Community set to embrace new-look Christchurch Marathon

With some 4000 entries, 200 volunteers and thousands of spectators, the 41st Christchurch Marathon will once again be one of the South Island’s most colourful community occasions bringing together runners and walkers from all walks of life.

On 16th April the new-look Frontrunner Christchurch Marathon will go to the start line at a new venue, on a new course and with a new sponsor.

While the event will also double as the New Zealand Marathon Championship, for most people it is a personal challenge taken on for as many reasons as there are runners.

Entrants for the event range from 73 year-old Marg Hazelwood, competing in her 111th marathon through to 17-year-old Maya Edmondson trying her first foray over the classic 42.2 kilometre distance.

Race Director, Chris Cox, who once finished third in the Christchurch Marathon and has been organising it since 1999, comments “I’ve always felt the greatest thing about this event is that it’s a true representation of the community.

“It brings together different people from different walks of life with different motivations for why they run.”

The famously flat, fast and scenic course will condense itself to a much more route around the centre of Christchurch, passing local landmarks the Canterbury Museum, Cambridge Terrace and Oxford Terrace adding to the popular Hagley Park and Avon River sections.

Based now within Hagley Park, the event will revolve around a 10.5 kilometre lap that stays closer to the CBD.

Cox adds “this new course is iconically Christchurch and probably the most spectator friendly in the country.”

After a tough time during the pandemic, Cox is pleased to finally launch the new look event, going on to say “we’ve been planning this for a while but covid cancellations in 2020 and 2022 held us back. So it’s great to finally get to the start line.”

For more information go to www.christchurchmarathon.co.nz

Images courtesy of the Christchurch Marathon.