Race Information

INFORMATION FOR ALL COMPETITORS

The Energy City Harrier Club extend a warm welcome to competitors and supporters.

We trust you will all enjoy running/walking one of New Zealand’s most interesting marathon courses.  We look forward to plenty of ‘personal bests” and we are sure you will have a memorable time.

The first 4km of this marathon is extremely fast. Remember to plan your early pace.  There are hills towards the end which will take their toll if you start too fast.

  • Start times
  • Transponders
  • Saftety Rules
  • Buses
  • Gear Vans
  • Team identification
  • Team changeover at Inglewood
  • Teams at finish
  • Finishing time
  • Race reports
  • Toilets
  • Walking etiquette
  • Drinks and refreshments
  • Race photos
  • Prizegiving
  • Spot prizes
  • Happy hour
  • Our chosen charity – Child Cancer Society
  • Sponsors – please support our sponsors!
  • Course
  • Race officials
  • Liaison officers

START TIMES

Walkers            6.00am

Runners           7.15am

No vehicles will be permitted past Kaimiro Hall (4km from start) after 6.50am.

Competitors and supporters travelling up Egmont Road to the start line must take extreme care as walkers will be coming down this section of the road.

Parking is not permitted around the start area.  Please note any vehicle travelling to the start will be directed into a farm paddock (which is often boggy) approximately 400 metres from the start and will be required to remain there until after ALL competitors have left.  Race organisers will accept no responsibility for any vehicle which gets stuck in this paddock. The road must be clear for the competitors at all times.

It is strongly recommended that competitors utilise the courtesy bus service in the interest of participant safety.

TRANSPONDERS

These will be issued at registration.

Full Marathon competitors need to attach their transponder to their shoe.

First half team competitors completing the leg from Egmont National Park to Inglewood will not receive a transponder as half way times are not recorded. We only record combined team times at the finish line.

Only the second half team competitors completing the leg from Inglewood to Marine Park, Waitara will be supplied with a transponder to attach to their shoe.

It is your responsibility to ensure the transponder is returned to race officials at the completion of the event.  Transponders not returned/damaged will incur a replacement fee of $50.00 payable by the registered entrant.

SAFETY RULES

  • The marathon course follows many scenic roads.  These roads have open speed limits ranging from 50km/h to 100km/h and often have heavy vehicles on them.
  • The roads you follow are NOT closed and you must give way to all traffic.
  • Please run/walk on the right hand shoulder of the road, unless otherwise directed by a race official or marshal.
  • Part of our compliance agreement with Transit NZ is that all competitors run/walk in single file on State Highway 3 and 3A unless passing another competitor.  Failure to comply will mean your number will be withdrawn from prize draws.
  • When competitors leave Richmond Road you will be directed across the south-bound lane of State Highway 3.  You will then run/walk for some 300-400 metres up the coned-off centre lane.  As you approach the top of the rise you will be directed across the north-bound lane intoRaleigh Street.
  • All major intersections will have marshals in place. Please follow their instructions at all times.
  • For safety reasons, forms of wheeled conveyance (roller blades, skateboards, prams, baby buggies and the like) cannot be used.
  • Walkers:  You will be starting the event at 6.00am in the DARK. You are required to wear suitable reflective gear. Walkers are encouraged to consider the use of miner type headlamps during the first hour of their event,
  • Supporters are not permitted to drive or cycle alongside competitors.  Such action will be considered outside help.
  • Only officials’ cars will be allowed on Bedford Road, in Inglewood on Standish Street between Carrington and Humphries streets (half-way changeover), on Richmond Road from Kairau Road to State Highway 3 and on Raleigh Street, Brixton. Supporters will be unable to follow competitors on these sections of the course. 
  • Race supporters will be directed via an alternate sign-posted route from the intersection of Richmond and Kairau Roads (near the 36km mark) into Waitara.  They will reconnect with the race course at the corner of High Street West/Browne Street (near the 41km mark).

BUSES 

Walkers – leaving from New Plymouth (to start line)
Depart at 5.00am sharp from Race Headquarters, The Quality Hotel Plymouth International, cnr Courteany and Leach Streets, New Plymouth.

Walkers – leaving from Inglewood (to start line)
Depart at 5.15am sharp from Inglewood Band Rotunda.

Runners – leaving from New Plymouth (to start line)
Depart at 6.15am sharp from from Race Headquarters, The Quality Hotel Plymouth International, cnr Courteany and Leach Streets, New Plymouth.

