One inspirational mum-of-four is Sally Gibbs, from Katikati, who won the women's race in 2hr 45min 58sec. She started running seriously only in 2009, after enjoying taking part in a 10km run.
During her school days she used to "throw sickies to avoid cross-country runs".
"I'm just ordinary," she kept telling me and I argued back that she has an extraordinary talent. Her fastest marathon time is 2:41 in the Gold Coast in 2012.
Gibbs ran the 50th Rotorua Marathon to celebrate turning 50 and was "totally surprised" at her result. She ran out conservatively, initially because her watch took a while to start, and then just ran "comfortably hard" to get her great time.
She hopes her win might show others that it's okay to be a late starter to sports, like her.
Sally says her oldest son and daughter-in-law also ran the event. After finishing, she drove back out on the course to walk for a bit with them. They took more than seven hours to complete the marathon and she reckons "they suffered the most".
Speaking of family efforts, I convinced my dad, Nick Grunwell, to take on this marathon with me. He turns 60 this year and works in Rotorua.
It was my second marathon; his third. We were among more than 4500 runners who finished the challenge, including the delightful 90-year-old Colin Thorne, who ran his 50th marathon that day.
I was drawn to the event because it's such a big milestone and it's also in a place that's special to me: I was born here, schooled here and spent half my life here. So I have a lot of aroha for this place.
But I didn't have a lot of love for those Hamurana hills around mid-race. That's partly why this marathon is nicknamed a test of survival. It's tough.
The course starts and finishes at the Energy Events Centre in the picturesque Government Gardens. Another big attraction is the prettiness of that lake you circumnavigate.
As I ran I recalled my childhood in this city and hearing about Hinemoa and Tutanekai, a famous Maori legend and love story that centres around Mokoia Island, situated in the middle of Lake Rotorua.
I was lucky enough to hear this tale from teacher Beatrice Tui Yates (Aunty Bea), who has since been awarded the Queen's Service Medal for all her amazing work in this community. Just one of the many top faces in this place.
Highlights during the race included a spellbinding haka, a lone Hawaiian dancer, several drumming bands and seeing some locals in 1920s dress-ups at "Champagne Corner" (about 14km) with the Chariots of Fire theme music blasting. My kids, husband, sister, sister-in-law and lots of mates cheered me on - along with lots of wonderful locals.
After crossing the finish-line (4:17 - in the top quartile of female finishers) I waited for my dad and then, holding hands, we legged it over the finish-line together, grinning.
Worth it? Hilly, hard course, but a great event.
Try it: Find out info via www.rotoruamarathon.co.nz
Rating: 9/10.
