50 years, and marathons, apart | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

One is about to start her first marathon while the other will notch up his 25th Rotorua Marathon.

Both Pip Hyde and Peter Vyver have trained with the Lake City Marathon Clinic and will be among the thousands of runners pounding the streets on Saturday.

Hyde, 19, and Vyver, 69, have clocked up hundreds of kilometres between them and while each has their own goals for race day they have a common goal of finishing.

"I've grown up seeing people running and always wanted to do it one day," Hyde, a nursing student, said.

"Hopefully I'll finish it - under four-and-a-half hours would be good."

Vyver has completed "more than 60 in total" but this will be his 25th lap around the lake.

His first Rotorua Marathon was when he was 38 and he finished in 3hrs 48mins. Tomorrow he's hoping to break 4hrs 5mins.

"But the time isn't that important to me, it's just to be a part of it. Any marathon is good.

"I love the training for it. I love being fit for the rest of the year. Sometimes I have to kick myself to think I'm running with younger people and that I can still do these things."

The pair have been running each Sunday with the marathon clinic.

Hyde has travelled back from Auckland each weekend to make sure her training runs have been a success.

She said she was glad to have run the longer sessions with the group as she is better prepared for what will come on Saturday.

"I now know the back of the lake isn't as hilly as I thought but it's still hard.

"It's been good training with the clinic because we've been looking out for each other."

And despite having so many finishes to his name, Vyver said he was still a little nervous.

"I've had a few sleepless nights think about it all the time," he said.

"Anyone running their first race should treat it as a great day and a great experience. You always remember your first one as the best. You will know that time and talk about it.

"The way I look at it is every marathon is a good marathon but some are better."

And while she's yet to toe the start line of her first marathon, Hyde already has a feeling it won't be her last.

"I want to enter another one but probably not this year."