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Build-up for Rotorua Marathon

Are you participating in the Rotorua half or full marathon? Then our 14 week build is essential for you!!

Rotorua Build-up Triple * Quest 10K in the Domain

With the long awaited return of daylight savings so does the preeminent running event - YMCA Marathon Club's 10K Summer Series in the Domain

10 Summer Series WhyWomenRun

The annual womens walk and run event is on Mother's Day 13 May,

More 10K in the Domain

Welcome to New Zealand's Foremost Marathon Running Club

The Auckland YMCA Marathon Club is New Zealand's foremost marathon running and walking club - and has been since 1977. We have one purpose... helping runners and walkers just like you achieve your distance running and walking goals.

Every new member that has followed our training programme has successfully made it across the finish line of their first marathon or half-marathon. And we've been going since 1977 so that's quite an achievement.

Our secret weapon in achieving this remarkable feat is our pack running system which follows Arthur Lydiard's formula "that long, even-pace running at a strong speed produces increased strength and endurance... and is beneficial to regular competition."

Each pack runs at a set pace and you choose the pack best suited to your ability and fitness level.

Rat Pack
5's
5 ¼'s
5 ½'s
5 ¾'s    
6's
6 ¼'s
6 ½'s
7's
Walkers

(keep up if you can, sub 4:30/km)
(5:00/km)
(5:15/km)
(5:30/km)
(5:45/km)
(6:00/km)
(6:15/km)
(6:30/km)
(7:00/km)
3 Walking Groups

Sunday running & walking times
We run & walk every Sunday morning at the times below. It pays to arrive 15 minutes early to get a park and get changed. We have great showers so bring a towel for after the run too.

In between build-ups the packs generally run for about 1 ½ hours. Don't worry if that sounds a lot more than you're used to or you're worried about holding the pack up - we stop for water every half hour, and traffic lights are always a great place for stragglers (of which there are many!) to catch up.

First-timers often say they ran further than they expected on their first time with us, but found it much easier than they expected.

You'll find we're very supportive, and you'll be amazed at how quickly you adapt to the longer distances.

During build-ups (see the Programs Page) we run set distances which start at 21km and build up to 33km for marathon training. Most packs also have a sub-group not wanting to do the full marathon build-up and they run a shorter distance each Sunday - so if 33km sounds intimidating, don't worry!

  • From January to April...
    • Runners - 7:00 am
    • Walkers - 6:00 am (from 18 February - 29 April)
  • From May to December...
    • Runners - 8:00 am
    • Walkers - 7:00 am (from 19 August - 21 October)