Every Thursday for 10 weeks, more than 50 runners and walkers have tied their shoelaces for a training session with physiotherapist Craig Newland.
They've been preparing for the Mainfreight City To Surf and Surf to Surf Fun Run/Walk on Sunday. They'll be 50 pairs of feet of an expected 2000 running, jogging or walking over the harbour bridge or around Mauao.
Smiths Sports Shoes is behind the regular trainings with Craig. 'We've been doing it for quite a few years now, each year leading up to the City To Surf,” says Bruce Trebilco of Smiths Sports Shoes. And the training groups are free.
'We thought it was a good thing to be doing as a business and to encourage people to get together in a group and get to know a few other people who are wanting to do it. So it's very encouraging for them.
'There could be anywhere between 50 and 70 doing it as a team.”
Trainings included runs along the waterfront and different areas around Tauranga CBD and at Tauranga Domain. Over the bridge, training has been up and around the Mount.
'Everyone's starting to get pretty excited about it and looking forward to it,” says Bruce. 'The group in the Mount is so keen they want to keep going with the training runs to get ready for summer. That's the sort of thing we wanted to encourage, people having fun and enjoying it.”
The Mainfreight City to Surf on September 25 involves a 12km run or walk starting from Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, over the harbour bridge, down Totara St, through Coronation Park, along Pilot Bay, around the base track of the Mount to finish on Mount Main Beach outside Mount Maunganui Surf Club.
While the Surf to Surf involves a 5km run or walk from Mount Main Beach outside Mount Maunganui Surf Club, along the beach towards Leisure Island for 350m, before making their way back towards the surf club and around the base track of the Mount and finishing on Mount Main Beach.
Event director Murray Fleming says they've been running the event for six years. 'It sort of gets you out of winter because its daylight saving [time]. It's an introduction to summer.
'It's a really neat way to celebrate the beginning of summer.”
Murray's expecting about 2000 competitors of all ages and abilities. 'It's a real family-orientated event. It's about participating and celebrating that beautiful place where you live.”
The event starts 11am on Sunday, September 25, with prizegiving at on Mount Main Beach at 1.30pm. Entries will be open on the day.