Back to the future for Chch marathon
In 2021 the ASB Christchurch Marathon will step back in order to move forward. For the first time since the earthquakes, participants will run on the traditional two lap course, and for the first time ever, the event moves to the earlier date of April 11.
This is a continuation of the marathon’s personal rebuild following the earthquakes.
In 2011, the event was forced out of the central city event to the outskirts of Christchurch, first to Lincoln and then to Christchurch Airport.
In 2015 the organisers brought the event back into the central city, basing it at Cathedral Square.
In 2017 ASB Bank became the principal sponsor, and in 2019 the event returned to its traditional race base at the Christchurch Town Hall.
In 2020, of course, everything including the marathon was interrupted by Covid-19.
‘‘That was a big hit financially for the event,’’ says race director, Chris Cox, ‘‘But it also gave us some time to consider the future.’’
Since returning to the central city, Cox and his crew had been working with local authorities to reclaim the traditional course.
It took some time, but in 2019 the event returned to its Town Hall race base, and now in 2021, they finally return to the preearthquake race route.
‘‘The course concept is very important,’’ says Cox.
‘‘Parts of it still run on the historic 1974 Commonwealth Games route, which was the inspiration for this event.
‘‘That route is widely accepted as the fastest in New Zealand, but it is also very scenic and takes in iconic Christchurch areas such as Hagley Park, the Avon River, Oxford Terrace and the Town Hall. So it has everything!’’
The only thing the marathon hasn’t had, in fact, is good weather. The past four years have all seen bitter wind and rain. But that too is about to change.
‘‘The marathon has always been Queen’s Birthday weekend, but terrible weather in recent years has really impacted participation.
‘‘The numbers just have not built back to those pre-earthquake levels, so we decided the event needed to be at a nicer time of the year,’’ Cox said.