Ultramarathon: Tutu helps runner make point

The Vibram Tarawera Ultramarathon is being held this Saturday. The main race is 100km long. Photo/Supplied

Saturday's event will also feature Glenn Marvin, in a tutu.

Last year's Tarawera Ultramarathon was the 41-year-old Aucklander's first 100km race.

"It was the hardest race I have ever run but also incredibly satisfying," Marvin said.

"The scenery was stunning and my fellow runners, the volunteers and overall vibe of the event totally blew me away and left me wanting more."

This year, Marvin will be running for a good cause.

"A few weeks ago my step-brother, Hamish Bagley, who was a well-known international snowboarder, was killed in a car crash in the South Island.

"He was an incredibly positive person. He lived life to the fullest and crammed more into his 18 years than most would in a lifetime."

Marvin wants to honour his step-brother's memory and will team up with friend Malcolm Law, one of New Zealand's leading trail runners and adventurers.

Next year, Law will take on one of the most epic adventures attempted in New Zealand.

He will run 50 extreme trail marathons in 50 consecutive days, with the goal of raising more than $250,000 for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

"To honour Hamish's memory and his love of the mountains, I'll be joining Mal for three of the biggest, scariest, epic and consecutive days - running, climbing and crawling around and up Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngaruhoe and Mt Taranaki," Marvin said.

"I've committed to raising at least $10,000 and the Tarawera Ultra is the first step in a 12-month journey, what a spectacular way to kick it off."

And the tutu?

"Let's face it, I need to sell people on the idea of supporting a stranger doing something they love and to donate towards a relatively unsexy and previously taboo issue," he said.

"If I have to dress like a fairy and make an arse of myself to make them smile and part with some hard-earned cash, then that's what I'm going to do."

Marvin's introduction to endurance running was a familiar story for many.

"In 2006, I topped out at 105kg and struggled to run more than a couple of kilometres when I decided to get back in shape," he said. "In 2007, I ran my first marathon and 2008 my first ultra - the Kepler Challenge."

This Saturday, he will line up before dawn in Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest alongside 850 other runners.

The sixth Tarawera Ultra is race three of the inaugural Ultra Trail World Tour. This features 10 races in Europe, Asia, North America, North Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Entry numbers have doubled from last year and the race features some of the international superstars of the sport.