Marathon: World tour takes in Tarawera

Rotorua's Tarawera Ultramarathon has been recognised on the international stage. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua's Tarawera Ultramarathon has been named as one of the stops on an exciting new global tour.

Announced in France the Ultra-Trail World Tour will feature eight long-distance running races in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and New Zealand which will represent Oceania.

The Vibram Tarawera Ultramarathon is a challenging 100km off-road run from Rotorua to Kawerau, raced every year in mid-March.

"The invitation for the Tarawera Ultra to be part of the world tour came completely out of the blue one night in the form of a Skype call from Ultra-Trail organisers in Paris," Tarawera race director Paul Charteris said.

"I was speechless. It's such an honour to be invited to be one of the inaugural tour partners."

The Tarawera Ultramarathon started six years ago.

"It was really a crazy dream to start with," Charteris said.

"These days we sell out well ahead of race day with a big waiting list but it's still unbelievable to think that hundreds of the world's running media will be in a press conference in France learning about the Tarawera Ultra."

Charteris said the Ultra-Trail World Tour was all about bringing runners together in the spirit of friendship, adventure and competition.

Other races on the tour are the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (USA), the Marathon des Sables (Morocco), The North Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland), The Transgrancanaria (Spain), Lavaredo Ultra-Trail (Italy), Vibram Hong Kong 100 (Hong Kong) and the Ultra-Trail Mont Fuji (Japan).

"These are all successful, well-established events with long histories, big race fields and massive media interest," Charteris said.

"And they aren't just about the racing they're also about the magnificent landscapes and exotic environments they're run in."

It will be an opportunity to showcase Rotorua and New Zealand to the world, Charteris said.