Keen runners and walkers have a few more days to enter the Dunedin marathon before they are hit with a late entry fee.
So far, 1061 people have entered either the full, half or quarter-marathon run, and the half or quarter-marathon walk.
Those who enter the September 13 event after Monday will be hit with a $30 fee on top of the entry fee, which ranges from $35 for the quarter-marathon walk to $70 for the full marathon.
Race director Phil Coakes said there was usually a spike of entries as the cut-off date for late entries approached and he expected no different this year.
This year's event includes the introduction of the quarter-marathon distance, which has so far attracted 165 runners and 85 walkers.
Due to a limited amount of transponders, there is a limit of 500 runners and 300 walkers over the 11.6km distance, but Coakes was confident no-one would need to be denied entry.
He was pleased with the interest the new distance had generated and felt it had resulted in some people opting for it over the half-marathon.
About 1800 people competed in the Dunedin marathon last year, and Coakes expects a similar number of entries this year.
Since the event peaked with a record 2369 entries in 2009, the number of those entering has declined each year.
''I'm not really sure why that is,'' Coakes said.
''We weren't too concerned last year about the drop. We look at the other side. If we get a massive increase, it does cause congestion at Port Chalmers with parking.
''We coped OK the year we had [2369]. We're geared up for it. But if numbers continue to go down, we will look at it.''
This year's ''harsh'' winter might be one reason why numbers are not high, as people might not have been motivated to get out and train, Coakes said.
In another change to this year's event, medals will be awarded to every full marathon finisher.
Entries close at 4pm on September 12.
Dunedin marathon
The numbers
111 - full marathon
560 - half-marathon
165 - quarter-marathon
140 - half-marathon walk
85 - quarter-marathon walk
