Entries are flooding in for the 2010 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Taupo Half Ironman and organisers are expecting it to sell out well in advance of the 11 December event.
"Entries have only been open for six weeks and already we are already at 50% of last year's total entries!" said Wayne Reardon, Event Director.
"The Taupo Ironman and other Half Ironman events have already sold out this year, and we are confident that the Taupo Half Ironman will follow suit – it is good value-for-money and combines a popular and safe course and friendly atmosphere with a generous cash prize pool," said Wayne.
"There are some interesting statistics in the entries so far - 50% of entrants so far have previously entered the event, demonstrating the popularity of the event and the course, which involves a 2km swim in Lake Taupo, a 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run along the shores of the lake.
"There has also been a considerable increase in female entrants – there's still six months until the event, and already, entries are comparable to the total number of female entrants last year," said Wayne.
Everyone who enters before 30 June will go in the draw to win one of two pairs of K-Swiss shoes and all entries before 30 August could win a refund of their entry fee and $500 prize pack.
The event is attracting triathletes of all levels and is seen as a logical extension by those who have previously participated in half marathons or triathlons.
For more elite athletes, the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Taupo Half Ironman is sanctioned by Triathlon NZ as a qualifying event for the 2011 Triathlon Long Course World Championships in Nevada, America. It is also an excellent opportunity for those participating in Ironman to experience the course as the Half Ironman course mirrors that of the full Ironman.
"We experienced phenomenal growth in the team entries last year and expect that to continue this year so we really encourage teams of two or three to enter early so they don't miss out," said Wayne.
Entry fees for the 2010 event remain the same as 2009 – individuals can enter online for $210 and a team of two or three costs only $255. All individual finishers receive a commemorative medal.
