Pukekura Park 5k

The Pukekura Park 5km is the second event of the Coastal Five festival's opening Saturday, starting from Brooklands Park in the early afternoon. The route runs anti-clockwise on the roads encircling Pukekura Park, New Plymouth's historic botanic gardens, taking in tree-lined streets and glimpses of the park's lakes, fernery and walking trails as it circles the grounds. The course is mostly flat to gently rolling for its first few kilometres, with the main climb saved for the final stretch along Brooklands Road before the field descends back towards the finish near the Brooklands Zoo. Run entirely on sealed roads, it suits both competitive runners chasing a fast time and families taking part in the festival atmosphere. As the shorter midday leg between the morning half marathon and evening cross country, it gives entrants in the full five-race format a breather between the weekend's more demanding stages.