Runaway MVP
Welcome to the Runaway Marathon Series
We’ve hand-picked the most stunning destinations in New Zealand and Australia for you to run and holiday in with friends.
Take a long weekend so you have plenty of time to explore and experience each destination! You can choose from a range of distances to suit any ability or appetite.
Don’t just do one. Do them all in the series.
Where will you Runaway to next?
Barfoot & Thompson Runaway Auckland Marathon presented by ASICS
1 November 2026
Set your sights on the City of Sails. The Runaway Auckland Marathon is New Zealand’s biggest marathon running event - and one of the most scenic city marathons in the world. From the sparkling waters of the Waitematā Harbour, across the iconic Auckland Harbour Bridge, and into the vibrant Quay Street waterfront, this is your chance to experience Auckland at its best.
NZ Sotheby's International Realty Queenstown Marathon presented by ASICS
14 November 2026
Welcome to the World’s Most Beautiful Marathon. Set between the backdrop of the world-renowned Crown and Remarkable mountain ranges, and taking in the best highlights of the Queenstown Lakes region on hard packed cycle trails, this is truly a flat out beautiful course.
HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon
2 May 2027
For a few amazing hours in perfect Autumn running conditions, the best of Sydney’s city streets are yours to enjoy. None of the big city hustle and bustle, just wide-open city streets, stunning views and the buzz of Australia’s biggest half-marathon all around you. The Runaway Sydney Half Marathon is a truly unique city running experience through the beating heart of Sydney CBD. Come run the city in 2027!
Runaway Hawke's Bay Marathon
15 May 2027
Take in the best highlights of the region, with flat easy running through local cycle trails, quiet country roads and pass vineyards and orchards - all finishing at the impressive Elephant Hill Estate & Winery where you can celebrate your efforts in style at the food & wine festival.
Become a Runaway MVP
What is better than experiencing one of our Runaway Series events? Experiencing all five! And once you do, you will become one of our Most Valuable Players ‘aka’ a Runaway MVP. It’s super simple, all you need to do is complete all five events in the Runaway Marathon Series and you will be rewarded with the very shiny new Runaway MVP medal, recognising all the stunning Runaway destinations you have run and holidayed in.
Who doesn’t love having new shiny bling to show off to friends?
How MVP works?
Enter & complete all five Runaway Marathon events in any order, any distance and at any time (in one year or across multiple years) and you will receive the Runaway MVP status and medal. This will be awarded at the finish line of your fifth and final Runaway event.* Your name will also be listed as a Runaway MVP on all our Runaway Marathon websites.
Runaway MVPs
Congratulations to those who have completed the Runaway MVP 4-Race Status! (Runaway Noosa Marathon, Runaway Hawke's Bay Marathon, NZSIR Queenstown Marathon, HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon)
| David Abernethy | Thomas Elliott | Stephen Lindsay | Matthew Ryan |
| Andrea Adams | Cassie Ellison | Glenn Lockwood | Todd RYAN |
| Lisa Andersen | Tristan Englart | Colin Louisson | Veronika Sander |
| Katie Anderson | Sue Farmer | Toni Louisson | Carolyn Saulsberry |
| Helen Andrews | Wade Faulkner | Sharon Lowndes | Haley Savage |
| Alejandro Baez | Michelle Felton | Esther Luk | Sina Schulze |
| Fraser Bainbridge | Nadine Fisher | Lyn Mackay | Richard Scott |
| Oliver Bale | Ava Fisher | Charlotte Mackenzie | Mike Shaddick |
| Carly Bateman | Grace Forde | Angela Mackie | Vivian Sia |
| Phil Bateman | Bradley Forssman | Ella Marks | Awhina Signorelli |
| Michelle Bell | Chris Fraser | Sue Maynard | Ce-Anne Simmons |
| Greg Bisset | Lynette Frazer | Bradley Mccann | Jenny Simpson |
| Erin Bouwmeester | Jillian Freeman | Merilyn Mccann | Gareth Smith |
| Amanda Bradley | Michelle French | Tonya Mccracken | Adrienne Smith |
| Mel Bridge | Ros Frost | Roisín Mcgann | Aless Smith |
| Julia Briskey | Natalie Fulton | Warren Mckean | Helen So |
| Jodi Brown | Helen GAY | Julia Mckenny | Martha Ruby Solar |
| Jessica Brown | Lisa Gibbison | Amy Middlemiss | Alison Spriggs |
| Tim Buskens | Vanessa Gibson | Janita Middleton | Tessa Sprosen |
| Katie Bussey | Mike Gilbert | Hayden Mikkelsen | Jane Sturzaker |
