RUNNING

Wellington's Marathon Ramps Up

By MDJ Media & Events

The Wellington Marathon event has been an annual highlight on the Capital calendar for three decades. But the announcement of a new principal sponsor sees it poised to become bigger and better than ever.
 
The Wellington Marathon has announced Gazley Volkswagen as the new principal sponsorship for the region’s premier marathon event. The re-branding will now see the event known as the “Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon”.
 
Established in 1986, the annual June event has been Wellington’s major marathon event for 30 years. In recent years it has become New Zealand’s fastest growing marathon event, attracting some 5000 participants from more than a dozen countries to be one of the New Zealand’s running scenes “Big Five”, alongside the Auckland, Queenstown, Rotorua and Christchurch marathons.
 
“The Gazley Volkswagen partnership is pretty exciting for us,” says Event Manager Michael Jacques. “It gives the event added security and a stable base from which to do some long term planning and promotion.”
 
“Gazley are Wellington’s biggest motor company and Volkswagen is a major national and international brand, which by default introduces the event to a bigger promotional network than ever before.”
 
Based at Wellington’s much-loved Westpac Stadium, the event follows a flat, fast and scenic tour of the Harbour bays that is popular amongst elite and recreational runners alike. As well as the Gazley Volkswagen Marathon over the classic 42.2k distance, other options include the Shoe Clinic Half Marathon, the Mizuno 10k, The Hits 5k and the Bluebridge Kids’ Magic Mile. The CQ Hotel team sections help create an inclusive community occasion from corporates to schools and running clubs.
 
“The full marathon is the ultimate dream for every runner, says Jacques. “But people come from different fitness backgrounds and have different goals, so it’s important to provide stepping stones such as the Half Marathon and the 10k. Last year we introduced the 5k for the same reason, and the Kids Magic Mile and team sections make it a family-friendly community occasion.”
 
It is this wide community appeal that has attracted the Gazley Volkswagen partnership. “We enjoy supporting events that have a positive impact on the community,” says Dealer Principal, Myles Gazley. “And you can’t get much more positive than 5000 people setting a personal goal to improve their health and fitness while at the same time benefitting the local community and promoting Wellington to the rest of the country. Not many events tick all those boxes.”
 
As well as a major goal for thousands of locals, the event attracts more than 1000 participants from outside the wider region, which with family and friends means more than 3000 visitors. This and the event organisation itself generates annual economic impact for the City of more than one million dollars.
 
“This is an aspect we’re really keen to increase,” says Jacques. “Because the bigger the event grows, the more Wellington benefits, both altruistically and economically.”
 
The 2016 Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon is scheduled for Sunday 26th June. Online entry will open on December 1st. For further details see: www.wellingtonmarathon.kiwi.