Runners from throughout New Zealand and Australia braved the treacherous slopes of Mt Difficulty on Saturday morning.
About 138 men and women completed a half or full marathon in the Mt Difficulty Ascent mountain race, with another 140 runners, including children, taking part in the less extreme Rustic Run.
In the Rustic Run, 30 relay teams of up to four people and 50 solo runners ran 5km loops around the Bannockburn sluicing area, completing a half or full marathon.
Race organiser Terry Davis said he was happy with how the events turned out despite almost cancelling the mountain race due to weather concerns.
Forecast wet and windy weather would have been too dangerous for the runners, but it turned out to be a beautiful day, he said.
The feedback from the races was ''overwhelmingly positive'' and people told him it was the ''hardest marathon they have ever done''.
The mountain race, which was in its second year, had ''potential for danger'' but he did not have that aspect in mind when he designed it.
''I set out to design a fun course but it turns out to be a bit more than that.''
The Cromwell Gymnasium Club fed the hungry runners and supporters on the day, raising about $3000.
