Mercury Bay welcomes participants in the Whitianga Marathon Event

The Whitianga Marathon, and all associated distances, kicks off at 7am on Saturday, 15 October. The Whitianga and wider Mercury Bay communities welcome all coast runners. The number of entries mean there are a few extra thousand people around for this last weekend of the school holidays.

If you’re here and haven’t entered, there’s still the opportunity to walk or run 5km, 10km, the half marathon, the 23km Track and Trail or the full marathon. You can enter on line up until Wednesday, 12 midday. Registration is held at the Mercury Bay Area School on the 14th October from 4pm so head there if you’re a late comer to enter. Everyone is welcome.

For those here on holiday, or that live here, there is the very festive environment at the Buffalo Beach reserve on event day. Get a coffee or ice cream and support those participating. Or line the streets around the marathon course, play some tunes, dress up and help make it the fun occasion it is.

The Track & Trail and marathon courses take in Ferry Landing through to Cooks Beach so lots of opportunity to support there too. Note that the athletes in the longer distances will be using the ferry between both points as their natural drinks break, so if you are thinking of using the ferry in the morning, support those involved.

If you want to check out the courses to enter or to find a place to support your athletes go to https://whitiangamarathon.co.nz/course