Rotovegas Half Marathon preview

Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities will be taking part in the first annual Brooks Rotovegas Half Marathon this Sunday.

The race begins outside Novotel at 9am and competitors will follow a marked route through the city along side streets, passing Kuirau Park, the International Stadium, Te Puia and Whakarewarewa, and going around Sulphur Point to end up back at Novotel.

Event organiser Phil Clode said the race promised to be interesting for competitors, cutting through parts of Rotorua that many people would not usually get to see.

"It's mainly on-road, we wanted it to be interesting and fascinating for the runners and walkers. Where it goes is just awesome, taking in bits of Rotorua that people wouldn't know about," Mr Clode said.

He said the race would take around one hour and 20 minutes for the "top guys" to complete and it should not take much longer than three hours before everybody was at the finish line.

"I think the course is fairly easy because it hasn't got any real hills in. I just think it's fantastic, when people walk or run it they will love it," Mr Clode said.

As one of the organisers of other prominent Rotorua events such as the Hi-Tec Rotorua Ekiden Relay and Giant R4 Cycle Race, Mr Clode promises the Brooks Rotovegas Half Marathon would be a good quality, professional event.

Mr Clode said the race organisers were excited about the prizes they had to giveaway this year and more than half of all people attending the race would win something.

Brooks Running would be giving away some of the prizes, along with Giant Bicycles and Panasonic which was donating a 50 inch television.

Around 350 people have registered for the race and organisers were expecting another 150 to register.

Tickets cost $45 per person and registration forms are available at www.rotoruahalf.co.nz.

Late registrations will be accepted at Novotel from 3pm until 8pm this Saturday.