The annual 15.5km running and walking event in the Catlins is being held tomorrow and event founder and organiser Wayne Allen said everything was falling into place.
"They call it organised chaos. Every year, there’s always hiccups in the last week but everything comes together on the day," he said.
The popular event has been running for 22 years. It started as a race with mates and grew into a public event.
Close to 400 competitors were expected tomorrow. It was the largest event in the South Island of its type, apart from marathons, Mr Allen said.
It briefly boosted the population of Papatowai from its usual permanent residency of about 60 and was famous for the pikelets served after the event, topped with blackcurrant jam made by Mr Allen. The secret to the jam was "plenty of sugar", he confided.
Three sight-impaired people were taking part this year: Leanne Melvin (Balclutha), Kirstie McLelland (Dunback) and Neroli Baird (Palmerston). All money raised went back into the community, Mr Allen said.
