All sorts of characters to race ekiden

Last year's Hi-Tec Rotorua Ekiden proved fun for locals. Photo / File

Rotorua's Village Green will come to life this weekend as zombies, cartoon characters and colourful creatures line up to take on the Hi-Tec Rotorua Ekiden.

More than 1500 people dressed in all kinds of costumes will turn out for the 12th edition of New Zealand's only ekiden, which begins at 8am at the Village Green.

This year 240 teams are involved in the race that follows the famous marathon course for 42km, split into six legs that vary in distance from 5km to 8km.

The ekiden was invented in Japan and involves teams of runners passing a tasuki - a traditional Japanese sash - from person to person instead of a baton.

Race director Rob Docherty said he wanted to see as many locals as possible support those taking part.

This year's race will see a special start time of 8.45am for those teams who have dressed up, so he advised people to come along then to marvel at people's costumes as they crossed the start line.

Likewise, if people were around the course, Mr Docherty urged them to pop out and cheer on the walkers and runners.

"It's going to be a lot of fun, people get really creative with their costumes, which is always a treat to see," he said.

Fantastic prizes will be up for grabs for those who dress the best, he said.

Walkers start at 8am, those in costume at 8.45am and runners at 9am.

The race will be followed by a prizegiving at the Village Green, expected to be finished about 3.30pm.

For more information visit www.ekiden.co.nz.

Details

What: hi-tec rotorua ekiden
Where: village green, then around lake rotorua
When: from 8am to 3.30pm
Cost: free to watch