This year's Christchurch Marathon is breaking records before it's even begun

This year’s event will be the largest ever held, and race director Calum Nicholson is still expecting new entries between now and race day. 

"Last year we achieved a 30 percent increase from the year before, and we’re almost on track to get another 30 percent increase this year, so it just sort of shows that people want to come to Christchurch and run around the city."

Athletes will participate in a range of distances, including the full marathon, MW Traffic Management half marathon, Go Media 10k and the Kids’ MaraFun run.

"The more people out there supporting, the better - the runners love the atmosphere with people cheering them on around that loop."

Sunday’s 10.5km circuit through the central city has been marginally adjusted from 2024’s, with a decrease in corners making it faster for athletes. Nicholson says that because it’s a loop, spectators will see more of the runners than a standard marathon course. 

"They can run past you five, six, seven or eight times depending on where you’re standing."

He says there will be a crew of over 400 volunteers and staff, with community groups and charities fundraising as part of the event’s volunteer programme.

"It’s a really big thing for the community, us helping them fundraise and them helping us to deliver the event."

The race has attracted athletes from around the country and the globe, with entries coming from as close as Australia, and as far away as the Philippines.

"It brings people into the city, we see the businesses are busy, the restaurants, the cafes, and everything around here."

With a week to go, Nicholson and his team will be working around the clock in preparation for race day. Thousands of road cones will be distributed around the course for safety, as well as four aid stations. The team has doubled the amount of entertainment sites too, with one approximately every kilometre. 

"It’s really warming when you see thousands of people out there all pushing themselves, with all the training they’ve been doing coming to fruition."

The race kicks off this Sunday at 7:29am.