Indoor finish for Ascot Park Hotel Southland Festival of Running

Runners and walkers in this year’s Ascot Park Hotel Southland Festival of Running are guaranteed a dry finish line this year – with the event set to finish inside the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome.

The initiative means all participants in the marathon, half marathon, 10km and 5km events, as well as in the kids’ Mara-Fun-Run, will finish with a lap of the flat part of the velodrome, with routes adjusted accordingly to fit with the distances.

Sport Southland events manager Matt Sillars believed the move would prove popular and give the event a point of difference.

“It’s an idea we’ve spoken about for a few years, so we’re really excited to see how it goes when the events takes place on October 19,” he said.

“We expect it will create a really fun, social and supportive finish area for all participants across the Ascot Park Hotel Southland Festival of Running. Logistically, too, it will be great – for once the weather won’t matter when it comes to the finish line experience – and that’s going to be good for participants, spectators and organisers!”

This year’s Ascot Park Hotel Southland Festival of Running, which includes five different distance options, will be held on Sunday October 19 – a month earlier than usual, to account for the Air New Zealand Queenstown International Marathon in November.

Organisers have also opted to lower the prices for the marathon and half marathon and hoped plenty of locals would take advantage of that.

“The courses for both the marathon and half marathon are flat and often come with a tail wind, so the Southland event is a great one to aim for a personal best time,” Sillars said.

“With lower pricing, a unique finish line experience and good, fast courses across a range of distances, there is plenty to look forward to at this event so we hope people will get their entries in and make this one to aim for.”

Athletics Southland manager Lance Smith said the Ascot Park Hotel Southland Festival of Running was a fantastic event for runners or walkers of all fitness levels. 

“The marathon is also the Southland championship so championship medals are also on offer for registered runners”, he added. 

“But really, there is something for everyone from the social to the competitive – from the kids’ 2km event through to 5km and 10km events and the half and full marathons.”

“If you’re only starting out with walking or running, pick a distance and aim for that. If you’re more competitive, then this is a great event to aim for a personal best time given the nature of the course.”

“It’s a key event on the athletics calendar in Southland and we would encourage all Southlanders to get involved this year.”

The Ascot Park Hotel Southland Festival of Running is co-ordinated by Sport Southland with Athletics Southland. Entries are now open online at www.southlandfestivalofrunning.co.nz.