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Forty years and two Covid cancellations later, the Christchurch Marathon has a new course, new venue and new sponsor for 2023.
The Christchurch Marathon, now sponsored by The Frontrunner, will return to the city on Sunday, April 16.
Marathon participants will take their marks at Hagley Park near the Armagh St entrance, with the race centred on a 10km lap that stays close to the CBD.
Organisers say the new venue means no more “tiring redzones”. The new event will have more spectator opportunities, iconic landmarks and new categories including best costume.
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Race director Chris Cox said it would be “much less of a race and much more of a festival of fitness”.
The changes were a result of the Covid experience “forcing the event to take a hard look at itself”.
“The cancellations in 2020 and 2022 were tough, but they also allowed us the time to analyse the Christchurch Marathon and the thing we kept coming back to was that we had to make it more sustainable,” he said.
“Over the course of four decades it had become too tough to organise, too removed from spectators, too focused on racing and too focused on a traditional course that was too inconvenient for the community.”
Cox said the new course was flatter, faster, and more achievable.
This year’s Frontrunner Christchurch Marathon will also focus on mental health.
Participants can make their run more meaningful by signing up to fundraise for Canterbury’s mental health awareness and support services.
Entries for April’s marathon are open now.
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