Hello,
I’m about to embark on a 12 month stint in Melbourne, Australia. While I will probably do a short course (maybe as long as a half IM) tri or two I am curious about the marathon and half marathon scene. If you can recommend a good half or full I’d love to hear about it. I am willing to fly and I’m eager to see as much as I can while not working so a destination marathon or half would be great.
Thanks for any advice you can offer me.
Karen
Auckland baby! I believe they run a full & half in Feb. I was supposed to do it on one of my last trips down there but was injured :-(.
You must be getting excited!
AP
NZ is a long way to go for a run.
Hearing good things about a tough new mary/half-mary called “The Legend” which is run in part in the Waitakere Ranges here in Auckland…this is the terrain where Arthur Lydiard trained his notable Olympians (Snell, Walker, et al), hence the name of the event. The first running of the race was last week I think…got some good feedback. (edit: I wasn’t aware this was an existing event, but yeah, first year for the full distance mary)
I wouldn’t fly all the way across the ditch for any of our other local running races…nothing else notable here (Auckland).
For a destination race, you’d be better off trying one of the many epic off-road/trail races held throughout the year…check out the Cool Running, NZ Run & Sportzhub sites.
Or you could participate in the annual Whangamata Half-Marathon smackdown each September between myself and the poster “cyclenutnz”…as it stands, we’re tied 1-1 
The Legend was held a couple of weeks ago. Lots o’ climbing.
Auckland marathon is held in November - filled in early September.
There’s a low-frills 1/2 marathon in Takapuna for like $20 (http://www.runauckland.co.nz/?gclid=CMumzs3P_5UCFRsRagodfh9OEQ)
There’s also a series of off-road events that go up to the 1/2 distance (http://www.totalsport.co.nz/)
Here’s a NZ running calendar: http://www.coolrunning.co.nz/calendar/
Come visit the City of Sails.
www.coolrunning.co.nz is the best NZ race listing I know of. I don’t travel for running races so can’t comment on any of them. Look for ones away from main centres (auckland, christchurch, wellington).
Thanks for all the tips so far - keep them coming! I’m slow like stink so I certainly won’t win any smack downs. I also roll ankles easily so trail running always leaves me with mangled ankles.
AP, I am getting excited yet still a lot of paper work and organizing to get done before I fly out. First things first though Nike Women’s in San Fran in a few weeks, and possibly Seattle at the end of November.
K
The Auckland Marathon is normally late Oct or early Nov. The first half of it is quite rolling and the second half is dead flat along the waterfront which is scenic, although it tends to be quite breezy. It’s quite a big event and you have to get your entry in at least 2 months before as it sells out
The Rotorua Marathon is normally in May and is also quite a big event. It goes all the way around Lake Rotorua in the central north Island. It is quite a hilly course compared to Auckland and I found it harder as do most people I think. Rotorua is a tourist centre and there’s lots of volcanic and Maori related stuff to do.
The Christchurch Marathon is usually in May or June and is reputed to be the flattest and easiest course in NZ although I haven’t done it.
The Legend Run happens on my doorstep in the Auckland Waitakere ranges and has much superb scenery through cloud forest but is quite a brutal course. There is a lot of climbing in the first half of the run and it follows the training route Arthur Lydiard made famous. Jo Lawn and many other pro athletes train on it regularly. It has quite a small field but the prize money is reputed to be the highest so if you are a top runner that might be worth considering. I did this two years ago when it was a 35km event but it’s now a full marathon.
There are many half marathons to choose from (all of the above have them), the cool running site is the place to look.
Or you could participate in the annual Whangamata Half-Marathon smackdown each September between myself and the poster “cyclenutnz”…as it stands, we’re tied 1-1
On net time you’re well ahead. Will we be racing again this season? I’m doing rotovegas half but team at tauranga (aiming for 2.10). You’re going off for some foreign IM so there may not be any major rendezvous this season (though I’m well clear on points after last year) and I’m about to move to the waikato so will be missing most of the small auckland races.
Doing Rotorua also (and Tinman prior)…no Tauranga for me.
The only reason people move from Auckland to the Waikato is to raise family…do you have news?
Karen, you really need to cut it out with this Marathon shit. What’s wrong with you? 
Me silly? I think you’re missing out on a lot of fun. Once you have a distance running base you’re always just a few weeks away from being ready to run a marathon. It’s so much easier than training for those silly IMs. Remember also that I have NEVER claimed to be fast nor have I much desire to become fast. Plus a destination half or full marathon is so much easier to pack for then a destination triathlon.
I know way more people that have run way more marathons than me.
Karen