Sun rises on second edition of First Light Marathon

First Light Marathon race ambassador Michelle Rennie leads a couple of runners as they try out the course ahead of the event. The second edition of the race — organised in conjunction with Albatros Adventure Marathons — got under way at the crack of dawn this morning with 300 runner taking on the marathon or half-marathon options. Picture supplied

A field of around 300 runners set off at daybreak today in the second First Light Marathon to be held in Te Tairāwhiti.

Of those, around 100 are doing the full marathon (42.2 kilometres) and the rest are taking on the half-marathon option.

Thirty runners have come from overseas for the marathon, which is part of a wider tourism package provided by Albatros Adventure Marathons — a Danish travel company that hosts marathons in nine countries across the globe including The Great Wall Marathon in China, considered to be one of the most challenging marathons in the world.

On Thursday, race ambassador and former Olympian Michelle Rennie led a contingent of international competitors in the “shake-out run” — a gentle five-kilometre city run designed to combat jet lag and let the visitors get their bearings ahead of today’s event.

After the run they enjoyed refreshments at the Wharf Bar & Grill in Gisborne’s inner harbour.

The event is a great way to showcase Tairāwhiti with the group of international runners tagging on extra excursions like feeding the stingrays at Dive Tatapouri yesterday and attending a pōwhiri while tomorrow, Michelle will take a group to Cooks Cove in Tolaga Bay.

The group will continue to explore the North Island, heading to Rotorua next, then doing the Tongariro Crossing.

This year the First Light course has been modified slightly to include more of the Sponge Bay hills, making it even more scenic, Michelle says.

Part of her role is to coordinate the 52 marshals who are set up across the course, some of them stationed in hard-to-reach terrain.

The group of marshals has come from Michelle’s Cardio-Coach business, Gisborne Harrier Club and local rowing and hockey clubs.

Temperatures were predicted to be in the late 20s, making the run more challenging —  a contrast to the milder temperatures of last year’s inaugural event. But unlike last year, it was looking like the runners would experience a sunrise and blue sky.

There are 100 more runners taking part this year compared with last year, and it is predicted it will keep growing in size and reputation as people spread the word internationally and around New Zealand.