Good numbers for 3 Bridges

This morning's annual Pak 'n Save 3 Bridges Marathon turnout is likely to click in at around the 600 mark as entrants are getting used to the on-line pre-event entry process.

A new organising group within the Wanganui Harrier Club took over running the 14-year-old event in recent years and introduced the online application format and signing up by the Friday deadline – moving away from the "on-the-day" walk-up registration.

Spokesman Rob Conder said Fiday afternoon that they had 500 adults for the various running and walking distances, along with 80-100 children for events like the new 1.2km fun run.

"We're getting more people entering now, people are trucking up all the time.

"[The fun run] gives people a bit more opportunity to be involved.

"Most people now are already entered, we get a few people waiting for their race packs [last night]," said Conder.

"Lots of questions about where to go."

The 10.5km course starts alongside Moutoa Gardens and takes in the Dublin St Bridge, then heads down Anzac Parade for a back-and-forth trip across the City Bridge, before continuing down Putiki Dr to the Cobham Bridge and running back along Taupo Quay and Somme Parade to the finish.

Full marathon competitors do four laps.

Top finishers can complete the course in less than three hours – as Rotorua's ultramarathon veteran Brendon Keenan comfortably managed last year – however after several weeks of very hot weather, Conder has heard from several entrants that they will be pacing themselves.

"Times will be probably down a little bit, with the heat."

The full marathon walkers led the festivities off at 6am, with the runners departing at 7.30am.

Half walkers and runners (two laps) depart between 8-8.30am, followed by the 5km corporate relay, which loops between the Dublin and City bridges, starting at 9am.

The 10km (1 lap) race is 10am, with the 5km race at 11.30am.

The new 1.2km Kids Fun-Run-athon for 13-year-olds and under, will begin at 12.30pm.