Three new events added to the Red Stag Rotorua Marathon
31st March 2023
A trio of exciting and innovative new events have been added to the programme for the 59th Red Stag Rotorua Marathon from May 5-7.
Spearheaded by the Museum Mile sponsored by Toi Ohomai, the three events will breathe new life into the historic event which next year will toast its 60th anniversary edition.
Taking place at the picturesque Government Gardens on Friday 5 May, the Museum Mile sponsored by Toi Ohomai takes place on a lightning quick street course which will be welcomed by both the elite performers and community runners alike as they chase a fast time.
Athletes will compete for individual and team honours on the night, with the mile championships also incorporating club awards across the U16, U18, U20, senior and masters divisions. The starting gun will fire on the first races from 5pm with races continuing under the floodlit course into the evening. Prize money will be awarded to the top three individuals in the senior races as well as the top three placed teams. Community miles will take place on the same evening in seeded races.
Two other new events also set to feature at part of the Red Stag Rotorua Marathon are the RampRun and Runway5. The high-octane RampRun – on Saturday 6 May – will serve up racing as never seen before in New Zealand. Competitors race in a four-heat format in the Rotorua city carpark building its home for the evening. Competitors will race to the top of the three storey car park with a short recovery period between each heat before returning to the foot of the building in readiness for the next heat.
Set to a backdrop of neon lighting and music, the RampRun will provide a vibrant spectacle, with the race timetable allowing for two races to take place at one time. Spectator tickets are available to watch the races unfold, with tickets including drinks & food. Prize money will be awarded to the top placed finisher in each race.
The Red Stag Rotorua Marathon weekend will climax with the Runway5 on Sunday 7 May. Runway5 promises to provide one of the fastest 5km races in the Southern Hemisphere. Using a 90-minute window of availability from Rotorua Airport, the 5km will span the stretch of the Rotorua Airport runway and finish alongside the departure terminal. Races will be seeded from slowest to fastest. Top placed male and female finishers as well as team awards will be presented. An under-12 mile race, held in recognition of World Athletics Kids’ Athletics Day, will also feature. Runway5 will include seeded 5km races, with elite female and male races, junior and community races.
The Runway5 has also partnered with the Kiwi Conservation on Mokoia Island, home to over 30 breeding pairs call home. All Runway5 entries will contribute to the ongoing Kiwi conservation on the island.
Athletics NZ Competitions Manager Jason Cameron said: “The Rotorua Marathon is the most iconic marathon in New Zealand but the introduction of three brand new events adds a new dimension to an already special running festival.
“The Museum Mile sponsored by Toi Ohomai, the RampRun and Runway5 are three vibrant innovations across the three-day programme and I’m sure the new races will be warmly welcomed and supported by the running community both within New Zealand and beyond.”
Entries across the three races are priced at $30 with discounts applied when entering two races. The three new events on the Red Stag Rotorua Marathon programme will sit alongside the four existing events – The Red Stag Timber Marathon, Red Stag Timber Half Marathon, Go Media 10km and First Credit Union 5.5km.
More information and how to enter the new events.
