On the right trail

Last year's Raglan Karioi Trail.

Runners from all over the world will converge in Raglan in December to take part in an eight-hour, 24km run up Mt Karioi.

The second annual Raglan Karioi Trail event will be held on December 13 and involves a 1850m double ascent of the mountain.

The journey is designed to challenge runners while still showcasing the beautiful Raglan landscape and views around Karioi.

According to event organiser Rachel Brown, nearly 70 people took part in the first event last year, with a increase in numbers expected this year.

"And I wouldn't be surprised if we had around 150 people this year," said Rachel.

Feedback from last year's race was positive, with a few runners indicating the course was "hard", but most were up for the challenge. "We want it to be a tough event," said Rachel.

Last year saw a runner from the United States competing in the Raglan event, but this year international entries were far surpassing expectations.

"This year we already had registrations from Chile, Brazil, France, Australia and Germany runners," said Rachel.

Runners can choose between a solo 24km race or a two-person relay race, which splits the distance equally between the pair.

This year, race organisers have also added a 2.5km mini-fun run for children aged 8-12.

Registrations are still open and will close the morning of the race. For more information, visit www.raglankarioitrail.com