Rotorua Marathon: It's not too late to start training

Runners take off at the start of the Rotorua Marathon earlier this year. Photo / File

Early bird entries have flown in and, with five months left until the Rotorua Marathon, organisers say it is not too late to start training.

Athletics New Zealand events manager Gareth Archer said there was still plenty of time to prepare to walk or run the marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon or 5.5km, but the sooner you signed up for the May 5 event and started training, the better.

"There are all sorts of options available and I wouldn't say it's too late to train for the full marathon, but it's definitely time to start thinking about it.

"Training over the silly season is always the hardest part of keeping up with it, so people really need to stick to a plan they can follow through with."

Archer said the Rotorua Marathon website had a range of training programmes for each distance which people could follow and the Lake City Athletic Club had coaches who were happy to help newcomers.

"Walking is a big part of the event as well, we have really generous finish times so we get a lot more walkers than other events. So, even if you're not up to running, walking is a good way to be involved."

Early bird entries closed on Thursday and about 750 were received.

"We're really pleased with the numbers, that's about 60 per cent higher than the same time last year, so obviously people are prioritising the Rotorua Marathon again which is awesome.

"You see a few tears and lots of smiles at the finish line at Government Gardens, it's a really cool place to be. We had some cool feedback in our survey a couple of years ago saying it's 'the people's marathon'. We've kind of used that and taken it, it's all about the local people out there cheering and it's been going for so long."

Many participants and charities use the event as a fundraising opportunity. For next year's event the Mental Health Foundation NZ and Child Cancer Foundation have offered to reimburse participants' entry fees if they raise more than $500 before the event.

Achilles International New Zealand, which gives New Zealanders with disabilities the chance to take part alongside able-bodied athletes in local mainstream events, is also an official charity partner of the Rotorua Marathon. Entrants can choose to be part of any of the charities' teams during the event.

For more information or to enter go to: www.rotoruamarathon.co.nz.