In the Dunedin marathon, the coveted piece of clothing is the No 1 bib, and Peter Hughes has the honour of wearing that this year.
Hughes (57), a Dunedin accountant, is a late bloomer in running terms, taking up the sport just five years ago as part of a self-imposed weight-loss programme.
"At 130kg, I was terribly overweight. So, I began walking," he said.
That led to Hughes walking the half-marathon in the 2007 event, where the running bug began to bite.
He joined the Caversham Harrier Club the following year.
"I was sick of trying to run by myself, and the Caversham clubrooms were handy to where I live."
Over the past four years, Hughes has shed over 45kg and completed "three and three-quarter" marathons, all on the Christchurch course.
He completed his first in 2008, in 3hr 43min, returning in 2009, lowering the time to 3hr 36min, and 2010 (3hr 27min).
The event was held over a new course last year, and Hughes had to withdraw with a strained Achilles after 30km.
After tackling the 50km course at the Northburn ultradistance event, near Cromwell, earlier this year, he decided to give the 100km distance associated with the event a crack. But he pulled up lame just past the 60km mark.
Since catching the distance running bug, he has completed 10 half-marathons, all in the Otago area.
"My preference is for off-road running, such as the Papatowai Challenge."
Hughes has combined running with biking to and from work each day, as well as running to and from club runs.
For the Moro-sponsored marathon, he has devised a programme loosely based around the marathon programme available on the Dunedin event's website. He averages 80km to 100km weekly in his build-up, with a long run at the weekend.
Hughes played social rugby in Auckland, but had to give it away when he arrived in Dunedin in 1998, as there were not any "old men's grades".
As well as rugby, another string to Hughes' sporting bow is golf, but he has had to flag that for now, due to failing eyesight.
"I can't see the ball. Perhaps I'll return to that post-running when I won't be able to hit the ball as far and I won't lose so many."
As for marathons, Hughes is not sure how many more he has in him, but likes the thought of doing a sub-4hr at the age of 60.
He is also a handy road cyclist, so multisport is another challenge waiting in the wings.
"All I have to do is get a kayak and hone my skills. And perhaps there's a Coast to Coast in the tank," he said.
Early entries for the Dunedin marathon close on Monday.
Hughes is one of about 1040 entrants at this stage, about 130 of whom will contest the full marathon. The number is up about 20% compared with this time last year. Entries submitted after Monday incur a late entry charge of $30.
