The Government Gardens was teeming with future athletes as more than 1500 children put foot to asphalt, completing the last 2km of their 40km running challenge.
The Rotorua Mini Marathon was held this morning and saw 1530 primary and intermediate school children run the last kilometres of their challenge along the official Rotorua Marathon course.
Participating children were required to track 40km worth of running in the build up to the event and many had been training for several weeks, Sports Bay of Plenty's Melanie Short said.
"Registered children got their passports and were able to tick off each kilometre they ran leading up to the event. They love being able to track their progress and see how they are doing."