A race on the Otago Central Rail Trail is being expanded to give racers more options.
Hundreds of runners and mountain bikers will tackle the track at the two-day Otago Central Rail Trail Duathlon on Saturday and Sunday.
As individuals or teams, they will race the 91km from Clyde to Ranfurly on the first day and the remaining 59km to Middlemarch on day two.
As well as the one-day Clyde to Ranfurly race introduced last year, there will another from Ranfurly to Middlemarch.
Organisers have also introduced a mountain bike-only race.
The race co-organiser, Graeme Duncan, of the Maniototo Lions, said that the new
additions were a way of keeping the event interesting.
``People want more options. It's about promoting the trail and the region. You've got to keep making it different to keep up.''
Typically, about 300 people would enter, he said.
``We're down on our peak entrants. There are so many events now that we fell back a bit. But it's still a great event.''
The event is run by the Alexandra, Omakau, Maniototo and Middlemarch Lions clubs and funds go towards community projects.
Recently, these have included moving the Lauder Railway Station back beside the trail and the purchasing of the Hyde Railway Station.
The race began when the trail was opened in 2000.
Entries close on Friday.
