Marathon mum keen to fire up other runners | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Sarah Lei finds running is a good way to clear her head.

The mother-of-three last year completed the Rotorua Marathon after running with the Lake City Athletic Club Marathon Clinic and she is ready to sign up again.

The 36-year-old had previously finished three marathons but last April was her first around the lake. She is hoping more will join the club on their weekly sessions, which start after Christmas.

"I'd recently had a baby and the clinic was really good to have some people to train with, it gave me some focus," Lei said.

"I didn't have too much time to train but knowing there was a group helped.

"There's so much experience that people can provide.

"Some have run more than 40 marathons, you can bounce off them. And if you have problems there's always someone to help - and for me there was someone to talk to on the long runs."

Next year's marathon is on April 28.

Lake City is holding a free information evening at its clubrooms at Neil Hunt Park on Thursday, January 12, at 8pm - after the fortnightly Trout Fly run.

The clinic starts on Sunday, January 15 at 7am from the clubrooms, and will be a 15-week programme leading up to the Rotorua Marathon.

The clinic will also cater for those wanting to do 10km or the Rotorua Half-marathon.

Lei said running for her was "great 'me' time".

She has three sons aged 1, 3 and 5, and her early Sunday run is a way for her husband to spend time with the children and for her to clear her head.

Her youngest son was 6 months old when she ran the marathon last year. She finished in 4 hours and 2 minutes, just three minutes shy of her goal.

"But I was happy I was there given the circumstances," she said. "I had a good day.

"It's a great course - I've run at London and Christchurch and this is the nicest. It goes around the lake and you start and finish at the same place. It gives you a good goal."

Anyone thinking of joining the clinic should already be able to run up to 3km by the time it starts.