Wayne all set for landmark 30th Rotorua Marathon en route to record bid

Published 15 January 2024

All set for his 30th successive Rotorua Marathon at the 60th anniversary edition of the Rotorua Marathon next May, Wayne Hart hopes to walk another lap of the lake in pursuit of the all-time record of 50 completed Rotorua Marathons.

Wellington-based Wayne, 49, began his Rotorua Marathon odyssey inspired by his father, Ron, who was a sub-three-hour marathon runner. A regular at the iconic event his father picked up a knee injury, and after being told he could no longer run Wayne decided to join his dad in walking the 42.2km distance.

“For many years we attended the Rotorua Marathon together, once dad stopped walking he became my support crew and with mum driving around the course,” said Wayne. “Dad would run my drinks , lunch and coach me around the course, great father, son bonding time,” recalls Wayne. “Often mum would drop dad at the road closure so he could walk this section with me, getting me over halfway and back to the main road.”

Wayne has many rich memories of competing in the annual race. His favourite arrived when he completed his 20th Rotorua Marathon with his dad and siblings - Ron, Suzanne, Neville and Paul.

Yet his streak of Rotorua Marathon finishes has been tested over the years.

“My biggest scare came five years ago, when coming out of the road closure at 24km I burst a large blister on both feet that felt like walking on broken glass and to top it off I was vomiting all the Powerade I had consumed for the last three hours,” he recalls before bravely finishing the challenge.

“I also owned a racehorse that had 46 starts for only one win. Have a guess what day in 2011 that his only win came on?”

And although this year will mark his 30th Rotorua Marathon he has no intentions of stopping any time soon and harbours ambitions to catch and one day pass the record number of Rotorua Marathon finishes of 50 by the late Colin Smythe.

“I want to match Colin’s 50 laps, and I hope to be the youngest to reach this milestone and be able to add more laps,” he explains. “For many years I would also talk with Colin and joked he needed to stop so I could catch up with his total and I remember being at the finishing line for his 50th Marathon, a total I would like to achieve.”

A Type 2 Diabetic, Wayne has targeted raising more than $5000 for Diabetes NZ as an additional motivation for the 2024 race. Supported by partner, Maria, his main cheerleader, support aid and counsellor, the traffic management co-ordinator with Wellington City Council is looking forward to what will be a very special milestone Rotorua Marathon on 4 May next year. 

“2024 will be a big year for me,” says Wayne. “It will be my 30th Rotorua Marathon and 19 May I will also celebrate my 50th birthday. I’ll have family and friends once again joining me on the day for a lap of the lake.”

Wayne Hart (right)