NBS Nelson Marathon

NBS Nelson Marathon 42.2km

Marathon 42.2km - age 16 upwards - standard entry $80 per person

Event Details

Event Date: 2026 - Saturday 11 July

Marathon 42.2km - age 16 upwards - standard entry $80 per person (20% off this price until 30 April 2026)

All entries incur a small service fee charged by the registration hosting company.

Enter: OPEN ON LINK ABOVE UNTIL 5PM THURSDAY 9 JULY 2026

Contact: If you have any questions about the event please contact the event organisers via email.

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Start times - NBS Nelson Marathon:

7:00 am: For those who will take over 5hrs 30mins to complete the race.

7:45 am: For those who will take over 4hrs 30mins to complete the race.

8:30 am: All remaining entrants.

Time cut-off:

There will be no formal cut-off but it is envisaged that everyone will be off the course by 2 pm at the latest.

Please make sure you arrive at the event venue with plenty of time to get yourself organised and to the start line. We suggest a minimum of 45 minutes before the beginning of your event, earlier if you are unable to register on the Saturday before the event. You will need to walk a short distance to the start line.

Racer check-in:

Will be at the Hubbers Flooring Showroom in the Livibrook Complex on Friday 10 July 2026 from 9am to 3pm. For those unable to collect their race packs on Friday, please arrive in good time before your allotted start time.

It would be appreciated if you could check-in and collect your race number the day before the race to ensure race day runs smoothly. You can collect on behalf of someone else providing you know their details.

The Marathon Course

The start line is a 800m walk from the Garin College Hall. Please note that the trail is open to other uses (walkers, runners & cyclists) and you must take care at all times. There are 4 short sections where the trail shares a roadway and several road crossings - please be conscious of vehicles, pay attention to marshals and give way where necessary - you do not have right of way.

The course heads north following the shared use Great Taste Trail towards Moturoa/Rabbit Island with the backdrop of the Mt Arthur range. There will be arrows and marshals to point you in the right direction.

At 12km & 33km you reach the swing bridge across the Waimea River. This bridge has a load capacity of 11 persons. It is difficult to maintain a run across this bridge and it is advised that you speed walk across it especially if other uses are present on the bridge. You may meet 2-way foot traffic & bikes on the bridge. Marshals will be controlling either end of the bridge and may ask you to wait.

Keep following the trail until you reach the Rough Island road bridge, where you will be crossed over the main Rabbit Island access road. Cross the bridge and pass the Tic Toc Rd water station.

Shortly after crossing the causeway onto Moturoa/Rabbit Island, a marshal will guide you into a 3km clockwise loop in the forestry. After this you will head out to the beach front.

After the half way mark you will head inland into the central section of the forestry over slightly rougher terrain. There will be short sections of sandy terrain, uneven terrain and a few very small undulations, plus sections a wide flat forestry roads. There is a water station in the forestry at the 24.5km mark.

At 30km you will reach the Tic Toc Rd water station and re-join the Great Taste Trail heading back towards the Finish line covering familiar territory. On the return journey the tide will have changed, the light will be different, the backdrop of hills will now be of the Richmond ranges and the temperatures will have risen.

Water & Aid Stations

There are 8 official water & aid stations:

• Sandeman Reserve - 6.5km

• Speedway Corner, Lower Queen St - 10.6km (outward)

• Tic Toc Road East (+ toilets) - 15km (outward)

• Beachfront - 20km

• In the Forestry - 24.5km

• Tic Toc Road East (+ toilets) - 30km (return)

• Speedway Corner, Lower Queen St - 34.6km (return)

• Sandeman Reserve - 38.8km (return)

There are toilets at: Sandeman reserve, Tic Toc Rd, Rough Island, Beachfront & Rabbit Island Changing Sheds - see the course map.

Parking

There are several places close to the Livibrook Complex (Jennian Homes, Eddyline Pizzeria & Hubbers) for parking vehicles during the event. See the map below:

• In the car parks around the Livibrook Complex.

• In Garin College

• Next to Avery Field

• By the Velodrome

• In Waimea College & bus bay

• Along Arbor-Lea Ave & Maple Crescent

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