Local runners enjoy almost perfect conditions

Locals were out in full force in almost perfect conditions for the Rotorua Marathon.

As well as the full marathon around Lake Rotorua, there was also a half-marathon, a quarter-marathon and a 5.5km to compete in on Saturday.

Kawaha Point resident Liz Bannan, 42, was surprised and happy to beat her previous Rotorua half-marathon time.

The Lake City Athletic Club member said her race, which she did in 1hr 57m, was "really good".

"I wasn't expecting to beat it. My last time, in 2013, I did 2h 01m ... [today] I ran with a friend and this time I managed to talk most of the run. Last time it was agony."

Ms Bannan said she worked up to the half-marathon by taking part in the club training, and this afternoon planned to "take it easy".

Image 1 of 32: Start of the Rotorua marathon.

Her daughter Isla Bannan, 10, said she was proud of her mum, and had watched the race with her sister and grandparents.

Fellow Lake City Athletic Club runner and Lynmore resident Nicky Kenny, 39, was also happy with how her race went.

Mrs Kenny joined the club at the beginning of the year with the goal of doing the half-marathon, and said being part of their training clinic was a huge help with her training.

"[The race] was good, it was my first half marathon so whatever time I did was always going to be a personal best."

Mrs Kenny completed the 21km course in 2h 08m.

Her family had supported her by waiting at different parts of the course, she said.

"It was almost perfect conditions, we were lucky with the weather."

Brett Addison, communications manager at Athletics New Zealand, said he didn't have the number of local runners who participated, but of the 3005 people who started this morning, 200 were from overseas and the rest were New Zealanders.