Count Down On To The Adidas Auckland Marathon

Media release

13 October 2004

COUNT DOWN ON TO THE ADIDAS AUCKLAND MARATHON

With less than three weeks left to New Zealand's largest road race, entrants in this year's adidas Auckland Marathon should be fighting fit as they complete their last days of training.

In its eleventh year, the format of the adidas Auckland Marathon stays basically the same as is has for the previous four years, with the Marathon and Half Marathon starting in Devonport and running across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Half Marathon finishers run straight to Victoria Park, while the Marathon finishers run out and back along the waterfront before returning to finish at Victoria Park.

Olympic Silver Medalist and World Triathlon Champion Bevan Docherty will be leading a team along a 10km event out and back along the waterfront finishing at Victoria Park - for those who are looking for a more modest challenge.

Docherty is keen to point out that running the 10kms with him won't be a record-breaking exercise, he's just keen to encourage as many people as possible to get out and enjoy the run.

"Running the 10kms is the perfect distance for those who want to experience the atmosphere of the Marathon, but don't feel they're up to the half or full distance. The more people I can encourage to get out there and enjoy running the better.

Anyone still wanting to enter the 10km event will be able to do so until 25 October without incurring any later entry fee.

Spot prizes up for grabs include two trips to the London Marathon and every finisher will receive an adidas Climacool T-shirt.

Marathon entrants, supporters and spectators can make a day of it with event entertainment scheduled for the afternoon at The Edge 'Jam in the Park', featuring leading New Zealand hip hop bands Fast Crew, Misfits of Science, Dei Hamo, DJCXL and DJ Manchoo.

adidas Auckland Marathon. Sunday 31 October 2004. Enter online at http://www.aucklandmarathon.co.nz

Marathon facts:

· Charities - South Auckland Health Foundation Burns Unit

· Event date: Sunday 31 October 2004

· In 2003 over 9,300 entrants in total, broken up as:

- 10km 3,000

- Half Marathon 5,500

- Marathon 820

- 220 Overseas runners

- 29 different countries represented

- 55% of all entrants are women (70% for the 10km)

- 76% of entrants entered online

- 20% of entrants are from outside the Auckland Region

- 28 people ran their tenth Auckland Marathon

- 9 people ran their tenth Auckland Half Marathon

- Volunteer helpers 575

- Litres of water 42,000

- Paper cups 80,000

ENDS

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