Organisers of the annual Otago Central Rail Trail Duathlon are urging participants to register before the closing date, February 25.
Duathlon liaison officer Owen Graham said registration numbers were slightly down on the corresponding time for last year's event, with just over 250 confirmed for the February 28-March 1 race.
Graham said for the past three years the event had attracted from 550 to 600 competitors across all categories, and he hoped a similar number would take part in this year's race.
Now a calendar staple during the last weekend of February, the duathlon was not always such a solid event.
It began 10 years ago as a one-off promotional race organised by the combined Lions Clubs of Central Otago. Expectations are high many previous participants will return for the anniversary race this year, with a festive spirit in tow.
"It's certainly hoped that people will come along with the birthday spirit in them. We are hoping there will be a festival spirit about the whole event . . . people may dress up for it," Graham said.
Although this year's race would not coincide with the annual Rural Art Deco Maniototo celebrations in Ranfurly, as had occurred previously, Graham said there would be live music for the entertainment of competitors staying in the town overnight.
A live performance was also planned for the finish line at Middlemarch, along with a few surprises.
Each year runners, walkers, and cyclists start from Clyde, ending the first day's journey at Ranfurly. The rail trail takes them to Middlemarch the following day.
Teams are a popular feature of the race, which is aimed at being accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
Up to 50 Lions Club members are expected to help at transition points and road crossings.
Licences to run the event on the rail trail were issued by the Department of Conservation and had been secured for the next couple of years, Graham said.
"We certainly hope it will continue because it's well established, and is a special event utilising the rail trail and bringing so many communities together along the way," Graham said.
An estimated $25,000 has been raised by the event to fund community-based rail trail projects.
