Laps at the Lakes

Laps at the Lakes, held at Lakes Resort Golf & Country Club in Pāuanui, is a timed lap-running event that feels more like a stripped-back ultra than a large-scale road race. It centers on a fundamental question for endurance runners: how effectively can you maintain forward motion as the same loop repeatedly demands another honest effort? Individuals, relay teams, clubs, friends, and social groups are welcome, but the event's core character is endurance-focused. The course proceeds anticlockwise on the asphalt and gravel paths of the Lakes Resort Golf Course. The terrain offers steady, repeatable work, exposing runners to their own pacing decisions. With no aid stations, managing personal nutrition and support is integral to the race itself, with tents and personal transition areas serving this purpose. The lap tracking is traditional: finish a lap, mark it next to your name. The event operates on a pay-what-you-want basis, with half the proceeds supporting the I Am Hope charity.