Drakeford will run her first race of any distance in the half-marathon section, fulfilling a promise she made to herself three years ago.
The 29-year-old Wellingtonian is in Dunedin until the end of October on a five-month contract as production and logistical manager with the Otago Festival of the Arts.
Drakeford's interest in running was fuelled by her football addict boyfriend, Aiden Anslow.
"Aiden would go out for the occasional training run and one day I decided I'd give it a go myself as I was getting sick of the treadmill at the gym," she said.
"I used to see people out running and wonder what on earth possessed them to be doing such a thing. Now look at me."
Drakeford found her introduction to running a challenge at first but set herself small targets. The major goal was to run a half-marathon before turning 30.
"It wasn't easy. In fact, Aiden would run sideways alongside me. I found it infuriating and patronising.
"Now, I have the edge on him. We did a 10km run when he came down here and couldn't keep up with me."
As one of her New Year resolutions, Drakeford set her sights on achieving her goal by running her first half-marathon in Wellington in June.
But when she got the job in Dunedin in May, the first thing she did was google "marathons and Dunedin". She became one of the first to enter tomorrow's event.
Drakeford began training soon after she arrived, combining a mixture of her own training with a beginner's guide programme on the marathon website. She built her schedule up to 40km-70km a week and has mastered a long Sunday run of 18km.
"I'm quite excited that Dunedin will be my first [half-marathon]," she said.
"It's got a nice harbour and is quite an established race. Most the people I meet have either done it, or plan to do it. It has a real friendly, social feel to it."
Training in the Dunedin winter has had its moments for Drakeford. The temperature on her cellphone in the early morning hours has read -3degC at times, and she has almost succumbed to black ice around the inlet.
It is difficult to identify a favourite in the Moro-sponsored marathon field tomorrow.
The event will have the added flavour of some New Zealand 100 Club members competing, among them Auckland's Ingrid Frost, running her 149th marathon and likely to feature among the top finishers in the open women's section.
Among the early favourites in the half-marathon is Dunedin nurse Shireen Crumpton, a former champion on the course in both the half and full marathon sections.
Sue Cuthbert and Emma Lloyd are also likely to feature in the open women's section of the half-marathon, while in the open men's section of the half-marathon, early favourites are Glen Ballam, Glen Ferguson, Alan Funnell and Will Smith.
National champion Rozie Robinson will also return to defend her title in the walking section.
The first marathon runners are expected at the finish on Watson Park at about 10.30am, followed soon after by the leaders in the half-marathon.
Dunedin marathon
The facts
MARATHON
Starts: Harington Pt, 8am
Men's record: Sam Wreford (Timaru) 2hr 19min 17sec (2010)
Women's record: Bernie Portenski (Wellington) 2hr 47min 4sec (1992)
HALF-MARATHON
Starts: Butts Rd, 9.30am
Men's record: Matt Smith (Christchurch) 1hr 6min 38sec (2007)
Women's record: Kirsty Morris (Dunedin) 1hr 20min 27sec
Walk record: Rozie Robinson (Dunedin) 1hr 59min 43sec (2011)
