Penny Purcell (2h 18m 31s) with highly regarded locals Regan Bones (34:59) and Sarah Gardner (37:45) triumphing in the 10km runs.
Mount Runners and Walkers start times, Sunday
Half Marathon Run 8am, Half Marathon Walk 8.05am
10km Run 10am, 10km Walk 10.05am
5km Run 10.50am, 5km Walk 10.52am
Kids K Run / Walk 11.30am