Of the more than 1800 runners from overseas countries taking part in tomorrow’s Queenstown International Marathon, about two-thirds are athletes who have made the journey across the Tasman.
Australians make up the largest contingent of runners from 40 countries, with participants from the United States and from China also coming to the resort in significant numbers.
Nearly 10,000 runners will start one of its five events from various points around the resort, with 90% coming from outside Central Otago.
It will be the first marathon of their lives for Brisbane-based friends Brooke Pickett and Chante Ovenden. The pair, who teach at the same primary school, arrived in the resort yesterday with another friend, as well as Ms Pickett’s husband, Anthony, and their son, Hamilton (7).
Ms Pickett said she had visited the resort once before, nearly 20 years ago, and thought it the perfect place to tick ‘run a marathon’ off her bucket-list and mark turning 40 this year.
Ms Ovenden said the visit was not only her first to Queenstown, but her first trip out of Australia. The resort’s famed scenery had already exceeded her expectations.
"It’s absolutely beautiful, just stunning. You don’t realise how beautiful it is until you see it in person."
She planned to enjoy the views from the marathon course as well.
"I told my husband I’ll be taking my phone and stopping to take photos."
They planned to enjoy the resort’s hospitality during their week’s stay, including a bicycling wine tour, she said.
They will be among the 1811 runners expected to start the full marathon at Arrowtown’s Millbrook Resort from 8.20am.
More than 5000 will start either the half-marathon or ‘First Half’ events from Speargrass Flat Rd and Millbrook respectively earlier in the morning, while another 2500 will start the 10km run in Frankton at 7.45am.
MetService is forecasting early morning showers but a fine day thereafter with a high of 19degC.
Race director Nicole Fairweather said the work of more than 500 volunteers would allow the event to return $18,000 into the community groups and schools that many were representing.
Part of every half and full marathon entry fee would go to the Queenstown Trails Trust for track maintenance and development in Wakatipu Basin.
• There will be road closures along parts of the course in Queenstown, Frankton and Arrowtown between 7.15am and 6pm.
By the numbers
The Queenstown International Marathon has:
9720 runners
63% female
Average age 38 (oldest 93)
7000 bananas
276 Portaloos
15,214 litres of water
85,000 paper cups