| Joanna Byers | Bronwyn Gilchrist | Christine Miller | Sophie Sullivan |
| Andrea Caldwell | Heather Giles | Leon Milts | Terri Symonds |
| Melissa Campbell | Justin Gooding | Michelle Milts | Olivia Tan |
| Abi Cane | Tamara Grant | Sophie Mitchell | Grant Taylor |
| Marie Cannon | Paul Green | Suallyn Mitchelmore | William Taylor |
| Hilary Capon | Ngaire Hanning | Kellie Moody | Wendy Thomas |
| Lisa Caton | Martin Harrap | Tim Morrison | Tanya Thomas |
| Roger Caton | Hanne Berit Lidal Haver | Ian Morton | Shirley Thompson |
| Helena Chesworth | Chloe Hawken | Fiona Nash | Mike Thompson |
| Simone Clucas | Steve Hayes | Christine Norton | Graeme Tindall |
| Michelle Coffey | Jayden Heaps | Elizabeth O'Neil | Ben Tomlinson |
| Mark Coffey | Natalie Heffernan | Lynette Ong | Kell Travers |
| Mike Cooper | Ross Henry | Kath O'Reilly | Anne Tsang |
| Ebony-May Coriakula | Werner Hettasch | Tom Pahetogia | Jade Turei |
| Sandra Cornelius | Kathryn Hibbert | Daniel Paitry | Beck Ubas |
| Reuben Craw | Adrienne Higgins | Laura Palmer | Jennie Uson |
| Melissa Crompton | Jane HUME | Soham Patel | Jeff Van Der Sande Lacoste |
| Samantha Croxall | Floss Huston | Marie Phillips | Mel Verheijen |
| Brenda Cumming | Jenni Jamieson | Rhiannon Pink | Beth vockler |
| Lara D'Abreo | Anita Jarvis | Cindy Plant | Paul Voorend |
| Meg Dawson | Milan Jasarevic | Michael Plant | Manahi Waikai |
| Annalisa Devitt | Bruce Johnston | Peter Pointon | Cherie Walters |
| Shane Devitt | Jackie Jones | Olivia Pole | Andrea Watson |
| Ellen Di Corleto | Jit Chun Khiew | Carla Portelli | Cushla Watts |
| Pamela Dickerson | Michelle King | Jeffrey Portelli | Nicola Whalley |
| Will Doherty | Amanda Kinnaird | Felicity Powell | Graeme White |
| Maryanne Doherty | Garth Klee | Mercedes Ridge | Gary Whiting |
| Lia Drew | Andrea Kleinert | Christian Riegman | Catherine Williams |
| Rachael Drury | Timothy Langenbacher | Erin Riley | Jessica Wong |
| Melissa Drury | Carolyn Last | Hayley Ringot | Bernice Woodbury |
| Nick Drury | Claire Latham | Melissa Rixon | Duane Woodbury |
| Brian Dunbar | Peter Laws | Ray Ross | Alice Wright |
| Royce Earl | Ken Leitch | Sandy Roux | Michael Wright |
| Rebecca Edgecombe | Graeme Lemin | Anne Russell | Karina Zelesco |
| Farhood Ellahiyoun | Andrew Leonard | Michael Ryan | Jessie Zhou |
| Paula Elliott |
* If you think we’ve missed your name or you’ve changed email address over the years, please email us at runawaynoosa@theironmangroup.com
Runaway MVP FAQs
Enter & complete all five Runaway Marathon events in any order, any distance and at any time (in one year or across multiple years) and you will receive the Runaway MVP status and medal. This will be awarded at the finish line of your fifth and final Runaway event.
The five Runaway Marathon Series events are:
- Runaway Hawke's Bay Marathon
- HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon
- Runaway Noosa Marathon
- Barfoot & Thompson Runaway Auckland Marathon presented by ASICS
- New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty Queenstown Marathon Presented by ASICS
* Please Note, we acknowledged the MVP's who raced in Queenstown, Hawke's Bay, Sydney and Noosa up until December 2026. After this date to become a Runaway MVP you must complete all 5 Runaway Events due to the addition of the Runaway Auckland Marathon.
Once Runaway MVP status is achieved, benefits include:
- Runaway MVP medal awarded at the finish line on completion of fifth event
- Name on the Runaway website
- Priority entry to future Runaway Events (where applicable)
- Access to MVP only queuing line at Athlete Check-In
- MVP recognition printed on race bib
No. If you’ve completed the four existing Runaway events, your MVP status is secure. But if you want to experience Auckland and earn the new updated MVP medal (now featuring Auckland), we’d love to see you on the start line!
Yes! You have until November 2026 (after Queenstown Marathon) to complete your 4th event and claim the current MVP medal. After that, runners will need to participate in the 5 Runaway Series events to achieve the Runaway MVP medal - starting with Runaway Auckland Marathon 2026. More races, more adventure, more bragging rights!
Something exciting is coming…
Runaway Auckland Marathon is the next exciting chapter for the Runaway Marathon Series. We’re evolving to bring you fresh experiences and new ways to celebrate your running journey. Stay tuned for more details!
