The Napier War Memorial Centre was the perfect place for the registrations, the weather was great for running with not too much sun on Saturday and the layout at Sileni Estates Winery lent itself well for a relaxed afternoon following the races, he said.
"The atmosphere was amazing."
Runners at the start of the Air New Zealand Marathon on Marine Parade. Photo / Warren Buckland
Wellington runner Nick Horspool won the Air New Zealand Marathon with a time of 2h 32m 51s.
The 37-year-old said this race was a warm-up for the Gold Coast Marathon on July 1.
His personal best is 2h 20m so he was a bit slower but enjoyed the run.
"The course is really varied and the weather was absolutely perfect with no wind, which is nice coming from Wellington.
"There was great support in the last 10km through the vineyards."
Horspool's father lives in Havelock North so the athlete has spent quite a bit of time running around Hawke's Bay.
"I've wanted to do this marathon for a while and finally had time."
Natasja van Balken travelled all the way from China for the Cigna 10km run. She found the race tough but enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
She had competed in the Queenstown International Marathon in 2016 and when she saw images of the Hawke's Bay event she knew she had to come back to New Zealand for it.
Runners at the NZ Sotheby's Realty Half Marathon start from Pakowhai Regional Park. Photo / Warren Buckland
Christchurch couple Laura and Lindsay Officer took part in the New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty Half Marathon.
"It was a lovely, beautiful course. We got to see some amazing places," Laura said.
Faustinah Ndlovu, from Rotorua, participated in the half-marathon as a guide for an athlete with cerebral palsy through Achilles which provides people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in athletic events.
"It was really good, the course is quite good... really perfect."
Being able to help someone compete was very rewarding because athletes were able to focus on their abilities rather than disabilities, she said.
The event drew competitors from all over the country and internationally with 76 per cent of entrants coming from outside Hawke's Bay.
It was also a fundraiser for official charity partner, the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter.
