Trail running: Hard slog or easy trot, it's runners' call

Russell Lake is favoured to repeat his 2012 win in Sunday's Smiths Sports Shoes Tauranga Trail Run. Photo / File

One of the highlights on the Western Bay sporting calendar is all set to go in the glorious setting of the TECT All Terrain Park on Sunday morning.

The fourth Smiths Sports Shoes Tauranga Trail Run offers something for athletes of all ages and abilities, with 5km, 10km and 15km fun runs and the elite 30km race.

The Bay of Plenty Times-sponsored 5km run through the native bush attracts large numbers, with adults running beside - and sometimes struggling to keep up with - their kids.

The main 30km race takes in some superb scenery, with runners going through the Te Rerenga Tunnel, before a gut-busting uphill finish for the last 1.5km.

Tauranga's Russell Lake, who won in 2012 and was third last year, is favourite. Neither 2013 winner Sam Clark nor runner-up Bobby Dean has entered. In the women's race, local endurance athlete Carla Moriarty is favoured. Moriarty is coached by Craig Kirkwood and competed in the Tarawera 100km in February - her first major foray into ultra-distance off-road racing.

Tauranga Boys' College teacher and event organiser Scott Furniss says there will be plenty to keep everyone happy.

"There will be great music keeping everyone entertained, with the Edward Hare Project featuring current Tauranga Boys' student Fletcher Oxford, who made the finals of NZ's Got Talent last year.

"There will be a coffee cart and Pyes Pa School PTA is doing a sausage sizzle," he said.

It was Tauranga Boys' cross country's only fundraiser, so all the boys in the team and their parents would be out helping.

"We want to grow it as a family event with achievable distances. Some adults will do their run earlier, then double up to do the 5km with their son/daughter, like Russell Lake did last year."

Registration and race number collection are from 2pm to 4pm at Smiths Sports Shoes in Tauranga tomorrow, or from 7am at the TECT Park Sunday.

A collection of sponsored spot prizes will be drawn at the prizegiving at 12pm, including seven $200 vouchers, four $100 vouchers and two $60 New Balance bags.