Christchurch Marathon Set To Break Records As Event Doubles In Size

Christchurch Marathon is set to shatter attendance records this weekend, with the event doubling in size in just three years.

More than 8200 people will lace up to run, jog or walk through Christchurch’s central city this Sunday (12 April).

That’s a 17% increase on 2025 and a near 60% increase on 2024, when the event recorded its highest number of entrants since before the earthquakes. 4000 people crossed the finish line in 2023, making this year one for the record books.

“The numbers don’t lie — word has caught on, not only in New Zealand but across the globe,” says Race Director Chris Cox.

“It’s a fast, flat course through Hagley Park, weaving through the CBD and along the Avon River, so it’s perfect for elite athletes chasing records, but just as rewarding for first-timers looking to tick off a personal goal.”

This year’s event features participants from 36 countries (up from 22 in 2024 and 24 in 2025), with 40% travelling from outside Christchurch City. The event is expected to generate more than $3 million in visitor spending.

“What really sets it apart is the atmosphere. There’s an incredible sense of support and energy throughout the race, and because of the course layout, spectators can see runners' multiple times. That’s what makes the experience so special and keeps people coming back year after year,” says Cox.

The event is also attracting new commercial backing, with New Zealand company Formthotics confirmed as a sponsor, alongside international brand Michelob Ultra.

The course features a mix of iconic Christchurch landmarks, including the newly opened One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha, Te Pae and the Bridge of Remembrance.

First held in 1978 and inspired by the 1974 Commonwealth Games, the Christchurch Marathon was the first in New Zealand to combine a half and full marathon, and the first to welcome recreational runners alongside club athletes. This year, it will also host the New Zealand National Half Marathon Championships.

Toby Gualter is gunning for victory in this year’s half marathon, while also chasing the long-standing course record of 1:02:37, set in 2002.

“I’m going for the win, but if the conditions line up, I think the record is there to be broken,” he says.

Two-time Women’s Marathon winner Ingrid Cree is aiming for a three-peat after topping the podium last year with a time of 2:46:31.

“You don’t get many opportunities to run a fast, flat marathon, and Christchurch is a great course at a beautiful time of year,” she says.

Cox says preparations are well underway for Sunday, with more than 10,000 Rokeby protein smoothies and 7,200 litres of PURE sports nutrition electrolyte sourced to help tired runners recover.

The oldest participant in this year’s event is 88, while the youngest is just five.

“It goes to show that no matter your age or stage, everyone can take part,” says Cox. “Whether you’re an elite athlete chasing a PB or just starting on your fitness journey, the Christchurch Marathon is an event for everyone.”

More than 450 volunteers will help ensure the day runs smoothly — many of them supporting the event’s charity partner, the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust.

The Trust runs Rānui House and Rānui Apartments in Christchurch, providing a home away from home for patients and their families travelling to Christchurch for lifesaving medical treatment.

Last year, $27,000 was raised through the charity partnership, and Trust CEO Mandy Kennedy says the goal this year is $60,000.

“For many of our families, travelling to Christchurch for treatment can be overwhelming, so having a place that feels like home is incredibly important. This year’s goal will allow us to support even more families while they undergo lifesaving treatment for cancer, accidents and other life-threatening illnesses.”

About the Christchurch Marathon

Established in the late-1970s, the Christchurch Marathon was inspired by the 1974 Commonwealth Games. For more than 30 years the Christchurch Marathon has run on the same course, albeit with a temporary change in location after the 2011 earthquakes. It returned to the CBD in 2015, and in 2023 the event shifted its focus to a multi-lap format, starting and finishing in Hagley Park.

For the full marathon, Tom Birnie from Christchurch still holds the record after completing the race in a time of 2:15:12 in 1985. Naenai Sasaki from Japan holds the female record with a time of 2:35:00.

The event now revolves around a 10km lap in the CBD that highlights iconic landmarks such as Canterbury Museum, Cambridge Terrace, One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha, the Avon River, Bridge of Remembrance, and the new Te Pae Convention Centre.

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