Runners – leaving from Inglewood (to start line)
Depart at 6.30am sharp from Inglewood Band Rotunda.

Buses will be available to transport competitors from the finish line back to Race Headquarters.

GEAR VANS

Vans will be at the start line to carry your gear to the finish at Waitara.  A mini van will also take first team competitors gear to half-way changeover.  Place your gear in a plastic bag marked with your name and race number.

TEAM IDENTIFICATION

Ribbons that have been provided in your race pack must be pinned to your back right shoulder.

The first half competitor must run/walk with the race number suffixed by the letter A and the second half competitor must run/walk with the race number suffixed by the letter B.

TEAM CHANGEOVER AT INGLEWOOD

Two lanes will be arranged at half-way.  Team competitors are to use the right lane to changeover.  Please do not impair the left lane.  Follow the instructions of our marshals.  No official half-way times will be recorded.

TEAMS AT FINISH

To avoid timekeeping conflicts only the second-half competitor is to cross the finish line at Marine Park, Waitara.

FINISHING TIME

Official timing finishes at 1.00pm.

RACE REPORTS

Newstalk ZB (1053 AM) will broadcast reports during the running of the event including final race results.

TOILETS

Toilets are available at the start line. PLEASE USE THEM! – not the National Park bush areas. Toilet facilities are also provided at half-way, 37.5km and the finish.

WALKING ETIQUETTE

Walkers assessed to be running by our walking scrutineers on the course will be transferred to the running section of the event.  The scrutineer’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

DRINKS AND REFRESHMENTS

  • Water stops are located at 4km, 9km, 14.5km, 19.4km, 21.1km, 25km, 27.5km, 30km, 32.5km, 34km, 37.5km and 40.1km (approximately). 
  • Sqwincher (isotronic drink) will be available at 9km, 14.5km, 19.4km, 21.1 (half marathon finish only), 25km, 30km, 34km, 37.5km and finish.
  • Water will be in white cups and the Sqwincher will be in clear cups.
  • Please make your own arrangements for other drinks.  While these may be handed out at anytime, supporters must take extreme care with regard to traffic and other competitors. They must keep out of the traffic flow and hand out all drinks from a stationary position.
  • Watermelon and bananas will be available at both Inglewood and Waitara for all finishing competitors.

RACE PHOTOS

Race photos can be viewed on Deane Riddick’s website www.deaneriddickphotography.com.  Photos will be available for sale from Deane’s website at a cost of $15 each plus $2 postage.

PRIZEGIVING

Prizegiving will be held at the New Plymouth Boy’s High School, Coronation Avenue, New Plymouth at 3.30pm.  All competitors and supporters are welcome to attend.

Only age group winners will be invited on stage.  Other place getters will be invited to collect their prizes at the conclusion of prizegiving.

SPOT PRIZES – you must be present at prizegiving to qualify for a major spot prize

Major spot prizes

Minor spot prizes will be pre-drawn and winners will be notified in their race packs.  Minor spot prizes to be collected at registration (Quality Hotel Plymouth International, cnr Leach and Courtenay Streets, New Plymouth) on Saturday 3 March between 3.00pm and 6.30pm.

FRONTRUNNER VOUCHERS:  For any out-of-town visitors winning Frontrunner vouchers the store will be open on Sunday 5 March between 4.30pm and 7.00pm.  The Frontrunner is located at 25 Devon Street, New Plymouth (on the Hill).

HAPPY HOUR

At the conclusion of prizegiving competitors and their supporters are invited to a mix and mingle happy hour at the Auto Lodge Motor Inn, 393 Devon Street East, New Plymouth.

OUR CHOSEN CHARITY

The Bayleys Marathon supports the Taranaki Branch of the Child Cancer Foundation as our event charity. Participants are invited to support this very worthy cause by way of donations or better still by raising sponsorship.

Donations will be accepted at Race Headquarters during registration.

SPONSORS – thank you sponsors!

We are particularly grateful for the support of our sponsors. Without these sponsors we would not be able to run and organise this iconic event.  Please support the sponsors who support our event!

COURSE 

The marathon starts at the gates to Egmont National Park, 460m above sea level, running down Egmont Road through the green dairy pastures of Taranaki.

RACE OFFICIALS

Running Section:
Referee:  Max Dravitzki
Jury of Appeal:  Energy City Harriers

Walking Scrutineers:
Taranaki Race Walking Club