The Dual Half Marathon and Marathon

Location Motutapu and Rangitoto Islands

Website http://www.thedual.co.nz/

Type Run or walk

Distances 21.1 km and 42.2 km. (Mountain Bike options also available).

Time of Year March

Goodie Bag Reusable 2XU drawstring bag.

Course refreshments Frequent stations with water, sports drink, bananas, and flat Coke at the last station.

Post-race refreshments Bananas, water and sports drink.

Post race details Finishes near a safe swimming beach on Motutapu Island. Many competitors don't bother stopping at the finish line, and continue straight into the water.

Prizegiving Standard.

Finisher's medal No. (Possibly for the marathon, but I didn't do that.)

Competed in 2009

Details

A very tough course. Could benefit from a staggered start as the track quickly becomes single file up hill, so once one person decides to walk, things really start to slow down.

The ascent to the summit of Rangitoto is fairly tough, but it is actually the flatter coastal track around Rangitoto that is slowest. Single file running is required and passing is difficult leading to a very slow pace at times. There are few places to pass other competitors along the entire route.

I saw a couple of nasty accidents, and care should be taken, especially watching out for tree roots and rocky terrain underfoot. Looking down while running can be beneficial to stepping well, but can also lead to nasty head injuries when you fail to see the low overhanging tree branch.

This probably won't become a regular event for me, but it is certainly well worth doing. Proceeds go to the Motutapu Restoration Trust.

The first ferry back to Auckland tends to be very full, and a wait of several hours before being able to cram onto a ferry can occur. If you can, plan to enjoy the afternoon there, and catch a later ferry. The water is lovely for swimming.

You will never set a PB for either distance unless it is your first event of this distance. If it is your first event, you may never do the distance again!