Media release

For immediate release

Monday 23 July 2012

And they’re off!

Unitec Run & Walk event at Ellerslie Race Course this Sunday

If you’ve always fancied a turn around the Ellerslie Race Course, now’s your chance at this Sunday’s Unitec Run & Walk event.

The courses at this weekend’s event flow in and around the perimiter of the famous horse-racing track before ending up outside the venue’s landmark stand.

The Run & Walk series is the official lead-up series to the adidas Auckland Marathon in October – but it’s open to runners and walkers of all fitness levels, from age seven. Participants don’t have to be entering the marathon – but it’s great preparation if they are.

This weekend’s event is the second in the series, the first event was in early July at Unitec’s Mt Albert campus. The events cater to a wide range of people with challenges suitable for every level:

• Runners who’ve entered the full marathon at the adidas Auckland Marathon on October 28 can gradually build to a 32 km run over the five-part series.

• Those aiming for the half-marathon, quarter-marathon and 5 km challenge can choose distances to suit, from 2 km building up to 24 km, and put into practice running fundamentals, such as pacing, hydration and nutrition.

• And families can get out with some healthy activity with the kids, to get them psyched up for the 2.1 km kids marathon in October.

Staff and senior students from event sponsor Unitec’s health sciences and sport departments are sharing free running advice. The event website, www.runwalk.co.nz, features guidance on issues such as training, motivation, pacing and recovery, from experts in fields from sports psychology to sports performance. There will also be free sport recovery treatment available from Unitec’s osteopathy students (to find out more go to osteopathy at Unitec).

Entrance fees range from $10 for a one-off kids run/walk to $140 for a four-event series pass for runners aiming for the marathon distance in October.

The full schedule of events is:

• July 29, at Ellerslie Racecourse in Greenlane.
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• August 19, at Narrow Neck, near Devonport.
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• September 9, at Trusts Stadium, Henderson.
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• September 30, at Barry Curtis Park, Botany.

ENDS

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