Three runners from Japan will take to the starting line this Sunday when the 17th annual Winery Running Festival gets underway in Lovedale.
The festival, a staple in the running community, features an array of races including the full marathon (42.2km), half marathon (21.1km), 10.5km, 5km, and a 2km course.
With its AIMS-accredited distances, the event serves as a qualifier for major international marathons, attracting approximately 1,000 runners and 2,000 spectators to the region.
The Japanese runners, from Tateyama in the country’s Chลซbu region, will take part thanks to an initiative by the Port Stephens Sister Cities Committee, a group dedicated to fostering international friendship and understanding through ‘citizen diplomacy.’
The visiting runners will be home-hosted, providing them a unique opportunity to experience Australian hospitality firsthand. Their itinerary includes not only participation in the marathon but also local activities such as a whale-watching cruise, which showcases the natural beauty of Port Stephens.
The 17th annual Winery Running Festival will set off from the famous Wandin Cricket Pavilion in Lovedale on Sunday 21 July. For more information visit wineryrun.com.
