Race Day Info

Event Exclusions

Due to Health and Safety, wheeled conveyances (including wheelchairs, baby buggies, scooters, bikes, inline skates) cannot be used for all events. Accompanying animals are not allowed on the course. Headphones and personal music devices are strongly discouraged.

Event Cut-off Times

Marathon course cut-off times: – Athletes must reach the Brookfield’s Bridge by (15km from the start) by 10:45am, Competitors who do not make these cut off times will unfortunately not be permitted to continue due to time constraints and the need to reopen the roads.

Official event closure time: Due to course management and road closure restrictions, the course will officially be closed to all runners and walkers at 4:00pm. We welcome walkers in the Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km distances. We ask all walkers to start behind the runners in the designated section at the start line and give way to runners at all times.

Health & Safety

In the interest of providing a safe and enjoyable event experience for all entrants please take in to account the following.

The course is on smooth hard packed trails and roads that are closed or partially closed to general traffic. These roads will be managed by Traffic Management specialists and where feasible local residents and businesses will be allowed controlled access on closed roads.

• Please be aware of your surroundings at all times.
• Keep to the left of the course to allow people to pass on the right.
• Be courteous to your fellow participants at all times.
• Please obey instructions from race officials, volunteers and traffic management at all times.

If you have to withdraw from the race please make your way to the next Aid Station and inform the race officials. If you are unable to continue due to a medical emergency, please ask your fellow competitors to inform the next visible race official or volunteer who will be able to inform medical services of your location.

Wave Starts

To ensure a smooth start for all runners, wave starts and self-seeded start zones will be in place at the Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10km Run start lines. Runners will need to gather in the appropriate zone depending on their expected race finish time. The wave start system will release a set number of runners at timed intervals after the start gun is fired.

Your race time is calculated from when you pass over the timing mat on the start line so no-one will be disadvantaged. Introducing wave starts will help everyone to run at their own pace across the course, giving you a true race time. And you can soak up the scenery as much as you choose!

Timing

Timing mats will be located at each race start line and at the finish line. All races will have timing splits every 5kms.

Disposable timing chips are attached to the back of your race number and will record your time. Timing chips do not need to be returned.

Timing results will be provided by age group category and age group placings will be based on participant's mat time. Overall distance placings will be based on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Male and Female runner across the Finish Line.

Athletes are well supported with aid stations located on course for all distances. Aid stations will provide water, PURE Electrolyte Hydration, toilet facilities and first aid. For more information on PURE Electrolyte Hydration click here.

There will be 11 aid stations on the marathon course, 6 on the half-marathon course and 4 on the 10km course. Please refer to Course maps for aid station locations. 

Personal drinks

Personal Drinks will be distributed to all aid stations for marathon and half marathon runners only. The bottles must be marked clearly with runner’s race number and the drink station you want them left at. Runners are encouraged to mark bottles with a ribbon or colour for easy identification.

Bottles must be handed in at Athlete Check-In on Friday 17 May. The personal bottles will be set out in numerical order at the first table of the designated aid stations. No glass, metal or unsealed bottles will be accepted.

Spectator Viewing Locations

To ensure your support crew, family and friends can see you out there on the event course and cheer you on. We will release a Spectator Location map one month out from Race Day so you can familiarise yourself with each location.

Event Day Road Closures

There will be a number of road closures across the Hawke's Bay region on event day. We will publish a road closure map closer to event day so you can familiarise yourself with these closures and plan your day and driving routes accordingly

Mobile App

The Runaway Marathon Series mobile app is a fantastic tool for both athletes and supporters. It includes key information on all that is happening at the Air New Zealand Hawke's Bay International Marathon, including maps and an athlete tracker so you can follow your friends. Download via your App store below.

Car parking at the Event Hub

Parking details TBC. View the event hub map