Sunday 5th October 2025

Alert Level 2 COVID-19 Rules

  1. If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 or a close contact of someone who is self-isolating, stay at home.
  2. If you are ‘unwell’ or a close contact of someone who is ‘unwell’, stay at home.
  3. If you are a ‘high risk group’ (e.g. > 70 years of age, immunocompromised) or a close contact of someone who is in a ‘high risk group’, stay at home.
  4. No spectators please.
  5. Please use the NZ COVID tracer app and QR codes at race registration and during race day. There will be a sign in register option for those without phones.
  6. At all times, participants will be expected to maintain a 2 metre distance from people they do not know. You are able to walk/run next to someone you know if you both agree to this beforehand. In doing so, both parties will be considered close contacts for the purpose of contact tracing.
  7. All staff/volunteers associated with the 4 Paws Marathon will be required to wear a mask. If you see any staff/volunteers not wearing a mask, you are invited to question them about this. If the response is unfavourable, let a marshal or someone at the aid stations know and they will inform the Race Director.
  8. It will be mandatory to wear a face mask at race registration and at the start/finish area (unless you are eating/drinking, a child under 12, or have a disability/medical condition that prevents you from wearing a face mask). Participants will be provided with a mask in their race pack and will be required to carry a mask on course in case they are required to use it. The Race Director acknowledges that running with a mask for a prolonged period of time is not practical so it will not be mandatory to wear one whilst running (i.e. personal choice). However, mask usage is required if you are unable to social distance or you are in close contact with others you do not know. When wearing a mask think “my mask protects you and your mask protects me”. There may be spot checks. No mask = no participation.
  9. Practise safe hygiene habits throughout e.g. hand sanitiser at aid stations.
  10. Starts will be staggered in groups of 10 and 30 seconds apart.
  11. Whilst running, if you move within 2 metres of someone you do not know, you have 10 seconds to complete the pass. No passing on single trails. Slower runners, please move to the left if needed.
  12. Only a maximum of 10 participants at any one time at aid stations.
  13. Participants must vacate the finish area within 30 minutes of finishing.
  14. If a participant becomes ‘unwell’ within 2 weeks of the event, for the safety of everyone who has participated, please get tested for COVID-19 and advise the Race Director. In the event we get a positive COVID-19 test, the Race Director (who is a medical doctor) will send out a group email to all participants and inform the Ministry of Health for formal contact tracing. Please note, patient confidentiality will be maintained.
  15. The above rules are for the safety of all participants/staff/volunteers. Anyone who does not comply with the above rules will be disqualified and asked to leave.