Over 560 people enjoyed some magical offroad adventure on Saturday at the fifth annual Mizuno Kinloch Half Marathon.
60 people enjoyed the stunning full marathon course which covers parts of the Great Lake Trail and the W2K tracks.
It was good luck that assisted with the development of the event with the W2K loop being exactly 21.1km while the distance back from Kinloch to Whangamata roadside on the Great Lake Trail was another half marathon distance, so there and back created a premium Off Road Marathon.
James Parsons of Wellington took line honours in the marathon event, taking the win in 3hr 14min 29sec. He beat home Will Alexander of Auckland (3hr 21min 55sec), with Cameron Mumby of Hamilton rounding out the podium in 3hr 26min 14sec.
Wendy Teahan of Fielding led the female marathon field home, taking out the title over, 3hr 37min 33sec, in second place was Caeley Thacker of Palmerston North (4hr 4min 35sec) with Kylie Dale of Auckland rounding out the podium in 4hr 8min 42sec.
As well as a full marathon option, there was a quarter and half marathon on offer.
Winning the Half Marathon men's event was, Glenn Sexton of Hamilton while Emily McColl of Palmerston North took home the women's event.
The ever popular Quarter Marathon was won by, Pavel Franc of Taupo with Carla Crowe of Taupo taking line honours in the women's event.
Courses take in the parts of the Great Lake Trail and the W2K track, trails that have been largely established by Bike Taupo in the last 6 years. Some of the trails are just magic, through Kinloch's very own Enchanted Forest, scenes that could have been taken straight out of The Lord of The Rings.
Race Director, Wayne Reardon, says the event is a real community event and is pleased with how the whole day transpired.
"The event is all about giving people the opportunity to experience the great tracks and trails that our community has to offer. We are so fortunate to have so much 'White Gold' down here, also known as pumice, it is perfect for trail running, the surfaces never "muddy up''.
Reardon explains it is the input of many local groups that make the event possible to run.
"Without the likes of Bike Taupo, DOC and local land owners there wouldn't be the wonderful tracks that now exist or the opportunity to have great days out like we will have on September 7th.
Not only that, but Bike Taupo volunteers provide the marshals and safety stewards for the whole event day and the other volunteers come from the Kinloch Community Association who do a lot of work in making the event possible as well."
The event is organised by the Taupo Half Marathon Society, profits from the event will be directed back to the community. Last year the society raised over $20,000 that assisted with young and talent athletes with chasing their sporting aspirations. A portion of each entry fee from this event also goes towards the maintenance of these multi use tracks.
