Rotorua Ekiden Relay: Colourful road race is back

Rotorua's most colourful road race is back for its 10th running this weekend as the Rotorua Ekiden tears around Lake Rotorua.

The Hi-Tec Rotorua Ekiden Relay will be run around the roads circling Lake Rotorua on Saturday. An internationally recognised event, the Ekiden relay is run over the marathon distance of 42.2km and consists of teams of six competitors who wear a traditional Japanese tasuki sash instead of carrying a baton.

Clubs, companies, businesses, social groups or schools can enter teams in the relay. The shortest leg is 5km and the longest 10km.

All participants receive a Hi-Tec Ekiden T-Shirt and a goody bag of sponsors' products, while just entering gives you the chance to win fantastic spot prizes such as two Panasonic 50-inch plasma TVs, Hi-Tec clothing and shoes, vo2max hydration belts and other Panasonic products. There are vouchers to be redeemed at some of Rotorua's leading retailers and tourist attractions. A special team managers spot prize valued at $1000 will also be won.

There are also prizes for the best dressed team, corporate prizes, social prizes and school team prizes.

Event organiser Phil Clode said numbers for this year's 10th anniversary event were down on last year. But he said the Ekiden was competing with other events around the country this weekend, including the national road relay in Nelson and a new Hamilton half-marathon.

Mr Clode said about 1100 people had registered for the event, in more than 180 teams.

"We really want to keep running this event and we are definitely keen to stay in Rotorua.

"It's exciting to to see people get out and go hard. It's very social and casual but there are some serious runners who take it quite seriously," he said.

Registration is taken online at www.rotoruaekiden.com but can also be made the day before the event - outside the Novotel Hotel between 2pm and 5pm tomorrow.

The start/finish line is on the Village Green, opposite the Novotel Hotel, at the Rotorua Lakefront.

Walkers start at 8am with the rest starting at 9am sharp.

The prizegiving will be at the same place but you have to be there to claim your prizes. Prizegiving starts at 3pm.