Marathon race wanted

Press, 11 May 1989, Page 30

Marathon race wanted

Organisers of the Tait City of Christchurch halfmarathon, to be run on June 4, are hoping to provide runners with a marathon race next year. The functions co-ordinator for the half-marathon, David Rees, said yesterday that the organisers were hoping to forge a link between the Christchurch marathon and Adelaide marathon, similar to the reciprocal links between the Fletcher Challenge

Rotorua marathon and the Kawaguichi race in Japan. The lack of administrators and the time and costs involved in making changes to the race format this year had meant that the 42.2 km marathon race had to be dropped, he said. The organisers of the halfmarathon have been inspired by the work done at the finish of the Buller half and full marathons, one of the best organised long-distance

running events in the country. Among the changes for this year’s half-marathon will be a giant marquee near the finish line, similar to that used at the Buller marathon, with hot food and other refreshments available. Mr Rees said organisers were predicting that entries would be 20 per cent up on last year’s 1200 runners. Entries close next Thursday.