Property Brokers is the major sponsor of the 3Bridges Marathon which caters for a wide variety of fitness levels and age groups.
"We have a guy from Howick, Garry Donoghue, who at 70, will be competing in his seventh marathon this year when he comes to Whanganui.
"And then there's Patricia Stichbury from Ashhurst who will be running her 118th marathon. She has competed here every year since 2004," Hay said.
Among the more than 200 already registered are two from South Australia and one from the United States, while athletes from Invercargill and Christchurch are also entered.
Longtime harrier club members Darol Pointon and Duncan McKenzie are in the marathon walk and 5km walk respectively. Both are in the over 60 category.
One of the youngest to take on the older athletes is Jessica Johnstone.
The St George's School student won the Year 7 and 8 Mitre 10 Mega Tough Kid competition at Cooks Gardens just last month. She will contest the 5km run.
The event was in doubt for a time after the June flood, but hard work by organisers and members, helped by the Wanganui District Council, has ensured it will go ahead.
The course takes in the Dublin, City and Cobham bridges on a track that takes in both sides of the Whanganui River.
But major damage to Kowhai Park, a several hundred metre section of the walkway on Anzac Pde near the Red Lion, and a smaller section behind SteamRail Wanganui, put the annual event in serious doubt.
However, all the clearances needed have been secured and organisers are urging people to enter.
The club, named Club of the Year at the Ray White Wanganui Sports Awards last month, is aiming for a field of more than 600 athletes.
