The countdown is on to this year’s 2020 Meridian Hydro Half Marathon in Te Anau. 

On Saturday August 8, the lakeside town will be busy with runners ready to take on a stunning beech forest trail beside the Waiau River.

The race begins at the former Hydro Village on Kepler Farm. The course goes to the Te Anau lakefront, crosses the Te Anau-Manapouri Highway, runs along the Fiordland Trails Trust Lake2Lake Trail and finishes at the Marakura Yacht Club on the Te Anau lakefront. 

Fiordland Trails Trust chairman Steve Hoskin said the race – which is just in its second year - has already had an impressive 225 registrations, which is "miles up'' from last year's numbers. 

“We had around 148 runners complete the race last year.”

“We have ordered 300 medals, but we can definitely order more,” he said. 

A half marathon is 21.09 km and can take anywhere from just over one hour to four hours to complete, depending on the runners’ experience. 

Two female runners showed everyone how it was done last year, winning first and second place overall.

Crystal Brindle was first to complete the race in 1 hour 28.21 minutes. Rebecca Sheffield was second overall, finishing in 1 hour 30.52 minutes. 

Mr Hoskin said the times were very good. “It’s an undulating course, which is slightly uphill overall”.

2019 overall winner Crystal Brindle crosses the finish line. PHOTO: Douglas Thorne

The 2020 rimu medals have been made by Ocean Shell Studios of Riverton.

Laser operations manager Elizabeth Simonka said the medals were shaped on a laser cutter machine and inlaid with pāua veneer.

There are cash prizes of $400, $200 and $100 for first, second and third winners and spot prizes will be awarded throughout the day. 

Mr Hoskin said the key sponsor, Meridian, had made the race possible after there was uncertainty about the event post-COVID-19.

“There’s a lot of financial outlay [to start getting things organised], so having their backing allowed us to go forward with the event.”

Meridian also sponsored the inaugural event last year. 

Friends and family will be able to keep up to date with the runners’ progress. 

“We’re going to be doing more live tracking using an app called Sport Splitz Tracker. There will be four trackers along the trail to give live updates on how the runners are going and where they’re at along the course.”

For more information on the 2020 Meridian Hydro Half Marathon head to: https://fiordlandtrails.nz/events/

Registration closes August 6, unless sold out prior. 

Funds raised from the event will go towards extending the trail to Te Anau Downs and on further trail maintenance.