Runners to take over central city
More than 4000 bananas are at the ready for when the CBD comes to a standstill this Sunday, as a sea of 5000 runners lace up and take on the Christchurch Marathon.
It’s a jam-packed weekend for South Island athletes as the Kaikōura Adventure Race also kicks off and the Routeburn Classic mountain run returns with a sold-out event in Fiordland National Park.
Christchurch Marathon entries are in the 5000s - up a quarter from last year and the most since the event’s peak of nearly 6000 runners during the year of the earthquakes in 2011.
It’s the event’s second year running entirely in the city’s CBD and the first time having an official charity partner – Bone Marrow Cancer Trust, which runs Rānui House, a home away from home for patients and families travelling for medical treatment.
Traditionally, the marathon ran from QEII to the airport, inspired by the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games course. After the quakes, it ran through the red zone.
Now it had a 10km loop, which proved “popular” last year, event director and organiser Chris Cox said.
It’s flat – and therefore fast – with views of the Avon River, Hagley Park and landmarks such as the Bridge of Remembrance, Town Hall and Canterbury Museum.
“After the run, contestants can head down to The Terrace for a drink, check out the shops or simply enjoy the city’s vibe,” he said. “Christchurch is the ultimate playground.” More than 27% of participants are travelling from around New Zealand to be at the event, while 136 athletes are coming from 22 other countries.
Cox disputed that the smaller loop would be boring for full marathon runners having to repeat it four times.
Running a marathon “can be quite lonely” after the excitement of a mass start fades and runners finish or spread out, so a tighter course allowed for more spectator engagement and support, which fuelled runners, he said.
Local runner and New Zealand representative Katherine Camp agreed. As the 2021 half marathon winner and third placer in last year’s event, she was among the elite participants aiming for a podium finish this time around.
“If you run alone for too long you can get too much in your own head, but last year ... there were supporters popping up on every corner, which was amazing,” she said.
The six-time national champion across 800m, 1500m and 10km distances was “feeling pretty confident for a strong result” after returning from the World Cross Country Championships in Serbia a few weeks ago.
A smaller lap course also made it “easier” to set up the event, including traffic management, and gave St John a smaller area to cover should any incidents happen, but Cox said that “wasn’t a major factor” in designing the course.
There are full (42.2km) or half marathon, 10km and Kids Marafun options. The youngest participant is just 5 years old and the oldest is 83.
The Run for Rānui House fundraiser has already raised close to $40,000, and it’s hoped a new 12m-wide mural outside the Ranui building by local illustrator Kyla K will give runners a vibrant boost on the day.
Sunday’s weather is forecast to be fine, with northeasterly winds in the morning and a high of 14C. The race begins at 7.30am, and several roads will be closed, with detours in place from 5am to 1.30pm. Full information on road closures is available online.
The Kaikōura Adventure Race also begins on Friday, featuring hiking, mountain biking, pack rafting, and navigation in teams across three, six, 12, or 48-hour events.
High profile Canterbury sporting couple Gemma and Richie McCaw and taking part, marking the first time the pair have raced together. It will also be Gemma’s longest adventure race to date.
The Routeburn Classic also returns on Saturday for its 19th edition, welcoming 400 competitors in a sold-out event. It spans 32km and reaches 1127m of elevation.