New Zealand Olympic cycling gold medallist Sarah Ulmer is the latest entry for the Motatapu Icebreaker Off-Road Marathon in Queenstown and Wanaka on March 8.
The 37-year-old said she entered the Queenstown Trails Trust-organised race ''as an excuse to come to paradise''.
''The Motatapu is such a special event. It's so unique because you can only access the amazing scenery and course just one day a year.''
This year will be Ulmer's third time competing in the race. She previously entered the marathon and the Arrowtown.com 15km Miners Trail.
Queenstown Trails Trust chief executive Mandy Kennedy said attracting someone of Ulmer's calibre was testimony to the profile of the race.
''This is our 10th year and it's shaping up to have a fantastic array of elite athletes, return competitors and first-timers who have set the race as a personal 'bucket list' must-do,'' Mrs Kennedy said.
