Record Running Likely for Wellington Marathon

Looking for a mid-winter running goal? Then join 5000 others for Wellington’s Armstrong Motor Group Wellington Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and Kids’ Magic Mile.

Scheduled this year for Sunday June 22nd, the Armstrong Motor Group Wellington Marathon has been Wellington’s major mid-winter event for more than two decades. In recent years it has become New Zealand’s fastest growing marathon event and this year will also play host to the New Zealand Marathon Championship.

Established by the Wellington Marathon Clinic in 1986, the event was a popular local event for almost 20 years. But since 2003, when they shifted the race base to Westpac Stadium and establishing a safer and more scenic waterfront course, entries have grown by more than 100 percent to more than 5000 runners and walkers from more than a dozen countries.

In 2013 the Armstrong Motor Group Wellington Marathon attracted a record 5176 participants and race director Sally Anderson says, “As of April we are 17 percent ahead of entries for the same day last year, so we’re confident of another record entry.”

The 2014 event will also include the New Zealand half marathon championchip. “But first and foremost this event is all about ordinary people setting personal goals,” says race director Sally Anderson.

Anderson says the success behind the annual event is simple: Along with the scenic and achievable course, they cater for people of all age and ability.

“The Wellington Marathon Clinic organises this event to promote fitness and running and walking,” says Anderson. “But people come from different fitness backgrounds and have different goals, so we provide something for everyone.

“Not everyone has the time or inclination to train for Armstrong Motor Group Full Marathon, but most people can achieve the Shoe Clinic Half Marathon, or the adidas 10K, and the Classic Hits Kids’ Magic Mile makes it a family occasion.”

One runner with a lofty goal is Napier runner Warren Bernard. The 32 year old is including the Armstrong Motor Group Wellington Marathon in his bid to finish 20 marathons in 20 months. The Wellington event, scheduled for Sunday 22nd June, will be his ninth.

Another goal many entrants choose is to participate in support of the New Zealand Heart Foundation, which is the official charity of the Armstrong Motor Group Wellington Marathon event.

Entries for the 2014 Armstrong Motor Group Wellington Marathon event are now open, and every entrant goes into a prize draw for a trip to the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon. Entry forms are available at Shoe Clinic stores nationwide, or enter online at www.wellingtonmarathon.co.nz.