Kaiteriteri Gold Half Marathon & 10km The Event

The Kaiteriteri Gold Half Marathon and 10km has developed from the original Riwaka Half Marathon.

The Riwaka Half Marathon was always popular, however, due to increasing traffic loads on the road between Riwaka and the turn off to Kaiteriteri, race organisers Averil and Graeme West decided that it was best to omit the main highway section and just loop direct from Kaiteriteri instead - much to the delight of locals and out of towners alike.

In 2008 the start/finish was relocated to Kaiteriteri Beach

This year will be the second year that a 10km option is included after a popular introduction in 2009.

The course starts and finishes at the gorgeous Kaiteriteri Beach which is the perfect spot to stay for one or two nights - you can hire a tent site, hire a carvan or hire a cabin so that you can wander easily over to the start - perfect for a family weekend away. The kids will be kept entertained by the adventure playgrounds, mini golf and of course you can't forget sandcastle making on the beach! Or if they prefer, a dip in the stunning clear waters - if it's low tide they can even look through the rock pools.

The Half Marathon course is challenging - it has a couple of good climbs in there, but these can be forgiven when you consider you are running or walking in pure paradise.

Back in 1991 the birth of the Riwaka Half Marathon signalled ‘the ultimate test’ around a loop course through beautiful Kaiteriteri Beach.

Twenty years on nothing much has changed – the course is still tough, still challenging and still very scenic – perhaps the most picturesque in the country. One very notable change has occurred in that time and that is the relocation of the start and finish line, from Riwaka to the golden sands of Kaiteriteri Beach.

The events been re-branded for it’s 20th anniversary on March 20th to Kaiteriteri Gold and with the addition of a 10km last year Nelson Events are targeting to exceed it’s record number of runners and walkers – 205 set in 2009.

All who enter by February 16 will go into the Early Bird Draw of a double Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle return cruise down the ‘Bay’ and upon their return will have a $50 Shoreline Café/Restaurant voucher to spend.

An honours board listing all half marathoners who have eclipsed 1 hour 20minutes (men), 1.32 (women) and 2.20 for the walk has been established. Surprisingly not many athletes feature in achieving these marks in the past five years. Jonathan Wyatt’s 1.15.32 in 2008 stands out along with Stephen Farquhar’s 2.11.39 walk in the same year.

Anyone adding their name to the Honours Board next month will get automatic 2011 complimentary entry fee.