Race Day Info
Race rules
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.
Bag drop
There will be a Bag Drop service available at the start area of each race. Only event Race Bags can be used at Bag Drop (i.e. not a sports bag) and must be labelled with the bag tag attached to your race bib given at Athlete Check-In. Please ensure your Race Gag is labelled before you drop it off at the designated bag drop area. Any gear left at the start line, or discarded and left at any point on the course will be collected and donated to Charity. You must NOT drop any gear at aid stations or anywhere on the course for later retrieval.
Your event Race Bags will be transported to the Event Hub at Elephant Hill Estate & Winery and will be available for you to collect when you complete your race. Please collect your bag by 4:30pm Saturday 16 May before you leave the Event Hub. Any remaining gear will be donated to Charity.
Aid stations
Athletes are well supported with aid stations located on course for all distances. Aid stations will provide water, PURE Electrolyte Hydration - Lemon flavour, 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.
Event Shuttle Service
Event shuttle service
Make your race morning transportation stress-free and use our easy shuttle service to get you from Napier/Hastings/Havelock North direct to the start line of the Marathon, Half Marathon or 10km race. (Note - there are no pick up's on route to the start line, this is a direct shuttle).
If you didn't book this service when you entered, you can log in to your My Events Portal to make additional purchases under your profile. Online transport bookings close midnight 12th May, any additional transport booking after this date will need to be made at the transport desk at Athlete Check-in.
Check your race bib to find your pre and post-event shuttle sticker, simply show that sticker to the Transport Crew and you will be let on the bus. If you have purchased transport and its not visible on your bib, you will need to collect your sticker from the transport desk at athlete check-in.
Timetable & Costs - Pre Race
| From | To | First Bus Departure | Last Bus Departure | Price |
| Napier - 290 Marine Parade | Marathon Start | 07:15am | 07:45am | $10 |
| Marine Parade Napier- Browning and Tennyson Street | Half Marathon Start | 6:15am | 07:00am | $15 |
| Marine Parade Napier- Browning and Tennyson Street | 10km Start | 5:45am | 6:45am | $15 |
| Hastings iSite cnr Russell St & Heretaunga St |
Marathon Start | 06:45am | $15 | |
| Half Marathon Start | 6:50am | 7:10am | $10 | |
| 10km Start | 06:30am | $15 | ||
| Havelock North iSite cnr Te Mata Road |
Marathon Start | 06:45am | $15 | |
| Half Marathon Start | 07:00am | 07:30am | $10 | |
| 10km Start | 06:30am | $15 | ||
Temporary Stop A- Napier to 10km and Half Marathon
- Marine Parade Napier (Ocean side between Browning and Tennyson Streets).
Both the 10km Start Line services to Haumoana and the Half Marathon Start Line services to Splash Planet will depart here.
Temporary Stop B- Full Marathon
- Marine Parade Napier outside Bay Skate (Ocean side, 290 Marine Parade Napier).
The Full Marathon Services to West Quay Ahuriri will depart here.
Shuttle services will be running post-event back to the start lines and also to Napier, Hastings and Havelock North. If you have pre-purchased this service, you will find a post-event shuttle sticker on your race bib.
| From | First Bus Departure | Last Bus Departure | Price |
| Elephant Hill Estate & Winery | 10:00am | 4:00pm | $15 |
Spectator info
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 have released a Spectator Location map 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. Please familiarise yourself with these closures and plan your day and driving routes accordingly
Click here to view the road closure map
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.
Spectator Viewing Points
To ensure your support crew, family and friends can see you out there on the event course and cheer you on, we have identified a few great spectator viewing locations. Please view the spectator map and familiarise yourself with the best way to get around the course as a spectator and the access points for spectators.
Click here to view the Spectator Map
Car parking at the Event Hub
Car parking is available close to Elephant Hill for all spectators. The car park is located on the corner of Parkhill Road and East Road and there will be free shuttles which will transport spectators and athletes from the car park to Elephant Hill and back. Alternately you can walk which is approximately 1.5 km.
