Mike Bond, a former winner at the Hatuma Half Marathon, will take part in a unicorn costume. Photo / Warren Buckland
Mike Bond, a former winner at the Hatuma Half Marathon, will take part in a unicorn costume. Photo / Warren Buckland
If you spot a unicorn running in Havelock North circles on Sunday don't worry, you're not hallucinating.
Resident Mike Bond plans to dress up as the mystical animal and run 21km for the Hatuma Half Marathon - which is being held as a virtual event this year.
The popular eventwas initially set to go ahead on Sunday but a tough decision was made to cancel the original format due to Covid disruptions.
It will instead be held as a free virtual event with participants able to run, jog or walk 21km at a location of their choice and upload photos and information online.
Participants have a week to complete the distance starting from Sunday.
A former winner of the half marathon, Bond has decided not only to take part this year but to do it in a unicorn outfit - in a bid to raise funds for Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland.
Mike Bond in his unicorn outfit. Photo / Warren Buckland
He will do laps around the Havelock North township on Sunday morning starting from 9am, and said he had done other races in different outfits in the past.
"I have done it in the past for fun, to make people smile and help people realise that it is not all about competing and competition but it is about getting out there and doing it and having some fun."
He said close friends had benefited from the care at Starship Children's Hospital and his goal was to raise $1000 for the hospital, through his Givealittle page.
"We have already reached $1000. Anything over that is a bonus."
Organisers of the popular Hatuma Half Marathon have been blown away with the number of entries joining their virtual race - from as far afield as Japan.
Event co-ordinator Nicki Heremaia said a shift to a virtual event had actually opened it up to more people.
"It was a difficult decision at first to make. Obviously we were disappointed that we could not host an actual event.
"But we are really excited to have the virtual event and it is actually really exciting to see the reaction."
She said people from all around the country had put their names down to take part and even two participants from Singapore and Japan.
There are now more than 380 entrants, many of which have joined since the event moved to a virtual half marathon.
"We are really excited to have some international entries."
You can still join the event right up until midnight this Saturday, and people have one week from Sunday to complete 21km either in one go or in stages.
Head to the Hatuma Virtual Half Marathon website to join the free event.
